Today we’re welcoming Susan back to the blog to answer a few more questions on Cowgirl Trail. In March, she shared some of her research for the book with us, and last week she came back to give us a few unique insights on writing the book. This week, I interviewed Susan to follow up on some of those insights.

In last week’s post, readers told us the profession they’d most like to try out (other than their own). Of all their answers, which one would you like to try the MOST? Which one would you like to try the LEAST?

In real life and at the age I am now, I think I’ll take the bookstore. While it would involve some lifting (and I know those boxes of books are heavy), it wouldn’t be as strenuous as a lot of those. I’ve been a teacher and worked in stores and a restaurant, and I have shoed horses, have been a news correspondent, and am now a published author. They all had/have their good and bad points, but I’d like to try the bookstore. Of course the astronaut and meteorologist are interesting too…(Did I say that I have trouble making choices when there are a lot of options?)

Least of all, I think would be the rodeo star (though cooking is a close second—it’s not my forte). I know rodeo is a very rough sport, and for those of us age 50+, I think we should probably stay out of the arena and leave it younger folks.

Of the two books you’ve written for the Texas Trails, which lead female did you most admire and why?

Taabe and Maggie are both strong women. Both took the initiative to better their situation. But Maggie was doing this for her father and the ranch employees depending on them, so I’ll go with her, because of her loyalty. Maggie has a big heart, and I hope we’ll be seeing more of her in another book soon.

We’ve loved hearing about the culture of Texas in your posts. What would a day in the life of an 1800′s cowboy look like when they’re taking the cattle down the trails? What are some of the hazards they face on the way to sell?

In the old days, when they had to take the cattle hundreds, or even thousands, of miles, conditions were very harsh. They mostly lived outside in all kinds of weather. They slept on the ground. We would probably consider the chuck wagon’s menu boring. While they took turns on night shift, everyone had to ride along during the day. Spending all day in the saddle is a very hard way to make a living! My reading tells me some of the biggest hazards back then were river crossings, long sections of trail without water, and attacks by Indians or rustlers. And while attackers could start a dreaded stampede, it didn’t take much to set the cattle off. Shouts, thunder, gunshots, wild animals—lots of things could start a panic.

Today is “Drop Everything and Read” Day! What is one book you’ve read that was so good, you had to drop everything to finish it? 

I helped critique Vickie McDonough’s book, The End of the Trail (next book in this series), and I loved it! But that’s not releasing until June, so I’ll tell you about another one. I love mysteries, and the Bug Man series by Tim Downs keeps me riveted. I know when I pick up a new one of those, I won’t get anything else done for several hours! Of course, I don’t like the bugs, but since these books don’t have pictures, I can handle it. I have one more left in this series that I haven’t read yet. Can’t wait to get at it!

Thanks so much to Susan for such a wonderful interview! If you haven’t yet, head over to Tuesday’s post for a chance to win a copy of William Henry is a Fine Name. Simply comment on the post, filling in this blank: “I love my library because ____.”