The folks that run the Will Rogers Medallion Award invited me to submit my Honey Beaulieu books, but I wasn't sure I had much of a chance to win in such a high-falutin' contest. However, I did submit the first two Honey books, and guess what? Both of them, Hot Work in Fry Pan Gulch and Sidetracked in Silver City, won first place in Western Humor! I was given four Gold Medallions, two for each book:

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The Will Rogers Mediallion Award has recognized excellence in Western literature and media since 2003. Works must be an accurate relfection of Western Americana, and are judged on historical accuracy and literary quality. I had the privilege of meeting Charles Williams, WRMA Executive Director, who told me my stories made him "guffaw out loud." I was sure honored to be included in their ceremony, and the award was even sweeter as my husband and I have always been admirers of Will Rogers.

Hot Work in Fry Pan Gulch earlier received the Laramie Award Grand Prize from Chanticleer Reviews!

"Honey Beaulieu is cheeky as all get out, a wonderful new heroine in the old west with a singular voice all her own, provided by the extremely capable pen--or computer--of one Jacquie Rogers. Even the title, HOT WORK IN FRY PAN GULCH has a charm all its own. A must-read first book in a new series."
Robert J Randisi, author of The Gunsmith series, writing as J.R. Roberts

I couldn't be happier that Honey Beaulieu's story is finally being told. She's been waiting in the wings for over eighteen years—and not all that patiently, I might add.

Her wait is the story of my writing career, almost. I began writing in 1996 when I dreamed a story. That manuscript wasn't completed until two years later. About three chapters from the end, characters and situations for other books began swirling in my head, which sure didn't help to get that first one finished.

One of my critique partners told me to type them up and put them in an Ideas folder, then finish the book, which I did. I think of that folder as my own private treasure chest. Many of those ideas developed into books--all the Hearts of Owyhee books came from that, as did Sleight of Heart.

But one of the ideas--my favorite--I knew I'd never write because the large publishers (the only option then) would never in a million years buy a non-traditional Western with a female protagonist that didn't have enough romance to be a Romance, didn't have enough paranormal to be a Paranormal, or enough mystery to be a Mystery, and at that time, there weren't any female action/adventure protagonists.

So this idea stayed in my treasure chest, but every once in a while Honey pounded on the door. I never forgot her, but writing a book takes a very long time and a lot of commitment of resources, so writing an unmarketable book wasn't in the cards.

Then, last year, my critique partner and I were discussing where I should go with my next series. For some reason, Honey banged on the lid of the treasure chest again. Only I have to admit, her name was originally Pansy. She always did hate her name, which is why I changed it in the first reference to her in Much Ado About Marshals, and she hasn't complained since.

So for the first time since 1998, I opened the file and sent it to my friend. She loved Honey right off the bat, almost as much as I did. She pointed out that we don't have to write to someone else's specifications--I can write anything I want! Furthermore, she convinced me that my readers would love it.

I was excited so didn't tell her my misgivings--at least, not many of them. But I worried that my readers wouldn't go for the grittiness or the more bawdy tone. Even so, once I got all the books that I'd committed to writing off my plate, Honey took stage, front and center. She's not wanting to move off, either.

In my initial concept back in 1998, Honey and her two sisters were all pistoleers. Over time, she brought me around to her way of thinking--this series was hers and no one else's. Her sisters' personalities haven't changed but they aren't pistoleers, and the series is definitely all Honey's.

So please enjoy the ride along with Honey Beaulieu. She's quite a gal.