RITA© nominated romance writer Joanne Kennedy celebrates Wyoming's unique blend of past and present in contemporary Western novels with traditional ranch settings. A lifelong devotee of cowboy culture and all things horse-related, she is the author of six contemporary romances, including "Cowboy Trouble," "One Fine Cowboy," "Tall, Dark and Cowboy," and "Cowboy Tough." "How to Handle a Cowboy," the first volume in the "Cowboys of Decker Ranch" series, will be released in April 2014. Joanne's books are filled with heart and humor, along with suspense and a little bit of spice. A Booklist starred review for "How to Handle a Cowboy" said "Kennedy's authentic depiction of the contemporary West is both realistic and romantic... (her)forte is in making relationships genuine and heartfelt as she exposes vulnerabilities with tenderness and good humor. This is a terrific feel-good read with just the right amount of page-turning suspense." Library Journal called her first book "a new take on the contemporary Western romance" and Romantic Times says, "Kennedy has the genre down pat with romance, intrigue, danger and some truly laugh-out-loud moments." At various times, Joanne has dabbled in horse training, chicken farming, and bridezilla wrangling at a department store wedding registry. Themes that have remained constant throughout her life are Jack Russell terriers, a tendency to confuse fiction with real life, and a fascination with literature that led to careers in bookselling and writing. She lives at the Colorado/Wyoming border with two Jack Russell terriers and a retired fighter pilot. The dogs are relatively well-behaved.Joanne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website, www.joannekennedybooks.com.