Cowboy Logic — Mountain girl meets cowboy country

In this episode of Cowboy Logic, I’m sharing the story of a quilt that’s been passed down through three generations of women in my family. It isn’t pretty in the traditional sense — the colors clash, the patches are uneven, and time has worn it thin. But every single piece came from clothing one of my grandmother’s ten children once wore.

This quilt holds their lives, their memories, and their mother’s love stitched right into it.

As I talk through its history, I reflect on how writing feels the same to me — taking mismatched pieces of joy, pain, grief, hope, and love and sewing them together into something real. Something that lasts.

This episode is about legacy, family, imperfection, and the beauty that lives in things made with love.

My quilt logic:
The pieces don’t have to match. They just have to tell the truth.

In this week’s episode of Cowboy Logic, I’m sharing the one piece of Appalachian mountain wisdom my mama gave me that changed the way I see beauty, grief, and the stories I write. It started with a jar of fireflies… and ended with a lesson I didn’t understand until I was grown.

If you’ve ever kept your light small because you were scared, this episode is for you.

You can’t contain beauty — and sometimes the hardest part is believing your own is worth letting shine.

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In this week’s episode of Cowboy Logic, I open up about one of the hardest lessons I’m still learning: the difference between never giving up… and knowing when to rest.

From my dad’s unstoppable determination through heart attacks and broken bones, to my own journey through chronic illness, grief, and survival, I share the wisdom I wish I’d understood sooner.

Rest isn’t quitting.
Rest is what lets you keep going — one day at a time.

This episode is a gentle reminder for anyone carrying more than they let on.

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Yes, you should fix problems before they become disasters. But what happens when the cattle get out anyway? When life knocks you sideways and all your careful plans fall apart?

In this episode, I talk about the impossible balance of managing chronic illness, working full time, and trying to keep writing on the front burner when life keeps pushing it to the back. I share how perfectionism and the need for control (hello, Libra) collide with the messy reality that you can't fix every fence before something breaks through.

Plus: Why my characters Sunny and Antonio are patiently waiting their turn, and what I've learned about working through problems instead of just preventing them.

Today's cowboy logic: Fix the fence before the cattle get out—but don't beat yourself up when they do anyway.

Books mentioned: Starting Over in Montana, Áine's Salvation (Reader's Favorite Award winner), and Bet's Christmas Gamble (coming November 17)

Find my books at anndunbarbooks.com

Episode 2: "Actions Speak Louder Than Words"

Out on the ranch, your word only means something if you back it up. In this episode, romance author Ann Dunbar explores how this classic cowboy wisdom applies to love, loss, and the craft of writing romance that readers can feel in their bones.

From the soft touches and unprompted hugs she misses most about her late family to the way her cowboys Gabriel and Jeb show love in quiet, steady ways, Ann shares why the "show, don't tell" rule matters both on the page and in real life.

If you've ever wondered how to write love that feels authentic, or you just want to hear some heartfelt cowboy wisdom on a Saturday morning, this one's for you.

Books mentioned: Starting Over in Montana , Áine's Salvation (Reader's Favorite Award Winner), and Bet's Christmas Gamble (out November 17th)

Perfect for: Romance readers, aspiring authors, anyone who appreciates authentic love stories

Want to see how Gabriel and Jeb show love in their own quiet, cowboy way?

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One poem, one promise, and a father’s faith that sparked a writer’s courage.

In this first episode of Cowboy Logic, author Ann Dunbar shares the deeply personal story of how her father kept a poem she wrote for 27 years—and how his belief in her changed everything. After his passing, that poem became the spark that led Ann to write her very first novel.

This episode explores facing fear, finding courage, and realizing that sometimes the biggest fool you’ll meet is the voice in your own head saying you can’t.

From the Appalachian Mountains to Calgary, Alberta, Ann uses timeless cowboy wisdom to talk about life, grief, creativity, and the strength it takes to follow a dream when it feels too late to start.

Books mentioned: Starting Over in Montana, Áine’s Salvation, Bet’s Christmas Gamble.

Visit https://anndunbarbooks.com/books