Ani Get Your Gun
by Anne Kushnick
There are some fine frontier authors out there just as there are fine frontier artists. I’ve often wished I could inhabit the head and heart and gifted hands of Pamela Patrick White or David Wright or John Buxton, just to name a few. Anne Kushnick is new to me but the woman she pained is not. When I came across this oil on canvas, I knew it was far more than a painting of a determined, rifle-wielding 18th-century woman. It’s also the heroine of my work in progress, a frontier story set in the wilds of what is now West Virginia.
My current heroine is unconventional and has a bit more sass/spirit than my others, maybe because she’s been raised with five brothers. There’s not much that’s graceful about her and the only thing ruffled is her cap! I especially like that her hair is messy and her rifle is level. She has fierce focus. In fact, she looks like she’d rather spit than speak. Pretty, perhaps, and pretty intimidating. She embodies that determined frontier spirit that truly won the west. Meet Miss Swan of novel 11. She’s nothing like her ladylike name;)
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Your description here of this new character instantly made me “homesick” for Chloe. That girl never left my heart (nor your description of her being like an unmade bed :-). Love this girl’s looks — they say it all.
How I treasure your comments here, Susan. And you have quoted my favorite line in that entire novel! An unmade bed says it all, thanks to Jack, her discerning brother:) I’m thrilled you’re homesick for Chloe because that means she was larger than life as I hoped. I love her, too, and it was a severe mercy to have her leave the novel so soon. And I must say I’m so glad you didn’t hold that against me but kept on reading! Thank you, thank you.
I have to say, I love the spirited frontier ladies! I think there’s part of me that wishes I were more like that…kind of a girl version of Bear Grylls 😉. I can’t wait to read more about Miss Swan!
Dear Stacey, You and Miss Swan are going to be BFF then :)! It’s a challenge for me to create a heroine like her because I only have one brother and I am a gracious southerner to the bone, as are you! Prayers appreciated lol!
I love how well thought out your characters are. I think I’m going to love meeting Miss Swan. And yay for a book 11!
Love your being here, Stephanie – thank you! Miss Swan is a joy and challenge to write – but my hero has all in hand, lol 🙂
The picture alone had me hooked. But the description of the heroine and setting has me wanting to read the book. Love the frontier heroines Can’t wait to read this one. The name of the character has me hook as well. My papaw used to call me swan as a child. The nickname came about because I always felt like an ugly duckling as child, and the nickname was to remind that the ugly duckling grew up to be a beautiful swan.
Oh, how I love your own personal legacy of SWAN, Carissa! Love your Papaw’s heart for you! You did grow up to be a beautiful swan, inside and out. I’m so blessed you’re my reader, too! Looking forward to your meeting this heroine of ours :). While writing about her I keep having to remind myself she does everything the unconventional way lol. Quite interesting character!
I can’t wait to meet her! I think I love her already
So happy she sounds and maybe looks like your kind of heroine, Kailey 🙂 You’re the best inspiration, thank you!
Lovely new heroine, Laura. Sounds as if you have yet another winner.
Hi Ann, Thank you for stopping by here! I’m getting whiplash running from frontier KY to more genteel stories;) I so hope this story is one readers enjoy!
She sounds fascinating!
Dear Connie, So delighted she does! I think she might be my favorite heroine yet and that’s saying a lot! Thank you:)
Oh, Laura, among an ensemble of wonderful characters (many who have, I think, spirit) Miss Swan (eager to learn her given name!) sounds intriguing. I wonder if you, like we readers, find the latest is our favorite. LOL How wonderful that you found a painting of her ~ and how unfair to tease us for nearly 2 years! Here’s to book 11!
So appreciate your enthusiasm and support, my friend! You hit the nail on the head when you say the latest is the favorite. So true! This character requires A LOT of pondering. I have to scrutinize her actions and speech, often deleting what I have because she would do just the opposite! A challenge for this southern born and bred gal. I love, love, love her. And thank you for taking a look at her. If I could paint like this I do think I would happily trade my pen for a paintbrush!