HARLEQUIN TAKES THE BULL RIDER BY THE HORNS
Professional Bull Riders Partner with Harlequin Books
Harlequin, the internationally-renowned publisher, is teaming up with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the world’s premier bull riding organization, to bring you four revived titles featuring swoon-worthy, rugged bull riders. This collector’s edition by USA Today and award-winning author Tina Leonard will feature covers showcasing real-life, top PBR riders Matt Triplett, Reese Cates, Harve Stewart and Zane Lambert.
Each book contains exclusive content, including biographies, interviews, photos, signed reader letters from the riders and $20 of value-added coupons for select PBR events, fan club membership and upcoming Harlequin titles.
Harlequin Pro Bull Riders stories are heartwarming contemporary tales of everyday women finding love in the arms of the quintessential American icon, wrapped up in manliness and romance. The stories showcase the charm of small-town America and the ruggedness of Western locales and regularly feature Western characters as protagonists.
Founded in 1992, the PBR pits the world’s toughest bull riders against the fiercest bucking bulls on the planet in an 8-second showdown. More than 600 bull riders compete in PBR-sanctioned competitions in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States each year. These events are attended by more than 2.5 million fans annually who respect the riders’ athleticism and courage. PBR broadcasts are televised weekly on CBS and CBS Sports Network and reach more than half a billion households in 50 nations and territories around the world.
Today I have a fab Q&A with (absolutely adorable) PBR Riders HARVE STEWART and Zane Lambert to share with you!
Harve Stewart
How and when did you start getting into bull riding?
I grew up in Stephenville, Texas, which is a big rodeo town—a lot of legends have come from there. Ty Murray and the Carillo brothers (Adam and Gilbert) are just three of the greats to come from Stephenville. When I was 13 years old, I actually got on my first steers at their place and just fell in love with bull riding. They became my friends, and I felt kind of lucky that I was able to have that opportunity because not many people do. It was an opportunity for me to go and get on, and I didn’t turn it down.
What do you remember about your first Built Ford Tough Series ride?
My first Built Ford Tough Series ride was in Anaheim and it was a bull called Nacho Hero. He was just a cool little bull. I don’t think I was even many points—82.25—on him, but it was just neat to get that first one down. It is something you never forget and sticks with you forever. You will have a Top Ten list of your favorite rides, and your first might not make it on that list, but you will always remember it. We’d had two one-day events, and I bucked off at my first two events and then went to California for my third event and rode my first one there. You are nervous and everything. It is new. You see it on TV, but it’s not something that I got to see before I got on tour—I had never been to a Built Ford Tough event until then. It was something really cool to see, but it dang sure took a while to get used to.
In your career, what would you say was your most memorable moment? And why?
Probably when I rode Meat Hook in Thackerville, Oklahoma, a couple of years ago, in 2012. It was my first BFTS event win. I had gotten close quite a bit, finishing second and stuff like that, but I’d never won one. It came down to the last two guys and I stayed on mine. It was kind of a cool pressure situation—and to come out on top is something I will always remember.
What’s your idea of a romantic night out?
Just a steak dinner and a movie—maybe even at home. We would go to a nice steak house, like a Del Frisco’s. If it was me planning it, hell, we would go golfing and then to a football game. Though it kind of depends on the girl and what she wants to do.
Harve Stewart
@harvestewart
World Finals Qualifications: 6
Hometown: Stephenville, Texas
Residence: Stephenville, Texas
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
Born: 12/28/87
Riding Hand: Right
BFTS Season: 9th
Career Earnings: $508,852
High-Marked Ride: 91 points on Savage Shaker in Tulsa, Okla., on July 22, 2007
Personal
A former Texas High School Rodeo Association Champion, Harve rode his first bull at age 14 after watching a friend at nine-time World Champion Ty Murray’s ranch. He learned to ride from his father, Dee, who was a former bull rider and received further instruction from Murray and former PBR stars Adam and Gilbert Carrillo. Harve admits he doesn’t like to ride on an empty stomach and says if he had a choice, he would eat a steak before every ride, whereas most of his fellow riders choose that as their preferred meal after a contest. When it comes time to relax, Harve might be found hanging with fellow PBR riders or maybe watching a comedic movie. His most memorable ride was besting Meat Hook for 90.5 points in Thackerville, Okla. in 2012 to win his first BFTS contest. If he weren’t a professional bull rider, Harve would have liked to be a football player. When he retires he will probably spend more time golfing and envisions himself owning a business of some sort. “Anything where I can be my own boss.” says Harve.
2014 Highlights
Earned round wins in Billings, Montana, and Des Moines, Iowa…landed Top 10 finishes in Anaheim, California (8th), Fresno, California (T9), Des Moines, Iowa (T9), and Colorado Springs, Colorado (7th)…went 2-for-3 on his bulls in Colorado Springs for his highest finish on the season…fell out of the Top 35 following Springfield, Missouri, but competed as an alternate in Oakland, California, and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
ZANE LAMBERT
What would you say is your favorite thing about the riding community? It feels very close-knit, and you travel weekend to weekend?
Definitely the best thing about it is the people you meet. The guys you get ready with in the change room. The guys you travel with and hang out with the whole time. There is a huge community and we all interact with each other and it’s pretty cool. We go to different cities every weekend and it’s the same guys going down the road, so it’s really neat to travel all over the world and still have your friends there.
In your career what would you say was your most memorable moment? And why?
Two years ago, I won the Canadian title. That was probably the most memorable for me because I came in second the two years before that. To finally pull out the win—it was pretty special for me, and I finally got my title.
What would you say is the most romantic thing you have ever done for your wife?
I asked her to marry me at the CN Tower, in Toronto, and we went on our honeymoon to Hawaii. If I could do that again, I definitely would.
What’s your idea of a romantic night out?
I think because I’m on the road so much, a night in is more a night out for me. To sit at home—we like to cook, and that’s my idea of a nice night. Not traveling.
World Finals Qualifications: 1
Hometown: Ponoka, Alberta
Residence: Westbourne, MB
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Born: 7/2/86
Riding Hand: Right
BFTS Season: 6th
Career Earnings: $321,876
High-Marked Ride: 87.50 points on Guns & Donuts during Round 3 of the World Finals on Oct. 24, 2014
* – 2013 Canada National Champion
Personal
This Canadian cowboy started riding and attended his first rodeo school at 10 where he won a rodeo card after which he competed in 4 contests that year and was permanently hooked. To keep in shape he definitely hits the gym hard and also has a routine he does in his hotel room on the road that includes pushups, sit-ups, etc. After his wife Stacey, whom he married in April 2013, Zane’s best pal is his English bulldog Ace, whom he calls his mascot and sometimes travels with. When not on the tour, Zane likes snowboarding and doing renovations on his friend’s houses. He and his wife also like to make wine from scratch – they’ve even ordered grapes from California before and done the crushing and fermenting at home. Someday he hopes to retire from bull riding with enough money to buy a big place in the country where he can raise a bunch of kids and of course, have a large wine cellar.
2014 Highlights
Competed in his first event this season in Sacramento, California, where he lead going into the championship round, going 2-for-3 for third place overall and his first Built Ford Tough Series Top 5 finish…collected four Top 10 finishes and two Top 5 finishes altogether, including tying for second place in Des Moines, Iowa, covering two of his three bulls and posting one of his two round wins on the year…earned his second round win in Nampa, Idaho…earned himself a BFTS career-high 87.50 points on Guns and Donuts (Silver Creek Pro Rodeo) during Round 3 of the World Finals.
(click on the photo to enter)
And, here are links to excerpts from each PBR title. At the end of each excerpt is a printable coupon!
A Family For The Bull Rider: http://www.harlequin.com/media/images/pdf/AFamilyfortheBullrider_chapter.pdf
Heart Of A Bull Rider: http://www.harlequin.com/media/images/pdf/HeartofaBullrider_chapter.pdf
One Wild Bull Rider: http://www.harlequin.com/media/images/pdf/OneWildBullRider_chapter.pdf
The Bull Rider Twins: http://www.harlequin.com/media/images/pdf/TheBullRiderTwins_chapter.pdf
About the Author
TINA LEONARD
USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard has sold over 3 million copies of her titles. She has made the USA Today Bestseller, Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and Ingrambook lists, and has written and contracted seventy-one books and special projects. She is best known for her sparkling sense of humor, endearing communities, snappy dialogue, and memorable characters that include sexy hunks with attitude and heroines with plenty of sass.
Website: http://www.tinaleonard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTinaLeonard
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tina_leonard @Tina_Leonard