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"Cowboys, last of a dying breed," happens to be one of the many quotes that inspired Phillips to write [i]The Western Dreamer[/i]. Phillips is a student at Northwest Missouri State University and wants to have a career in medicine, but one of her hobbies includes writing. She began writing at a young age and during sixth grade she devoured the entire Nancy Drew series, which inspired her to write mystery stories.

[i]The Western Dreamer[/i] is basically a story about a girl's summer internship for the BRA (Bull Riding Association), an organization that both the character Skyler Pendleton and Phillips want to work for in the future. Skyler goes to work for Dr. Tate Feldman, a renowned surgeon she has always wished to work under. The story launches off from there, focusing on Skyler and her adventures while she deals with the loss of her best friend. The book itself is dedicated to Phillip's best friend who passed away September 12, 2008. It was only fitting that it be dedicated to her because she encouraged Phillips to write and had said that she would get a novel published.

When asked about what readers can expect from [i]The Western Dreamer[/i], Phillips replies: "People can expect excitement, humor, and a new twist to classic westerns. Sure, Skyler is a cowgirl, but she is a cowgirl living in a modern world where the west is sometimes disregarded as the thing of the past. What The Western Dreamer shows is that the cowboy spirit is still alive in this modern world."

Most of all, Phillips finds writing an exhilarating escape from reality; where fluid creativity rushes from her fingers to the keys, where inspiration turns into a sequential story. She says that it is interesting and funny that a broad idea can seem to write itself and morph into a story you never would have figured you could compose.

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