American Westerns discussion

Didn't see a separate area for introductions, so I started one. I'm Dorothy Wiley, a new author of two historical westerns. My American Wilderness Series Romances are set in 1797 along the Wilderness Trail and in Boonesborough, Kentucky. Looking forward to getting to know the readers and authors in this group. http://www.dorothywiley.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1497393582
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1497438640

Wishing you the best of luck with your novels! L. J. Martin Wolfpack Publishing

Thank you L.J.!

Thanks to Dorothy for starting this discussion. I'm Anthony Whitt and I have been a member since January. I have always had a love of the American West and recently converted this passion into a novel that has received great reviews. For more information on the work please visit my website @ www.anthonywhitt.com

Loved your book Anthony!

Welcome to the group Dorothy and congrats on your books. it's always good to see different takes on Western Novels.

Thanks Justin! You're right--setting my books in the colonial period is unusual. But I felt that this period is actually the true beginning of the American West and "westerns." The first wave settlers to Kentucky and other places in what was then the "far" west were some of the most courageous people in our country's history. I love the grit and perseverance of these men and women.

Hi everyone,
I'm Russell, never written a book but a very keen reader! I live in Scotland so pretty far out from the subject at hand :)
I decided last year to broaden my reading and try the western genre, mainly just to see if my preconceived notions that westerns were just formulaic trash fiction was correct. I've never been more delighted to be proven wrong! Steadily working my way through some spurs winning titles and internet "best of the west" type lists I've discovered some wonderful new books. The only downside is my to read shelf has trebled in size.
Nice to see some life in the group recently, active western groups on goodreads are hard to find.

Hello Russell. Terrific to hear from someone in Scotland--my favorite place in the whole world, even though I haven't yet traveled there. But I hope to someday soon. My maiden name is MacMillan and my Dad's ancestors were from the Kintyre Peninsula. I have a Scotland board on Pinterest if you ever go to that website, with some pictures of Castle Sween, former home to the MacMillan clan, and some of my other favorite pictures of Scotland. http://www.pinterest.com/dorothymwile...

In fact, I have a Scots character in both my books, nicknamed Bear because of his enormous size.
If you're interested, here's my website:
http://www.dorothywiley.com

And my main character in "Where They Bury You" and the forthcoming sequel, "Chief of Thieves" mysteriously has a Scottish name, Lily Smoot. Enjoy!

Welcome Russell. Western literature is alive and well. You'll find great books being written by folks who are still on this side of the sod. Let us know what you enjoy. This group can probably recommend additional titles to consider.

Paul,
Loved your "this side of the sod" comment. Haven't heard that before. Can I use that in one of my books?
Dorothy

Dorothy wrote: "Paul,
Loved your "this side of the sod" comment. Haven't heard that before. Can I use that in one of my books?
Dorothy"

Dorthy,
Be my guest. Just don't quote me unless you want to :)

Hi-
I'm a voracious reader of Pulp Fiction, hardboiled crime-thrillers, Horror and I love Westerns - novels, movies, short stories, tv series.

Favorite Western author is probably Frank Bonham, Frank Gruber, and Mr. Maximum Utmost: Elmore Leonard.
Also like Ed Gorman's Westerns a lot.

Not a big fan of L'Amour unfortunately.

I did not know this group existed.
Forgive my ignorance.

Howdy Still. The mid 20th century was a great time for westerns with the writers that you mention, plus the Golden Age of TV, and the Hollywood Westerns that were aimed more for adult audiences. Harry Whittington and H.A. DeRosso are couple of other writers that I like from that era. This month's group read poll selections are works from the late Ed Gorman. Welcome aboard!

Hi,
I am both an avid reader, and a writer. I write in several genres, everything from detective and mystery to romance touched by the supernatural - in a Robert Nathan kind of way - to the Western, which has much in common with the detective form, I believe. I read in those genres as well, and as a film buff, have a love for old Hollywood, my favorite book about it being A Cast of Killers. I love mystery, even old pulp, so I'm no literary snob. I even wrote a nine story homage to the pulp mystery and suspense genre (and Suspense on radio) called The Unlocked Window, and also released them as individual stories or 2furs on Kindle. My reading tastes in the western genre lean towards the older stuff generally. The westerns I've written, The Wild Country and The Trail to Santa Rosa, sort of have that same old-fashioned feel to them, albeit an updating of that style. Lately, at least for the last few years, when I do read a western, I lean toward the pulp or near-pulp type stories for some reason.

Hi Bobby. Welcome aboard. A lot of folks here have a an affinity to that post-war era, when pulps transitioned to paperback originals and radio transitioned to TV. Western TV and radio are popular topics here too. There was definitely a cross-pollination of Western and Crime fiction writers then, and I think that still holds true somewhat today, although Westerns are not as fashionable unfortunately.

Agree, a ton of those guys from the pulps especially wrote in both the crime and western genres. It is unfortunate, as you mentioned, that Westerns aren't in vogue now as they once were. I think it was Robert Duvall who said that the Western was the most truly American art form, because it is our Shakespeare.

HI, i am an avid reader of mostly westerns, historical novels & fiction. looking forward to the discussions section.
The best western books i have read & still reading are by Dusty Rhodes.

Welcome aboard Lowell. We cover a wide range of Western and historical fiction, from early writers like Zane Grey, to contemporary writers, several of whom are members of this community. We have a monthly poll to select a Group read, January was Guild by Ed Gorman and February will be Outrage at Blanco by Bill Crider.

Edwin wrote: "Welcome aboard Lowell. We cover a wide range of Western and historical fiction, from early writers like Zane Grey, to contemporary writers, several of whom are members of this community. We have a ..."
Thanks, looking forward to the group discussions

Just found this group. I read lots of stuff including westerns. The last western novel I read was earlier this year when I tore through Hondo. I am working my way through the collected short stories of Louis L'Amour. I also have Ebook editions on my Nook of the short western works of my fellow metro Detroiter the late Elmore Leonard. Been meaning to get to that other Detroiter who writes mystery and western fiction Loren Estelman

I grew up watching westerns on the big screen and TV.

Welcome Gary!
I'm sure you'll like being a part of this group, it's a great bunch here and I've read many books based on recommendations and reviews by our members here.

Hi everybody. Thanks for letting me join the group. Forgive me if I use this post to blow my own trumpet. I’m ANDREW McBRIDE author of 6 acclaimed western novels, 2 of which are presently available: THE PEACEMAKER and SHADOW MAN. Spur award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated western author ROBERT VAUGHAN describes THE PEACEMAKER as ‘a great novel’ and RALPH COTTON (also a Pulitzer Prize-nominated author) says I’m ‘among the top Old West storytellers.’ For reviews of the books, blurb, extracts, where to find etc. see my Goodreads page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
And my FB author page, which you might also ‘like’: https://www.facebook.com/Andrew-McBri...

Howdy y'all, I'm William A. Burgdorf a Texan, a writer and a storyteller of historical fiction. A graduate of Nova Southeastern University with a doctorate in education, I've melded my education with thirty years of corporate training and human resource development expertise to write exciting, engaging, and adventuresome westerns.

I began my career-life as a secondary education teacher and taught, among other subjects, history. A double major in this undergrad subject left me with an unquenchable love and respect of historical characters, locations, and events. This passion is what now contributes to the richness and details of my westerns, and through my well-defined characters breathes life into history.

I leverage a lifetime of experiences into my stories accumulated from being born along the mighty Ohio River in southern Indiana, raised in the wide, wild desert vistas of Arizona, having lived in lake-strewn Michigan, as well as the hills and hollows of Tennessee, and presently residing in my piney woods home of East Texas, in Tyler.

My foray into western genre publications is the trilogy of The Bierman Saga – The New Mexican, Company A, and The Arizonan. A familial tale enveloped in the New Mexico and Arizona Territories of the 1800s. The New Mexican is a raw, gritty story of Zepaniah Bierman’s epic journey across New Mexico that encounters Mexican cavalry, Apaches, outlaws, and a strong-willed young woman. Company A and The Arizonan continues the adventures with other family characters.

More details and information at http://www.waburgdorf.com

Hi all. This is a thriving group. My first western was published in 2007 under the pen-name Ross Morton. The titles are all still available on Amazon: DEATH AT BETHESDA FALLS, LAST CHANCE SALOON, THE $300 MAN, BLIND JUSTICE AT WEDLOCK, OLD GUNS and THE MAGNIFICENT MENDOZAS (I get no royalties from these but wouldn't mind more readers!) As Nik Morton I've had published two noir westerns BULLETS FOR A BALLOT (e-book only) and COFFIN FOR CASH; also there's my collection of western tales VISITORS. Oh, and my writing guide is available too: WRITE A WESTERN IN 30 DAYS - with plenty of bullet points! I'm currently writing another noir western DEATH FOR A DOVE. amazon.com/author/nikmorton

Nik wrote: "Hi all. This is a thriving group. My first western was published in 2007 under the pen-name Ross Morton. The titles are all still available on Amazon: DEATH AT BETHESDA FALLS, LAST CHANCE SALOON, T..."

Hi Nik. If you write a western, you definitely need bullet points! Or failing that, at least bullets!

Hi Andrew. Yes, indeed. There are a few puns in my books, alas, too!

Just realized I never introduced myself here. I'm Elisabeth Grace Foley, reader and writer of Westerns. I grew up enjoying the genre from watching movies and classic TV shows with my dad, and then in my teens I discovered Western fiction and eventually began writing it myself. So far I've indie-published a couple volumes of short stories and a pair of novellas. My novella/short novel Left-Hand Kelly was a nominee in the indie category of the Western Fictioneers' Peacemaker Awards in 2015. My latest, The Mountain of the Wolf, is a re-imagining of 'Little Red Riding Hood' written for a multi-author anthology of fairytale retellings, but at the same time is a straight historical Western.

My favorite Western authors to read are B.M. Bower, Eugene Manlove Rhodes, O. Henry, Dorothy Johnson, and Henry Herbert Knibbs, and I also enjoy Elmore Leonard's short stories. With some of the bigger names like L'Amour, Grey, and Max Brand, it's a little more hit-and-miss: I've loved some of their titles and didn't care for others.

Welcome, Melvyn.
I'm fairly new to the group myself--2 or 3 months. It's a good group.

Hi all, I'm Fred. I'm originally from NC but reside in Northern Virginia near DC (Trumpville). I'm an old dude and love westerns. My favorite book of all time is "Lonesome Dove" and like McMurtry, Cormac (All the Pretty Horses, and Border Trilogy), Bobby Underwood, and all the classic westerns.

Fred wrote: "Hi all, I'm Fred. I'm originally from NC but reside in Northern Virginia near DC (Trumpville). I'm an old dude and love westerns. My favorite book of all time is "Lonesome Dove" and like McMurtry, ..."

Great that you joined, Fred, and appreciate the plug. Always good to "see" a new face in the group! Looks like there are two new faces with a welcome to Melvyn as well.

Fred wrote: "Hi all, I'm Fred. I'm originally from NC but reside in Northern Virginia near DC (Trumpville). I'm an old dude and love westerns. My favorite book of all time is "Lonesome Dove" and like McMurtry, ..."
Welcome to the group, Fred. I'm glad you're joining us.

Loyd wrote: "Fred wrote: "Hi all, I'm Fred. I'm originally from NC but reside in Northern Virginia near DC (Trumpville). I'm an old dude and love westerns. My favorite book of all time is "Lonesome Dove" and li..."

Welcome, Fred. I am originally from SW VA and I also lived in the Northern VA suburbs (Springfield) of DC for close to 30 yrs and recently in last 3 years moved and live in Nashville. My favorite of this genre is the Sackett series by L'Amour.

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Scott from central Texas (just north of Austin). I'm new to goodreads and love westerns so naturally I found this group right off the bat. I look forward to taking part in the monthly group reads, I started Valley of Wild Horses last night.

Good tidings to all!
-Scott

Scott wrote: "Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Scott from central Texas (just north of Austin). I'm new to goodreads and love westerns so naturally I found this group right off the bat. I look ..."

Welcome Scott,

I think there are a few from Texas in this group. I was born in Oklahoma, next door, but living in Australia the past few years, where I married (wife's Australian). Great to see you doing the group read! I've read Valley of Wild Horses and loved it, but reviewed a different Kindle version. Activity is kind of hit and miss, because people get busy, but everyone here loves the western, in one form or another, so good to have another around. :-)

Scott wrote: "Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Scott from central Texas (just north of Austin). I'm new to goodreads and love westerns so naturally I found this group right off the bat. I look ..."

Welcome to the group Scott. I'm right down the road in Austin. You'll enjoy goodreads where you'll find more good reading tips than you can handle.

Welcome, Scott. Glad to hear you are a westerns affectionado. Many of us are writing plenty of them. You might want to wrap your peepers around mine: The New Mexican and Company A.
Enjoy.
Bill

Hello All,
My name is Bobby Sanders. I've always been a western fan weather it was movies, books, or hobbies. I am involved in Cowboy action shooting competition and I read as much Western fiction as I can. Larry McMurtry, Louis L'Amour. I recently had a story of my own to tell and Self-Published it on Amazon/Kindle. It's called "Hunter : A Western Adventure". I look foward to discussion on here about the West. It's amazing to me that there is so much romance and nostalgia about such a short period in history. BTW I am taking my vacation this year and driving to Deadwood, SD. Visit Wild Bil Hickok's grave site.

Hi Bobby and welcome.
Similar interests and will go check out 'Hunter' on Amazon right now :)

Thanks Nicolas, Give me an honest opinion.

Hello All!
Great to see so many fans of this genre. Like you, I love western books, movies, old tv shows, even old photographs, etc. Never missed an episode of "The Cisco Kid" as a child. (probably just dated myself, lol) Live in Florida (2nd largest beef producing state) and just returned from a long visit to Ft. Worth.
I just released my first novella in this genre if you want to check it out. Firewater: A Brothers In Justice Novel. The first in a planned series of three.
Look forward to great discussions here.
Olivia

Firewater: A Brothers In Justice Novel

Howdy! My name is Richard Roux. I'm from California and also have a life-long love of the Western genre. Last month I released the first book in a series that begins during the California Gold Rush, A Branch Too Weak. I'm working on the second book as time permits. With any luck, it will be released around Christmas. If you get a chance to read my book, I'd love to see it added to lists and reviewed on Amazon.

Richard wrote: "Howdy! My name is Richard Roux. I'm from California and also have a life-long love of the Western genre. Last month I released the first book in a series that begins during the California Gold Rush..."

Richard, I'm on board and will give it a read and review. Just made my purchase from Amazon. Looks like a fun journey back in time.

Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy the read, and I am open to questions and suggestions.

Hey Y'all. I'm Frank Kelso. I have western novels and short stories on Amazon and active FB pages for my fans and books. My Blog- Traveling the West discusses western events and locations at http://authorfrankkelso.blogspot.com
I grew up near KCMO and played in all the historic areas of the Santa Fe trail. I survived 30-years in a "publish or perish" academic world. When I retired, I found I had a compulsive need to write. Traveling the west while learning its history filled my compulsion to its limit. I look forward to keeping this group active with comments and reviews of other members works. Write on!

Welcome aboard, Frank! Andrew McBride

Thanks Andrew!

Welcome Frank. Good to have you. Bobby Sanders

Thanks for welcoming me. Tip o' my hat to hat.