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1. What was your first Western novel or story
and was it published?
My first western short story was “Caught Red Handed”
published by Western Digest of Calgary back in 1995.
Douglas Sharp (Western Digest). He not only critiqued my work but challenged
me to do more. He taught me to speak
more western; for example, using (most likely) instead of probably; limit the use
of ain’t in dialogue and cut down my use of commas. “Write the way people talk,” he said. Eventually Western Digest published seven of
my short stories before ceasing publication.
That’s how I got started in western fiction.
Robert J. Randisi took a chance and included my story “Likker
Money” in the anthology “White Hats” in 2002.
That gave me a big boost. I’ve
been trying to equal it since. I’m very
grateful for that opportunity.
Harry Drago – I love his factual authenticity.
Louis L’Amour - A
true master of fiction.
3. Is there a particular scene from a Western
novel that was so powerful when you read it that it stuck with you? Perhaps has
become a scene you've tried to live up to/equal in your own writing?
It wasn’t a novel. It was the short story “Wine on the Desert” by
Max Brand. The whole story is full of intense
drama, very effective.
4. What's the first Western you remember
reading from cover to cover?
Zane Grey’s “The Thundering Herd.” I was in high school at the time.
5. Who is your favorite historical Western
figure, and why?
Bat Masterson.
Despite the call that he was a quick draw artist and killed untold
numerous others, I believe history shows that he only shot and killed one man,
in self-defense, after he was wounded by the same. Why do I like him? He was a standup guy that would not back down
from anything. I believe that he did
more good than his embellished gunslinger reputation shows. Bat, like Luke Short, was not a tall
overbearing man but his demeanor and undoubtedly no-nonsense facial expressions
and eye contact, when confronted, helped to make others think things over
rather than push to conclude the outcome.
6. How much historical research do you do, and
how do you go about it?
I read a lot both historical and fiction. If it is old west 1850 through 1900 then I’m
interested. I use the internet and Wikipedia. I read reviews. I go to libraries to look up facts. Haunting used book stores is a hobby that
I’ll never get over. My desk is littered
with historical findings.
7. How important is setting? How important is
it to get setting right? What's the best use of setting in a Western as far as
you're concerned?
You have to get it right.
Setting is a difficult thing, if not impossible, to talk about if you’ve
never been to that locale. When
reconstructing the past, I feel that it is my duty to at least get things
historically correct even if it isn’t pretty.
All those John Wayne westerns filmed in Monument Valley made good
setting.
8. How
do you choose where to begin your story? Do you use prologues?
I try to show who my character is and why he is there then
build the story from there. Prologues
will certainly set the stage to time and locale. I usually do not begin a story with a
prologue.
9. Do you do all your research ahead of time,
or as you go along?
Mostly as I go. Each
story requires different facts to support the setting. The cowboy era was different than the gold
rush of 49. Both time periods had their
share of miscreants but oh so different.
10. Which of your characters do you identify
with the most, and why? Was there a role
model for this particular character?
Charlie Cox “Drover’s Vendetta.” He is just an ordinary cowboy caught up in
circumstance that inspires him to do things others would shy from. With a little luck he becomes a hero by just
doing what he feels is the right thing to do.
I don’t have a particular role model.
If I had a wish it would be to emulate Charlie.
11. Do you outline and plot your story or do you
write as the inspiration or MUSE leads?
I rarely outline a story.
I let the story lead me where it goes.
I usually have the beginning down pat and sometimes I know how it should
end. The middle is the tough part. I am used to writing short stories; I write
the whole story then edit to cut out the unnecessary. If I am working on a novel then I have to
re-adjust, slow the story down in order to tie all the pertinent facts together
without giving away or hurrying up the ending.
12. Are you a conservative in your writing and
stick with traditional ideas for your characters and plots or do you like to go
beyond the norm and toss in the unexpected and why?
I write conservatively following history, for time and
place, as close as possible. My stories are set in the traditional old
West. Its fiction so anything imaginable
is fair game. The unexpected can be refreshing
and necessary to the story as long as it can be made believable. Some of the stuff coming out lately has to do
with vampires or science fiction. I’m
not opposed to some of it. I just prefer
to write about things the way they may have been traditionally.
13. Do you need quiet when you write, listen to
music, or have the TV on and family around?
I don’t mind noise. I
have been doing something, my whole life, while noise surrounded me. I’m usually alone in the room when I
write. I can tune out what goes on in
the house.
14. Have you experienced the "dreaded"
writer's block and how did you deal with it?
When I was in the Navy I was aboard a destroyer. The ship’s motto was “This Can can do.” So whenever I think of writer’s block I just
sit down; edit the story I’m writing to the point I’m stuck at. It helps to go to the beginning; by the time
I get to the stopped part I usually can pick it up from there. Sometimes I’ll take a break from writing for
hours or days even. The story doesn’t
leave my mind though and often a new inspiration allows me to just get in there
and get it done!
15. Who is your favorite fictional character
that you have created?
Colonel Ben Buffington in the short story “All the Water you
Want” in the anthology Award Winning Tales.
He’s so full of it he impresses no one but himself.
16. Who is your favorite fictional character
that someone else created?
Tyrel Sackett.
Circumstance dictated his response.
17. Do you address "modern" issues in
Westerns? Racism. Feminism. Downs Syndrome. Mental disabilities. Genetic
disorders. Sociopathy. Immigrant questions. Brutality. Pedophilia. Any more?
Brutality and bullying, in some way, are addressed in most
of my stories. I will mention other touchy
issues if they can be put in a favorable light for the victim. I’m still trying to learn how to do that.
18. Have you found that being able to self-publish
through Kindle and Nook that you find yourself writing more of what you want
rather than what the agent, editor, and publisher wants?
Yes, somewhat. It is
disheartening to sit and wait on editors, hoping that you have a chance but
often do not even get a reply other than a printed form letter. I’ve a novel set in 1853 titled “River
Whiskey” that has sat for over a year at a publisher without word one way or
the other. Self-publishing is okay but
you have to promote the work yourself.
It is much more satisfying to successfully write a given assignment and then
see it in print.
19. Do you make a living writing? If not, what
is your day job?
I’m compelled to write but I guess I never considered that I
could make enough to live off the proceeds alone. I’m
still learning. My day job was as a
wholesale lumber trader. I was fortunate
enough to work for three different sawmills and made a decent living for my
family for 30 years. I later managed a
propane distribution plant for a few years before I retired.
20. What are you writing right now?
A novel about an 1870’s cowboy who collects on a bounty then
learns there has been a bounty put out on him in return.
21. What do you plan to write in the future?
Western fiction; both novels and short stories.
At some point I will write a sequel to “Drover’s Vendetta.”
22. What made you decide to write Western
fiction?
I can’t get enough of the Old West. Western history is our heritage. I like to see how western fiction is imagined
then put to life. I began by trying out
the magazine markets then short story anthologies and decided that I would like
to give it a try and work my way into novels. So here I am.
