Western Fictioneers Newly Elected Officers

Cheryl Pierson is Western Fictioneers' new president. Cheryl lives with her husband in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and she is one busy lady.  She is a full-time author, co-publisher at Prairie Rose Publications, Painted Pony Books, Fire Star Press, and Tornado Alley Publications. In her spare time she works to rescue animals. and now she's Western Fictioneers' new president.

From Cheryl:

Western Fictioneers is a professional writing group that encourages and promotes the traditional western. We, as writers, envision our own ideas of how to tell our western stories and bring them to life in any number of ways: from screenplays to short stories; from novels to poetry; and now, even in the shared western universe of post-Civil War Wolf Creek, Kansas.

We look to expand our realm of western story-weaving to new readers by roping in the younger readers, the disillusioned readers, and the unsuspecting readers. Original fans of the western genre will be at ease to know their favorite standard authors, as well as some newcomers to the playing field, stand ready to deliver the very best of exciting western reading adventure available.

It is my pleasure to be able to continue the proud goals and objectives that were set in motion under our two previous presidents, Frank Roderus and Troy D. Smith.

It is said that John Wayne made the statement, “The western will never die.” I agree wholeheartedly—but not just when we’re talking movies! Westerns have grown and evolved, yet the basic elements remain constant. It is our hope that you will enjoy many hours of reading entertainment in the stories told by the members of our group, for as long as the Western Fictioneers are here to tell their tales and readers enjoy them, the West is truly here to stay!

Cheryl Pierson
Western Fictioneers President  2014

Western Fictioneers' new vice-president Keith Souter who also writes as Clay More lives in England within arrow-shot of the ruins of a medieval castle. He is a part time doctor and writes medical books, general non-fiction books, and westerns for Robert Hale, some of which Western Fictioneers has reprinted. He also writes crime novels and historical crime.

From Keith:

The Western has been thrilling readers around the world literally since the late eighteenth century, when the frontier started to move westwards. James Fenimore Cooper probably started it all when he gave us a series of historical novels, epitomised by his classic The Last of the Mohicans. Zane Grey inspired us with Riders of the Purple Sage. Jack Schaefer gave us Shane. Louis L’Amour gave us a whole panoply of memorable characters and Elmore Leonard penned classic novels and wonderful short stories, such as Three-Ten to Yuma. These are just a few of the many great writers who established this wonderful genre.

The traditional Western continues to thrill and entertain. Readers want books and eBooks and we are witnessing a revitalisation of interest in Western novels, series and short stories in both traditional print and electronic publishing. The members of Western Fictioneers are doing their best to satisfy the reading public’s almost insatiable appetite for Westerns. Through Western Fictioneers Library we are producing a steady flow of novels and anthologies. And with the increasingly popular Wolf Creek series of novels we are seeing a virtual Western town become a place that seems as real as Dodge City or Deadwood.

Membership of Western Fictioneers is open to professional authors who have written and published Westerns. Fans of the genre may also join as patron members. It is the friendliest writers’ organisation that I have ever belonged to and I consider it a privilege and an honor to serve a term as vice-president. If you love this genre as we do, then come along and join in. I guarantee you’ll enjoy the camaraderie.

Keith Souter (aka Clay More)
Western Fictioneers Vice-President 2014