tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post4124580279243051511..comments2024-03-27T13:16:32.943-05:00Comments on Western Fictioneers: SIGNS OF LIFE: THE ART OF TRACKING by Marc CameronWestern Fictioneershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01683314579075461026noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-81132654619023529802013-02-16T16:15:36.687-06:002013-02-16T16:15:36.687-06:00Amazing stuff here, Marc. I now know who to contac...Amazing stuff here, Marc. I now know who to contact Thanks for a terrific post.Tanya Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08580821680629254085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-24499627545973068672013-02-16T08:12:09.833-06:002013-02-16T08:12:09.833-06:00How funny. Some one once said "So many words,...How funny. Some one once said "So many words, so little communication." Here is a perfect example of how sometimes misunderstandings happen. I just finished a long go around with our beloved US Postal service regarding the tracking on some books I mailed, so when I saw the notice of the blog on tracking I thought it would be something about how not to loose our books in the mail. Glad it wasn't, although that would have been good too, this about real tracking was good information. A tiny bit of it I knew from being a country boy: a tiny bit. Thank you much. This was great.<br />Rod Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-61510078242134938562013-02-15T21:35:41.707-06:002013-02-15T21:35:41.707-06:00Thanks for all the feedback.
I often catch good-n...Thanks for all the feedback. <br />I often catch good-natured flack when we're showing visitors around Alaska and I can't shut up about this track or that bit of sign or some wild berry or edible plant... It's an illness, I reckon. <br /><br />You're right about the rain, Jim. Weather degrades tracks but often does not erase them. <br />I believe that when we write about a tracker--someone who is really good at it--they have to be a good observer of all things--both nature and human behavior. Same qualities a good writer has. <br /><br />Dang, I knew the round poop anecdote would steal the show... <br /><br />For years I've been unable to write about the Marshals Service, but now that I'm retired, we're planning a spin-off character from my Thrillers. He appears in the book I'm working on now that will be out in February 2014. More to come on that, but he'll be a tracker. That's certain.<br /><br />Meant what I said about questions. Bring 'em. I have my experts I go to all the time. Ty Cunningham, the guy in the photo when we're in Arizona is one of the finest trackers I know as well as an master martial artist. I'm constantly going to him for advice and choreography.<br />Looking forward to Japan as well, Charlie. Hoping the interviews and visits I have set up give the books a new depth. <br /><br />Thanks for allowing me to participate. <br />M<br />Marc Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652887133889558701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-86356800370588981832013-02-15T20:39:26.318-06:002013-02-15T20:39:26.318-06:00Great stuff, Marc. Looking forward to meeting you ...Great stuff, Marc. Looking forward to meeting you in Japan. I also think you could write a book on law enforcement in fiction.ChuckTyrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02609200010767178944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-17742023378027577282013-02-15T20:35:19.841-06:002013-02-15T20:35:19.841-06:00Really informative post, Mark. And thanks for the ...Really informative post, Mark. And thanks for the praise, too. One thing I've learned from being a horseman most of my life is the conception most folks (and western writers) have that a good rainstorm will wipe out any signs of hoofprints is completely false. I've seen hoofprints left by my horse, and others, on sandy, hilly trails which have lasted for weeks or even months, despite there being several thunderstorms and downpours. Sure, they deteriorate over time and with each storm, but just about anyone could still follow those tracks. An expert tracker would have no problem.<br /><br />Jim GriffinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-61229012455045309772013-02-15T20:28:57.265-06:002013-02-15T20:28:57.265-06:00I thoroughly enjoyed the post, Marc. Thank you.I thoroughly enjoyed the post, Marc. Thank you.Marsha Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389060049107102815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-82641113042228041912013-02-15T18:58:30.935-06:002013-02-15T18:58:30.935-06:00Thanks so much, Marc. This post is extremely help...Thanks so much, Marc. This post is extremely helpful to me. I know next to nothing about tracking so usually try to find a way to write around it. Or have fresh sign. Round poop, eh? Sure wouldn't have thought of that!Jacquie Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361793932364487636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-5872233575820186132013-02-15T17:31:00.910-06:002013-02-15T17:31:00.910-06:00What a great post, Marc. Know where to go for rese...What a great post, Marc. Know where to go for research now so my characters won't track like a James Fennimore Cooper Indian. Troy's comment said it best, though.Phil Trumanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05388294067961766208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-72553031929119994912013-02-15T17:17:11.267-06:002013-02-15T17:17:11.267-06:00Appreciated. Thanks. Naturalist Loren Eisely once ...Appreciated. Thanks. Naturalist Loren Eisely once was startled by the discovery of human-like footprints in the wild, and then realized they were his own.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-304569458845023602013-02-15T16:58:38.237-06:002013-02-15T16:58:38.237-06:00A SUPER blog that I absorbed. Now you're gonn...A SUPER blog that I absorbed. Now you're gonna make me work harder (and be more entertaining) when I'm writing that tracking scene. Great nuances. L. J. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506184514602317769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-27418424859353735032013-02-15T16:46:55.980-06:002013-02-15T16:46:55.980-06:00Truly learned so much. Thank you.Truly learned so much. Thank you.Renaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-38127615826280213172013-02-15T16:41:12.400-06:002013-02-15T16:41:12.400-06:00Thank you for that great post, Marc. It seems quit...Thank you for that great post, Marc. It seems quite serendipitous, since I am working on a story right now - and have just arrived at the point before the tracking begins. You have given me food for thought.Keith Souterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15206349930107528691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-81708393724685132342013-02-15T16:24:14.727-06:002013-02-15T16:24:14.727-06:00Marc, Thanks for sharing. As always, very educatio...Marc, Thanks for sharing. As always, very educational.Livia J Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05958199886826207363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-3025655624145437282013-02-15T13:38:57.469-06:002013-02-15T13:38:57.469-06:00Thanks, Marc! This was extremely helpful. I predic...Thanks, Marc! This was extremely helpful. I predict that you're gonna see a lot of WF good guys in stories the next couple of years, out in the woods lookin' for round poop.Troy D. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07744762061580915223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-58044755245657188392013-02-15T12:41:30.972-06:002013-02-15T12:41:30.972-06:00Marc, as always, an AWESOME post that really gives...Marc, as always, an AWESOME post that really gives a lot of us some very much needed information. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us. Yes, you can probably bet there are going to be a ton of questions coming your way!<br />CherylCheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-70925415669414105862013-02-15T09:36:34.515-06:002013-02-15T09:36:34.515-06:00Awesome!! I'm gonna need this some day soon. T...Awesome!! I'm gonna need this some day soon. Thanks, Marc!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-65210161010302724472013-02-15T09:11:49.627-06:002013-02-15T09:11:49.627-06:00Marc, this was a great post and one I'll save ...Marc, this was a great post and one I'll save to my research files. I write western romance/mystery, and many of my heroes have to track bad guys. The book I'm plotting now has the hero tracking bad guys half way across Texas, so I really needed this post. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I expect I'll take you up on your offer to answer questions. Caroline Clemmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-43954010051922292642013-02-15T07:54:33.708-06:002013-02-15T07:54:33.708-06:00A fantastic, informative post, Marc. Thanks for ta...A fantastic, informative post, Marc. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us. <br /><br />Cheers,<br />MattMatthew P. Mayohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15078400556536047544noreply@blogger.com