Howdy pard,

It seems ages since we last caught up! I thought I’d stop in for a how-do-you-do, a quick plate of beans and to change horses before I head on my way. I’m toting a saddlebag of news, so without further adieu let me share the latest town gossip.

Sol’s next adventure

I’m well underway with writing the second Sol Redding western ‘Sixgun Drifter’ western adventure. Book 2 will be called Redding’s Fandango, and it is shaping up as a rip-roaring Wild West escapade full of shootouts, action, and larger-than life characters.

Here’s the story:

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ONE DEAD SHERIFF. TWO TOWNS AT WAR. THREE DAYS TO FIND THE KILLER.

When the sheriff of Custer County is gunned down in cold blood, cowboy Sol Redding finds himself caught up in a deadly dance when the citizens of Purgatory blame him for the murder.

However, when a gang of hired guns ride out of the hills, the killers leave a trail of death and destruction that threatens to drive those very same townsfolk out of their homes and into the wilderness.

With little time left, Sol is given a hangman’s choice–pin the dead sheriff’s badge on his chest and bring the killers to justice, or go on trial for the lawman’s murder.

Will Sol overcome his demons and save Purgatory, or will he hang by the neck for a crime he didn’t commit?

**

I’ve already written about 30,000 words and I expect Redding’s Fandango will be about the same length as Redding’s Ace when it is finished.

You can already read the first chapter of Redding’s Fandango – I’ve posted it on my website. It’s free to read right now.

I’ve also got a pre-order for Redding’s Fandango available on Amazon. If you head there right now you’ll secure your own day-one copy at a huge pre-order discount for only 99 cents.

Dirty, rotten hombres with dynamite!

I’m pleased to recommend a western I discovered recently – Del Rio con Amor, by David Mark Brown. This pulpy western thriller follows in the footsteps of Wild, Wild, West and other such fantastical western adventures.

It’s a great story:

The success of the retooled Mexican Revolution hinges on executing the largest vanishing act the world's ever seen, right under General Obregón's nose. Pancho Villa's latest General isn't like any of the others. Young, inexperienced and visionary, Chancho Villarreal convinces Villa to cease his famous frontal assaults and embrace guerrilla warfare.

To prove his strategy sound, Chancho must execute the boldest train robbery the world will never discover, unless he fails. But revolution never comes cheap, and Chancho is about to awaken to its deadly cost.

Download your FREE copy of Del Rio con Amor by clicking on this link.

Bonanza…

I was corresponding with reader Lisa earlier this week about classic old TV westerns. She mentioned how much she enjoyed Bonanza, and it got me to thinking - which was my favorite episode?

After much deliberation I think the episode that resonated most with me was 'Feet of Clay'.

That was the episode where the Cartwrights look after that young boy whose mother died and father has gone to jail. Hoss takes that young boy under his wing but is forced to kill the boy's father in a shootout and the boy hates him. It all works out in the end, but the emotional depths that Bonanza could reach always surprised me.

What about you - is there any episode of Bonanza in particular that you enjoy more than the others? Let me know here on my Facebook page, where I have posted the episode ‘Feet of Clay’ for you to watch.

Did you know?

The Wild West had a language all its own and many phrases are still in use today. “Bellyaching” means to complain. “Caterwauling” also refers to complaining, or to terrible singing. A “fandango” is from the Spanish word and means big party with lots of dancing. If you have a desire for something, it’s called a “hankering” and someone who is snooty or arrogant would be called “highfalutin.” If something “doesn’t amount to a hill of beans,” it’s essentially worthless, and to be angry is to be “hoppin’ mad.”

Some good reads…

Do yourself a favor and check out this bundle of gripping historical fiction novels by a group of really talented authors. I’m hard to please when it comes to my reading, but there’s something for everyone – medieval combat, pirate adventures, even a Viking saga.

I’ll be sharing more details about these books on my Facebook and Twitter accounts over the next few weeks.

Sweet taste of the range

Life on the range was tough, but that didn’t mean cowboys, settlers, farmers and ranchers were unable to enjoy some of the finer things in life… such as homemade sourdough cinnamon rolls.

Imagine how good it would be to wake up after a night spent under the stars and be handed a piping hot sourdough cinnamon roll! And to boot, you have it cooked up by genuine cowboy cooking legend Kent Rollins. Get the cinnamon roll recipe here, watch Kent cook it up here!

Happy trails,

Nick