Howdy pard,

Welcome back! First thing, I’ve go a question for you. Why did the bow-legged cowboy get fired? Because he couldn’t keep his calves together!

Second thing – I apologise for that first thing. In my defense, that’s my only joke, so I can’t make that mistake again.

Don’t worry, I’ve got some good stuff for you today. I’ve got an exclusive progress report on the next Sol Redding western (just for you), I found some great free page-turners to help you keep those cold, cold nights at bay, a great video which shows just how hard those pioneers had to fight the elements (and nature) just to reach the Old West, and a recipe for cowboy-style deep-fried rabbit that will keep you hopping.

Come inside, get warm by the fire, and feel free to throw a shot glass at me if I try another funny!

Just for you - a little taste of Sol

Sheriff Sol Redding, that is.

I’ve been working hard on the next Sheriff Redding novel – it’s coming along just fine. I’d like to know what you think.

To keep this email a manageable length, I’ll post a chunk of the latest story draft on my website and drop the link below, so you can see how it’s going. This preview is exclusively for you as a thank you for signing up to get my updates. I won’t be sharing this on Facebook or anywhere else – and I’d love to know what you think.

I'm really happy with the story I've come up with for this one – it just feels right. It feels like a Western of old… conflict, lots of action, a sprinkle of humor, a really tight plot, and damsels in distress (and damsels causing distress!)

Anyway, enough blathering. Here’s the link to read the preview: https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/exclusive-subscriber-only-preview-of-the-next-sheriff-sol-redding-adventure/

Here’s my email address – tell me what you think: [email protected]

Putting the story in history

There are few better ways of escaping the stress and aggravation of everyday life than settling down with a good book.

Ringadingding! I’ve found a stack of free (and great!) novels for you to try, all set in the past, and all ready for you to download right now. From spy thrillers to medieval mysteries, wild west adventures, to wartime escapades and romantic journeys of discovery, this collection has it all covered.

They all have something in common – they are all historical fiction – and they won’t cost you a cent. Pick one, pick ten, pick them all – it’s up to you.

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

• Death of the Messenger, by M. J. Westerbone
• Conspiracy in Tokyo, by Matthew Legare
• A Proper Heart, by Stefanie Bridges-Mikota
• Souvenirs from Kiev, by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger

Don’t miss out, folks - you've only got a few days! Click here to get your free books:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/discoverfreehistoricalfiction/9quvdo07z0

Deep-fried rabbit

You’ve probably seen old westerns with a rabbit cooking above a fire on a makeshift spit. While that’ll feed you when you’re hungry, it dries out the meat something terrible.

In this youtube video, genuine cowboy cooking legend Kent Rollins shows you how how to butcher the rabbit to get the best cuts of meat, then two different ways of cooking it – deep fried rabbit, and a little German recipe called Hassenpfeffer. I’ll let Kent explain.

Get his rabbit recipes here: https://kentrollins.com/rabbit/

Watch Kent cook them up here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WmfqbAHwzE

Did you know?

When we think about violence in the Wild West, gunfights or shootouts (like the infamous O.K. Corral) tend to come to mind. Yet the frontier also had its share of serial killers, who used the isolation of the West to carry out their bloody deeds unhindered. Perhaps the most famous are the so-called “Bloody Benders,” a bloodthirsty family of serial killers who operated an inn and general store near Cherryvale, Kansas. There are also less-well-known killers like Charles Kennedy, who may have slain more than 14 people—possibly including his own son—in his home in New Mexico before he himself was killed by a vigilante mob.

Heroes so bad they’re good

Do you like your heroes to have a little dirt under their fingernails? If so, then I have got something for you!

Here’s a collection of free novels and short stories in which the main character dabbles on the dark side – otherwise known as an ‘anti-hero’. If you like your heroes to play in the shadows, to have a questionable past, or even to play the bad guys at their own game, then you should check this collection out.

With more than 35 different titles to choose from, you’re a great chance of finding a story in which the hero isn’t above the odd dirty trick. There’s something here for everyone – mysteries, military fiction, westerns, fantasy, space operas, even romance.

They all have something in common – the main character is not to be messed with – and they won’t cost you a cent. Pick one, pick ten, pick them all – it’s up to you.

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

• Kill Order, by Nicole Nadeau
• Island of Bones, by William Alan Webb
• Spice, zombie, apocolypse, by Simon Carr
• Honor Among Thieves, by Jamie Ibson

Don’t miss out, folks! Click here to get your free books:

https://storyoriginapp.com/to/JJiWqin

How the Wild West was won

If you have some time to kill, you could do worse than sit back and enjoy this great show about how our early pioneers had to overcome (and in some cases adapt to) America’s world-beating natural landscapes in order to ‘Go West’ and find freedom.

The video discusses how the landscapes of America's three great mountain ranges - the Appalachians, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada - challenged the westward push of the early pioneers.

Their awe-inspiring geography, extreme weather, wild animals and ecology presented both great opportunities and great challenges for the native Indians, mountain men, fur traders, wagon trains and gold miners of the Wild West.

You can watch it here – enjoy!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glAKMA6Q_cY

Happy trails,

Nick