Wild Bill Hickok, Apache warriors, and ‘Little sure shot’ Annie Oakley

Jun 19, 2025 5:01 pm

June '25

Howdy pard,

It’s great to see you again. There’s steak ‘n beans cookin’ in the pan and coffee boilin’ in the pot. Help yourself to a plate and listen while I catch you up on everything that’s happened lately.

I hope you brought your reading glasses – I’ve found a passel of free books to choose from; help yourself to as many as you like. I’ve got an update about a woman (an Old West icon) who can shoot better than any man I know,

information about Old West death photography, as well as one of them moving-picture shows about the guns carried by Wild Bill Hickok. I’ll tell you all about those formidable Apache warriors, and how to make cowboy chicken-fried steak, that ol’ southern delicacy.

Oh, and I’m including another exclusive taste of the next Sheriff Sol Redding western – yes, the second draft is finished. You’re going to love this adventure when it’s finished.

Lordy, now I’m prattling on. Let me top up your coffee with a drop of brandy to fight off the evening chill. As my ol’ grandpa used to say, ‘A pair of six-shooters beats a pair of aces’.

American Historical Fiction

When it comes to great stories, there’s no better setting than the land of the free and the home of the brave… this collection of free novels will scratch your itch. There’s a good number of westerns here - and don’t forget, help yourself – they are all free!

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

Big Sky Murder, by Sherilyn Decter
Agent Wild Rose, by CG Moore
Murder on the San Juan Express, by KC Sivils
The Prize: Tales from a Revolution - Vermont, by Lars DH Hedbor

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/amerhistfiction/giwjrexm4a

A new exclusive sneak peek at my next Sixgun Drifter western

I’m deep into editing the third draft of my next western, the second in the ‘Sheriff Sol Redding’ series. It’s a big rollicking adventure with lots of action, double crosses, bad hombres and gun play – and as my treasured newsletter family I’m proud to share an exclusive snippet of the story (as it stands) with you as my way of saying thank you. This excerpt is from the current draft of the book as it stands today - it may change a little (or a lot!) by the time I publish. Depending on how quickly I can edit, it should be out soon. I just couldn’t wait to give you a taste of what's coming...

The scene: Sol has just taken an outlaw into custody when angry townsfolk confront him looking for some summary justice – at the end of a rope. Sol ‘s situation goes from bad to worse… click the link to see what you think.

https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/june-2025-exclusive-subscriber-only-preview-of-the-next-sheriff-sol-redding-western/

‘Little sure shot’ Annie Oakley

She was America’s first female superstar and a global legend, shining bright in a male-dominated sport. A once in a lifetime crack shot who thought nothing of amazing millions of people with her shooting skills, Annie Oakley was a 5-foot-nothing, 110-pound Old West legend who actually preferred her privacy to global acclaim.

Oakley’s most famous tricks were almost unbelievable feats of marksmanship. At 30 paces she could split a playing card held edge-on, she hit dimes tossed into the air, she shot cigarettes from her husband’s lips.

Find out more here: https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/annie-little-sure-shot-oakley/

Thrill-a-minute

There’s nothing like a great story, and these free quality thrillers, mysteries, crime and suspense titles are just waiting for you to start page one! Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you. But don’t wait – they won’t cost you a cent!

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

A Shepherd of Wolves, by RJ King
The Hurricane’s Harvest, by Flynn Cooley
Fault Line Terror, by John G Tanner
A Dagger for Danger, by Stephen Rayfield

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/a-thrill-a-minute/un9u0zb9mr

‘Starts fast and runs hard’

Thank you to everyone who has picked themselves up a copy of Redding’s Fandango – the reviews have been great:

“The story starts fast and runs hard. Six-shooters, Winchesters and Bowie knives are the tools of the trade and they get well used. If Sol didn't have bad luck, he would have no luck at all. This story brings the non-stop cowboy action all the way to the end.”

The book is also now available on major ebook retailers - or check out the extra special edition containing exclusive content and a story epilogue not available from other retailers, delivered by Bookfunnel, and readable on any device.

You can find it here:

https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/reddings-fandango/

https://books2read.com/reddingsfandango

Did you know?

During the years that the West was being won, convincing the public of an outlaw’s death could be a challenge, so it became a custom to photograph the body. Outlaws were often posed upright against a wall and photographed as quickly as possible before they stiffened up. The photographs were also necessary to be used as proof for collecting rewards. Basically, if there was no picture, there was no guarantee the outlaw was dead.

Lowan’s Checkmate

I’m proud to recommend some great sci-fi that came across my desk – Lowan’s Checkmate, by SE Grosskopf.

Here’s the story (spoiler-free!):

“When an honest man carrying a fortune in diamonds disappears from a locked hotel room, the police are baffled. Detective Lieutenant Marx, an introverted underdog, teams up with Lowan, a telepathic private detective. The hunt for clues spans locations from an upscale country club to an underworld speakeasy. The criminal mastermind sets his sights on more ambitious targets—and nothing will stop him from announcing checkmate.”

S. E. Grosskopf’s writing is strongly influenced by the old pulp fiction magazines and Golden Age radio dramas of the 1930s-1950s. If you like fast-paced action and mystery with a dash of urban fantasy and quirkiness, then you’ll love these books.

Get your free book here:

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/a346791e-4001-11f0-8ac8-e757149d1b32

Documentary: The Guns of Wild Bill Hickok

Wild Bill Hickok is one of the most iconic figures of the American West. Known for his remarkable skills as a gunfighter and his iron-fisted rule as sheriff of Hays City and marshal of Abilene, Hickok played a pivotal role in transforming these lawless towns into more civilized communities. In this video we’ll take a look at the guns actually used by the most famous gunfighter of the 19th century, Wild Bill Hickok.

Find out more about Wild Bill’s firearms in this great documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OffP_T7qIo0

More great reading

There’s nothing like a great story, and these free quality titles are just waiting for you to start page one! Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you. But don’t wait – they won’t cost you a cent!

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

Dawn to Dusk, by Ellis K Popa
Stashed in Jar, by Rex Hurst
Introductions and Escapes, by Jonathan Mast
The Girls in the Desert, by JR Cloice

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/fictiongiveaway/eu937rel58

Did you know?

Arizona was home to many Native American tribes, but none were as feared as the Apache. Known for their brutal warfare tactics, expert survival skills, and relentless resistance against invaders, the Apache were among the most dangerous tribes in U.S. history. From a young age, Apache men trained as warriors, learning stealth, tracking, and survival. Their hit-and-run tactics made them incredibly difficult to defeat, allowing them to strike settlements and disappear into the wilderness before soldiers could retaliate. The U.S. Army eventually used relentless pursuit tactics to force the Apache into submission. By cutting off their food sources and using Apache scouts against them, the government tracked down the last holdouts. In 1886, legendary leader Geronimo finally surrendered, marking the end of Apache resistance.

Cowboy chicken-fried steak

Chicken fried steak came about as a way to make tough or small cuts of beef go a little further. The gravy, made from the drippings, utilized every bit of the beef and stretched it to feed more mouths than a plain grilled steak could. Over time, it became the preferred way to eat beef in a lot of Southern families.

Cowboy chef Kent Rollins will take you through cooking this southern delicacy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSJt1MXKMRk

Get to know Sheriff Sol Redding

Grab your copy of my western Redding’s Fandango right here:

https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/reddings-fandango/

From me to you: your free western

Get your free and exclusive copy of my first western Redding’s Maverick here: https://BookHip.com/NGKAHW

Nice to see you again!

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