Elmer Ford

I have fun with names when I write. In my most recent work, I call one of the characters Elmer Ford. Unfortunately for Elmer, his encounter with me was not so fun for him. After he mistakenly killed three men for being cattle rustlers, he was hanged. Oh, well. I enjoyed creating him while it lasted.

Chapter Three

Changing gears - a manhunt and a trial this chapter.

Closing in on chapter two

When I was a boy we listened to western series in what was tagged by later generations, The Golden Age of Radio. My brothers and I walked to a theater on Saturdays, where the kiddie matinee featured many films about Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and The Durango Kid. Some Saturdays the family drove to a drive in theater, The Motor Inn Drive In, in Fresno, where we saw, among other films, High Noon, Rawhide, Westward the Women, and The Three Godfathers. Eventually I went on my own to see Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and such. Many novels I read were by Max Brand and, later, Louis L'Amour.

So, I have a long history with the western genre. Yet, I was reluctant to try my hand, until just recently, when I took the plunge. I am not blazing any new trails with it. The theme is traditional. I wouldn't attempt spaghetti and in fact only truly love one spaghetti western: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

I am hopeful this work will lead to perhaps a series, featuring one central character. More later on - 

Bonobos

Besides writing the western, I am collecting stories for a short story book. I've had more positive feedback on the lead story than any I have yet written.

New progress

I am cleaning up Chapter One some and blocking out Chapter Two. The first chapter has lots of action. Two is more placid, focused on characters.

Angry Indian

I'm studying ways an Indian can kill the five cowboys who murdered his horse. They are setting up a camp and he is crawling between the rocks nearby.

Latest Project

Nearing completion of Chapter One of western tale about Tim Medina. The name is mild, but the man is not. Rootin' tootin' action more traditional than work influenced by Spaghetti Westerns. I have enjoyed several spaghettis, but most of them suck.   

An End and a Beginning

Sam Paine is finished, all but some tidying up of the last few pages. About time.

I'm calling my cowboy Tim Medina. Sorting through stereotypes before I begin. I want him to be the rootinest tootinest hombre of them all. Since I never wrote a western story before, this should be quite an experience.