Mike Bray Interview

Next up is Mike Bray, publishing giant from Wolfpack.

Great to have you here, Mike...

What inspired you to co-found Wolfpack Publishing?
I’d been selling Larry Martin’s books for two years before we started Wolfpack. We had a proven, duplicatable model for selling western fiction. The publishing company was Larry’s idea; I wanted to duplicate the Johnstone model and put ghost writers behind Larry’s name.

Larry Martin. What drew you two together?
Larry and I met through the real estate business in the early eighties. We had much more than a working friendship in fact it was mentor mentee at times.

How did your internet marketing background prepare you?
It taught me that a great book still has to find its reader. Knowing how people discover things online gave us a head start when digital publishing took off.

What was your initial vision?
Larry wasn’t motivated by money; he wanted to share his success with some longtime friends. I wanted to create a home for genre authors where they felt supported and their books reached readers.

Biggest early challenges?
Building trust with authors and building a catalog one book at a time with a small team.

When did you realize Wolfpack was becoming a major force?
When established authors started coming to us, and readers started following the imprint as well as individual authors.

Why do Westerns still attract readers?
They're about courage, justice and people standing on their own two feet. Those themes never go out of style.

What makes a great Western stand out?
Characters you believe in, a strong sense of place, and a story that moves.

Which authors have influenced the genre most?
Owen Wister, Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour, Elmer Kelton and Larry McMurtry, to name a few.

Have reader tastes changed?

Somewhat. Readers want deeper characters and more diverse perspectives, but they still want a good story at the heart of it.

How important is historical accuracy?
Very. Readers know their history, and getting it right earns their trust. The story still comes first.

What do you look for in a new author?
A strong voice, a story that grabs you, and someone who wants to build a career, not just publish one book.

Common submission mistakes?

Not following the guidelines and sending a manuscript before it's truly finished.

A manuscript you knew would succeed?
Escape to Exile by B.N. Rundell. I emailed Rundell before I finished the book. 

Advice for writers breaking into Westerns?
Read widely in the genre, know your history, and keep writing. Consistency matters.

How has digital publishing changed things for authors?
It's opened doors. Authors can reach readers worldwide, and books stay available far longer.

Trends that excite you?
Readers discovering classic stories for the first time, and new voices coming into the genre.

How has Dusty Saddle's growth affected Wolfpack's approach?

Our approach remains largely unchanged. More Western publishers help readers discover the genre, benefiting everyone. We remain focused on our authors and books.

How do you decide which out-of-print books get a second life?
If the story still holds up and readers would enjoy it today, it deserves another shot.

What do readers misunderstand about publishing?
How many people and how much work go into every book they pick up.

Where do you see Wolfpack and the genre in ten years?
Still growing and still bringing great stories to readers. The Western isn't going anywhere. But remember Wolfpack is well diversified we own five imprints. Our top book this month isn’t a Wolfpack western it’s a single dad romance.

Bonus: a long-forgotten Western author you'd bring back?
I’ll give you two. We recently started re-releasing books from the estates of Gordon D. Shirreffs and Norman A. Fox. If you want to read a true master of the genre, I highly recommend these two authors.

Thanks for a great insight into your world, Mike. 

 

D.B. Newton

 The Wolf Pack 

Jim Bannister #6

by

D.B. Newton

Riding high along a lonely trail in the Rockies, Jim Bannister believes he’s finally found a place where know one knows his face.

He couldn’t be more wrong.

A chance encounter with a ruthless gang of outlaws changes everything. Forced at gunpoint to ride with them into an isolated mountain settlement, Bannister is dragged into a desperate raid for supplies.

He has no intention of helping terrorise innocent people, but once the gang recognises the notorious bounty hunter’s prize in their midst, escape becomes almost impossible.

It takes a special kind of man to walk in a sheriff’s office and claim the bounty on another wanted man but the men Bannister is riding with have never let loyalty stand in the way of easy money.

Now trapped between a bloodthirsty gang, a waiting sheriff and the noose that has followed him across the West, Jim Bannister must once again fight for the one thing no reward can buy: his freedom.

Forced to ride with a pack of ruthless curly wolves led by Grif McLowery, Jim Bannister is desperate to find a way out. But when the gang stumbles upon an isolated settlement, Bannister realizes the people living there will need all the help he can give them. Unfortunately, McLowery and his men have plans of their own, and Bannister soon finds himself at odds with Morgan, a brutal outlaw whose hatred grows so intense that he's determined to kill him.

Fate, however, delivers McLowery an unexpected opportunity. Among the settlers is a young girl whose father is Ward Conselman, an old partner who once crossed McLowery in order to protect his family. Seeing a chance for revenge at last, the outlaw leader sets his scheme in motion, dragging Bannister even deeper into a dangerous web of violence and betrayal. In the end, everything builds toward a gun-blazing showdown where only one side will walk away alive.

Most of the story takes place in a single setting, which works well in building tension and keeping the action focused. The writing is strong throughout, and while the plot leaves some room for improvement, it remains an enjoyable and engaging read. That shouldn't discourage anyone from giving it a try. As is usually the case with this author, the story is well written and entertaining from start to finish. 4/5.

You can pick up a copy of this book on Amazon or from Piccadilly Publishing. 

Ryan Fowler Interview

 

Today I am joined by Ryan Fowler. I've had the pleasure of conversing with Ryan numerous times and thought I'd put him under the microscope. 

 

Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us here today.

Thanks for having me! I always enjoy reading your blog. And your books! Great stuff.

 Thank you. What does a typical writing day look like for you?

I wake up at about 5:00 every morning and get going. I’m a morning person and that’s when I’m most creative. So, I usually hit my wordcount pretty early in the day.

 Are you able to name some of your series’ and what pseudonyms you’ve written under?

Nope! But sure wish I could. Believe it or not, most of my titles are romances under a woman’s penname. But I had the privilege of doing some westerns under a penname that I always wanted to do. One of the greatest thrills of my professional life. As far as titles under my own name, I have a couple out there. I’m partial to Guns of Tascosa. I’ll have more out soon, too, that I can claim.

How many words do you aim to write in a day when working on a novel?

At least 3K. That’s five days a week. If I get 4K (which happens maybe a couple of days a week) then even better. On a really good day I’ll hit 5K, but that’s pretty rare.

 

Are you a detailed outliner or do you discover the story as you write?

I used to have every single chapter outlined before I’d write a single word. Of course, that outline would sometimes change as the story went along, but now I rarely outline like that. I always outline the main characters, though. And, as I add more characters to the story, I’ll make note of them in the loose outline so I can refer back to it later.

 

How has your writing process changed since you published your first book?

Probably the biggest one is the whole outline—or lack of outlining—thing.

 

What are your favorite western series’ that you’ve read or worked on?

I’ll go with reading. And oh man, where do I start? I’m a huge fan of many of the William Johnstone series. James Reasoner has a series called Outlaw Ranger that should be required reading for any western fan. Also, Ralph Cotton’s Gunfighter’s Reputation series is as good as they get, in my opinion. Peter Brandvold’s Yakima Henry series ranks right up there, too.

 

Do you revise as you go, or complete a first draft before editing?

I never revise as I go, really. I might read a couple of sentences here and there and tweak a few things, but I tend to write fast and edit later.

 

What advice would you give to writers trying to build a disciplined writing routine?

Find what works for you. This isn’t one size fits all and there’s no right or wrong way, really. Like I said, I’m a morning person. That’s when I’m at my best. By the afternoon, my brain is drained. So, I don’t force it. I believe all of us writers have a rhythm. Just find yours and have fun with it!

 

What kinds of books do you read for pleasure?

I love westerns. But I read a ton of mystery and thriller, too. The Mitch Rapp series, Spenser, Orphan X. I just finished a wonderful book by Darcy Coates called Craven Manor. As fine a ghost story as I’ve ever read. I’ll be reading more of her stuff soon.

 

How much of your reading is research versus relaxation?

It’s all relaxation. I never really read for research—though I’m always making notes in my head or plugging them into my phone if something I’m reading spurs a little inspiration.

 

Are there any authors you return to again and again?

James Reasoner is always reliable. I wish the world truly knew all he’s written. Vince Flynn (and those who have continued his Mitch Rapp series) are high on the list. And Robert Parker. Reading a Spenser novel is like hanging out with old friends. Robert Crais is amazing and anytime he drops a new one it’s appointment reading.

 

What book are you reading right now?

Deep Water by Brett  Battles. It’s part of the Stone Barrington series he took over after Stuart Woods passed away. Battles always does solid work. A great author! I highly recommend his Night Man series.

 

Do you prefer physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks?

I have rough eyesight, so ebooks really come in handy so I can enlarge the print size. But I also love holding—and smelling—physical books. Every now and then I’ll throw in an audio book while I’m at the gym or something, but it’s rare.

 

How has your reading taste evolved over the years?

It really hasn’t much. As a little kid, I discovered mysteries through the Encyclopedia Brown series and the Hardy Boys. Then, when I was an older kid, they launched a series of Hardy Boys tales aimed at middle schoolers called The Hardy Boys Casefiles. Still mysteries but more action oriented and swerved into the thriller genre. I believe those led right into my reading books like Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, Parker, and all the ones I still read today.

 

Top 3 western authors you’ve read? Past and present.

Man, going to be hard to narrow this one down! But here goes…

James Reasoner is high on the list. Again, I wish western readers knew just how many of their books he was behind. I guarantee you it’s pretty darn high!

Jory Sherman was great. I had the honor of chatting with him a bit in his later days. Boy, did he have some stories! Told me about Louis L’Amour, Bill Johnstone, and some others he’d known. Sometimes I wonder if all the stories were true. I’m not saying Jory would lie. He was a fine man. But I’m saying he was a master storyteller and you know, sometimes authors don’t let the facts get in the way of a good yarn. I think our minds remember events in a way that’s more interesting than the exact way they happened, but that’s a whole other topic. Anyway, I recommend every western fan read the Sidewinder series Jory did. It’s a masterclass.

Here’s where I’ll cheat because I can’t decide between Ralph Cotton and Mean Pete Brandvold. The first Brandvold book I read—and I don’t remember the title—blew me away by how hard-hitting it was. Also, I challenge anyone to tell me who does action scenes better than him and Reasoner.

As far as Cotton goes, he holds a special place in my heart because I’d stopped reading westerns for about a decade or so and then bought his book Gunman’s Song back in 2004 or 2005. It re-sparked my love of the genre and here I am all these years later. I’m not sure why I don’t hear more western readers talk about him. He was prolific.

 

Which authors have had the greatest influence on your work?

Well, I might sound like a broken record here, but James Reasoner. I’m partial because the man is one of my best friends. But he’s been a mentor, too—though he’d never think of himself as such. But not only has reading his work inspired me, but our conversations and his career advice and all that has been huge!  And he’s a damn encyclopedia when it comes to knowledge of past authors, books, the publishing industry, and all that. I love the guy. I wish he’d write a memoir.

When I first started writing, I had a sort of informal list I called Reasoner’s Rules of Writing that I made just from reading his stuff. In my early days, I basically tried to mimic those mechanics and it served me well. Smooth prose. His stuff is just immensely readable.

As far as reading, Mean Pete Brandvold (who isn’t nearly as mean as his nickname implies) has been an inspiration. His stuff can punch you in the gut in the best ways.

I love dialogue and I’ve picked some of that up (or like to think I have, at least) from Elmore Leonard and Robert Parker.  

Janet Evanovich is another. I just love her pacing and humor. Her style is a big influence on me.

 

What first sparked your interest in Western fiction?

I’m not sure, exactly. I just always loved the genre. I was born in 1980, so well after the western’s heyday.  But one of my favorite shows was Rawhide. I’d come home from kindergarten, strap on my toy gun, and watch the reruns that ran on our local UHF channel every afternoon.

My grandpa had every Louis L’Amour book and some other western authors thrown in. I read a few of them. And then, as a teen in the 90s, there was a sort of western revival with movies like Tombstone, Maverick, and others. I loved them! I was the only teenager I knew of buying western paperbacks, but there were sure some good ones out then. I’d finish my schoolwork quickly (not necessarily accurately) just so I could get to my books—which were often westerns.

My stepfather was an older man and he loved the genre, too. He’d buy paperbacks and watch the classic westerns, so I had that influence, as well.

 

Have any non-Western writers or genres shaped your storytelling?

Oh yeah. I know I’ve kind of already rambled on about them, but Parker, Evanovich, and Crais and all those authors. I try to always remember Elmore Leonard’s quote, “If it sounds like writing, re-write it.”

 

Where do you usually find ideas for your novels and characters?

To be honest, I’m not sure. My mind just kind of constantly spins! That can be a bad thing. But it serves me well in my career.

 

What separates a memorable Western novel from an average one?

Characters! I think any novel in any genre, you’ve got to have characters that readers actually care about.

 

Looking back on your career, what single lesson about writing do you wish you had learned sooner?

Don’t force it. Your style is your style and that’s okay. Be unique. Find your voice and lean into it.

 

Bonus Questions:

If you could spend an afternoon talking with any deceased Western writer, who would it be and what would you ask?

Bill Johnstone. I’d love to ask him if some of the stories I’ve heard are true! He sounds like he was a colorful guy and I’d want to hear his tales—whether they’re tall ones or not!

 

I’m coming around for dinner. What are you cooking?

Oh, chili. No question. But if you want a better dinner, then I’d take you to one of my favorite BBQ joints. Oklahoma knows a thing or two about smoked meats.

 

Once again, Ryan, thank you for joining me and answering the tough questions.

Thanks for having me, Brent!

 

 

John Legg

 Death in Helltown

by

John Legg

Harlan Bloodworth is a hard man, one who hunts the worst of the worst outlaws. So when someone starts butchering soiled doves in Dodge City, the men who employ those fallen women turn to Bloodworth. They’re losing business, and they can’t abide that. They don’t care how it’s done, they just want the killings stopped. And, they figure, Harlan Bloodworth is just the man for the almost impossible job of tracking down whoever is responsible.

After collecting bounties on more than one outlaw in Dodge, Bloodworth is asked to investigate the murders of several soiled doves. He declines, seeing it as someone else's problem, until a woman he has taken a liking to is brutally killed. From that moment on, the hunt becomes deeply personal.

As Bloodworth digs deeper, the investigation takes him in unexpected directions. What appears to be the work of a single killer soon reveals a darker conspiracy involving multiple murderers carrying out the orders of an unseen hand.

Fast-paced, violent, and packed with suspense, this story held my attention from beginning to end. The final twist caught me by surprise and provided a satisfying payoff. Although I wouldn't rank it among Legg's very best novels, it remains an entertaining read and a worthy addition to his body of work. A solid 4/5.

This story can be purchased from Amazon or Wolfpack Publishing.  

John Legg Interview

 

Next up is the prolific John Legg

 

Hi, John. Thanks for joining us here today.

 

You’re a prolific writer; it seems like you’ve been around for a good while. What does a typical writing day look like for you?

I don’t have a typical writing day. When I’m on a roll, I’ll write until I can’t write anymore that day.

 

Are you able to name some of your series and what pseudonyms you’ve written under?

My own series are Rocky Mountain Lawmen and Arizona Territory, plus the trilogies Mountain Times, Mountain Country, and Blood Trail. Pseudonyms I’ve written under are Will McLennan, Clint Hawkins, and Jack Hanson.

 

How many words do you aim to write in a day when working on a novel?

2,000-4,000

 

Are you a detailed outliner or do you discover the story as you write?

I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, so I discover it as I go along. I even let the characters guide me at times. Occasionally, I’ll write an outline, but a quarter of the way through it, I am already drifting away from it.

 

How has your writing process changed since you published your first book?

Not too much, other than being more meticulous.

 

What are your favorite western series that you’ve read or worked on?

I don’t read many Westerns out of fear of subconsciously plagiarizing. Of my own, I’m very fond of the Mountain Times trilogy.

 

Do you revise as you go, or complete a first draft before editing?

For the most part I’ll get it done, then do the rewriting, which, considering the seat-of-the-pants writing I do, often means a lot of rewriting. I will do some as I go along if I realize something I’m doing now doesn’t mesh with something I wrote earlier, but it generally would have to have been written not long before.

 

What advice would you give to writers trying to build a disciplined writing routine?

If you look at some of the previous responses, you will get the idea that I don’t have a disciplined writing routine. Besides, whatever my writing routine is, even if it were more structured, might not be good for someone else. Try different things. Talk to a lot of authors and try what they have to say. Then find what suits you best.

 

What kinds of books do you read for pleasure?

Mostly mysteries. I have a few favorite authors I like: Craig Johnson, Anne Hillerman (I had read everything by her father, Tony), Laurie R. King, David Rosenfelt, Steve Hockensmith (who is among the ranks of the Wolfpack), and the wonderfully wacky Christopher Moore.

 

How much of your reading is research versus relaxation?

About 50-50. I generally read one, then the other.

 

Are there any authors you return to again and again?

See the above list, but there are a few old-timers, like Janice Holt Giles. I had a wider selection of writers when I was younger, including Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clark. I read a lot of Edgar Rice Burroughs when I was a kid.

 

What book are you reading right now?

I recently finished Silent Bite, by Rosenfelt, and I’m now into The Saga of the Pony Express by Joseph J. DiCerto

 

Do you prefer physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks?

I’m an old guy and old-fashioned, so I like physical books.

 

How has your reading taste evolved over the years?

In a way, it’s stayed the same. I like adventure types, though it has changed by genre somewhat. When I was young, I read most of the Chip Hilton stories and the Hardy Boys; eventually I moved into science fiction, but that’s gotten way past me; now it’s mysteries, many of which, like Craig Johnson’s, are also adventurous. I must admit, too, that I am jealous of him. I wish I could write half as well as he does.

 

Top 3 Western authors you’ve read? Past and present.

Janice Holt Giles, Tony Hillerman, but also single Westerns by some not necessarily Western authors, like James Michner’s Centennial, and The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout. If you are looking for nonfiction, there are too manty to list, but Dee Brown and Robert Utley have done very fine work.

 

Which authors have had the greatest influence on your work?

Edgar Rice Burroughs and Janice Holf Giles.

 

What first sparked your interest in Western fiction?

When I was in the service, I read The Great Adventure by Janice Holt Gilles. I was really drawn to it. But life goes on, and I forgot about it. A few years later, I was attending Boston University. The TA in the Communications class had us walk down Commonwealth Ave. and describe it. I thought this was stupid, so that’s what I wrote. The TA didn’t care what we wrote; she just wanted to see how well we wrote. I was graded very highly. It was then that the thought of actually writing blossomed. And then I remembered The Great Adventure. I found a copy in a bookstore in Kenmore Square and read it again and again. Once more life took precedence, but I never forgot that book. Several more years later, I decided to try my hand at writing a Western, and since I had read Giles ’ book, I was interested in mountain men, so I wrote one. It didn’t win a Nobel Prize nor get published by the first place I tried, but it did get published. (And there is another story there.) It was upward from there, with a few roadblocks along the way. Sorry this went on so long.

 

Have any non-Western writers or genres shaped your storytelling?

I’m sure some, maybe many, have, but there were no one or two in particular, just many who did so by how they wrote.

 

Where do you usually find ideas for your novels and characters?

All over the place. Reading nonfiction. Sometimes a place. Sometimes a character forms in my head, and I have to find a place to put him or her. Sometimes just a feeling, or you see a news story that’s sad or great, and I think I can make a novel out of that.

 

What separates a memorable Western novel from an average one?

Well, the writing itself, I think. But characters, action, dialogue. Mostly, I guess, is how it’s put together.

 

You now write for Wolfpack. What’s different with them to other publishers you’ve worked with?

Oh, they’re nasty to me all the time. LOL. No, it’s been great working with them. They’re encouraging and helpful. I joined the pack in its early years. There might’ve only been five or six of us. I had been out of the business for quite a while when I joined Western Fictioneers and asked if anyone knew where I could pick up my career. L.J. Martin,  who started the company, wrote and said he had a new venture going and he would like me to join. He said he would take anything I could give him. Mike was the head honcho at the time and was great to work with, very encouraging. I don’t get to deal with Mike much anymore since he bought the business, but he has hired some good people, and I’ve enjoyed working with them even though I’ve slowed down. There is the tiniest bit of sadness that the family atmosphere we had at the beginning has faded some because the company has grown so much. But that is a small price to pay for Wolfpack having the success it has had, and the folks I have contact with most often, especially Kayla, offer as much of a family attitude as things were in the beginning.

 

Looking back on your career, what single lesson about writing do you wish you had learned sooner?

I don’t know if there was a single lesson. I was a news copy editor for almost 40 years, so things like making sure you get everything right covers both areas.

 

Bonus Question:

If you could spend an afternoon talking with any deceased Western writer, who would it be and what would you ask?

That’s a tough one. Jory Sherman might be one. We worked together a little, so I’m not sure what I could ask him. Maybe Bob Randisi. And I’d ask him how he could write so damn fast.

 

Once again, John,  thank you for joining me and answering the tough questions.

 

Kirk Hamilton

 Fight for Shiloh

by

Kirk Hamilton

(Keith Hetherington)

They had all laughed at him, but Carey was past caring. He picked up a tintype of Laurie and himself on their wedding day, pushed it into the slim warbag and stumbled outside, six-gun buckled carelessly around his waist, the holster almost in the middle of his back, rifle trailing. The alcohol made everything blurry. He noticed that the hardcases kept their hands on their gun butts as he staggered to his horse—just in case he found enough guts to try something stupid. He clawed his way into the saddle and rode out without looking back. He desperately wanted to leave the place, so he had no regrets. He told himself that Tully had done him a favor ... until he was halfway down that mountain. Then he turned around and went back, and this time there was blood in his eye.

When Carey discovers men burning his belongings, he's furious. When he realizes some of those possessions belonged to his late wife, fury turns to deadly violence. The result is a killing he never intended, but one that changes everything.

With a $1,000 bounty on his head, placed there by Tully's father, Carey goes on the run. Most men in his position would head for Mexico, but news of his long-lost grandfather Shilo's death sends him north instead. Shilo has left him a gold mine, along with more trouble than he could ever have imagined.

Shilo was widely hated, and the townsfolk quickly transfer their resentment to his grandson. As if that wasn't enough, rustlers are using the mountain as a corridor out of the territory, a hard-nosed sheriff is determined to keep the peace his own way, and a ruthless bounty hunter is closing in. Faced with enemies on all sides, Carey may find it easier to move the mountain than survive on it.

This is another fine western from the Cleveland stable, originally published in 1977 and now rescued from obscurity by Piccadilly Publishing. Keith Hetherington was a superb storyteller whose talents extended far beyond the western genre. An entertaining, fast-paced read and an easy 5/5.

This will be available on 1 December from Piccadilly Publishing and Amazon. 

James Reasoner Interview

 

Next we have Prolific author James Reasoner under the microscope.

Hi James, thanks for joining us.

Thanks for inviting me.

 

What does a typical writing day look like for you?

For decades, I would deal with email and other matters right after breakfast and then I’d be at the computer writing by ten o’clock in the morning. Write until lunch about one, back to work by two, write until six o’clock.  I could start earlier or write later to make a deadline if I had to. These days, as I get older, morning and lunch are about the same as they’ve always been, but I get tired sooner and usually stop for the day between four and five in the afternoon.

 

How many words do you aim to write in a day when working on a novel?

I like to get 2000 words written in a day. I don’t always make it. A really good day is 3000 or more.

 

Are you a detailed outliner or do you discover the story as you write?

I’ve written books in almost every way you can think of, from having a very detailed outline of seventy or eighty pages to having only a vague idea of what to do and just launching into the story. I will say I wrote those long outlines only because that was what the publisher wanted. I never particularly liked doing them. I like to have some structure established going into a book, though. An outline/synopsis of five to eight pages works really well for me. That keeps me from going off-track (usually) and still allows room for improvisation as I go along. Some of my best characters and scenes are nowhere to be found in the outline, they just came to me as I wrote and I was able to make them work.

 

How has your writing process changed since you published your first book?

Mechanically, it’s vastly different since I wrote my first novel in the fall of 1978. The first draft of that one was done in longhand, in a spiral notebook with a fountain pen. My first few novels were all first-drafted in longhand. My wife Livia would type up those handwritten drafts, I would read over them and make revisions, then she would type a submission draft putting in those revisions. But from a creative standpoint, I’m not sure it’s changed much. I’ve always had an idea where a book is going and just try to get there.

 

What are your favorite western series’ that you’ve worked on?

There are almost too many to remember! I was very fond of the Cody’s Law series, a Texas Ranger series I did for Book Creations Inc. and Bantam. I thought the Wind River books Livia and I did for Harper were very good. The Longarm novels I wrote under the house-name Tabor Evans for Berkley were great fun, allowing me to indulge in some over-the-top plots and offbeat humor while still putting in plenty of action. And Longarm was just a great character to write.

 

Do you revise as you go, or complete a first draft before editing?

I start each day by editing and revising what I wrote the day before. Livia edits the books after I’m done with them and makes suggestions for revisions, and I go over the manuscript again while I’m making those changes. So there are at least three passes through every book before it’s submitted, and often, parts of it will have been edited and revised several more times to straighten out any problems that crop up.

 

What advice would you give to writers trying to build a disciplined writing routine?

Ed Gorman once told me, “A writer is somebody who sits in a room and types for 30 years.” That’s very true. Dennis Lynds told me, “If you work hard enough at it, your writing dreams will come true. It’ll just take ten years longer than you think it should.” And I read somewhere that being a writer is like having homework every day for the rest of your life. I think all of those things are very true. Discipline really is the key. Trying to write a set number of pages or words every day is very helpful. And aim high. You can probably do more than you think you can. Over time, you discover the pace that works the best for you, and once you’ve figured that out, stick to it. Now, I’ve never been a write-every-day sort of writer. I take days off. When I write for too many days in a row, I feel like I start to burn out mentally. But at the same time, I’m pretty persistent about writing five or six days a week. Aim high, stick with it, and you’ll figure out what works best for you.

 

You’ve just started with a new publisher writing a new series. I’ve read the first book (Johnny Colt: Blood on the Wire) and loved it. How are things going on that front?

Dusty Saddle Publishing has been great to work with, very fast on their end, and they’ve given me a free hand to write the sort of books I want to write. I’m really pleased with how the Johnny Colt books have turned out so far.

 

What kinds of books do you read for pleasure?

Oh, almost every kind of fiction! I love books and have for as far back as I can remember. I read more Westerns and mysteries than anything else, but I’m also fond of science fiction and historical fiction. I tend to read mostly older books in those genres. I’m a big fan of the pulp magazine era, roughly the first half of the Twentieth Century, and read actual pulps from that era as well as modern-day reprints of those stories and novels. But I still read current novels, too, and enjoy them.

 

How much of your reading is research versus relaxation?

Well, it’s all research in a way, isn’t it? But as far as strictly reading research books, maybe 5-10%, enough to get things right, which I think is important. I think I got a decent education in high school and college, but my real education for my career consisted of uncounted hours reading old paperbacks and comic books.

 

Are there any authors you return to again and again?

Robert E. Howard, not only for his writing ability, which was enormous, but also because of the kinship I feel with him for being determined to make it as a writer from a small town in Texas. The pulp Western writer Leslie Scott, who wrote as Bradford Scott, A. Leslie, and under the house-name Jackson Cole, because his work never fails to entertain me. There are many, many writers whose work I read consistently, but those two stand out for me.

 

What book are you reading right now?

I’m reading the August 7, 1937 issue of the Western pulp WILD WEST WEEKLY. An 89-year-old physical copy, not a reprint. Don’t get me wrong, I love pulp reprints, but there’s something special about holding the real thing in your hands. This copy is in pretty good shape, too.

 

Do you prefer physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks?

My reading is split almost equally between ebooks and physical books. The older I get, the more I tend toward ebooks because I can adjust the font and the way they look. I hate to say it, but I own a lot of print books I’ll probably never read because the font is just too small for my aging eyes. I’ve listened to a few audiobooks in the past, but for some reason they just don’t work as well for me. I guess my eyes have to be involved in the process.

 

How has your reading taste evolved over the years?

I’m not sure it has! I still like action and adventure and still read authors I first discovered more than sixty years ago.

 

Top 3 western authors you’ve read? Past and present.

Leslie Scott, as I mentioned above. Luke Short, whose real name was Frederick Glidden. Walt Coburn, incredibly inconsistent but when he was at the top of his game, nobody was better or more authentic. There are many, many great Western writers in the business today, but I’m friends with most of them so I’ll keep my list to those who have passed on.

 

Which authors have had the greatest influence on your work?

Bob Howard, without a doubt. I try to bring the same excitement to my work. If he had written more Westerns, he would have been included in my answer to the previous question.

 

What first sparked your interest in Western fiction?

Before I started reading much, I was a huge fan of the Western movies that ran all the time on TV starring Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy, and my all-time favorite Western hero is The Lone Ranger. So those were my introduction to Western fiction. Not long after that, I began reading books by Zane Grey, Max Brand, and Clarence E. Mulford (Hopalong Cassidy again, the original version), as well as entries from a series known as the Powder Valley Westerns by Peter Field (a house-name, as I came to find out later, but I had no concept of that at the time). The first regular paperback I bought was a Western called BIGGER THAN TEXAS by William R. Cox, and I also read Western paperbacks that my uncle owned.

 

Have any non-Western writers or genres shaped your storytelling?

So many, starting with Robert E. Howard. But there are a ton of hardboiled mystery writers who have influenced me, too, such as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Ross Macdonald, Davis Dresser (the original Brett Halliday), John D. MacDonald, Richard S. Prather, Robert Leslie Bellem . . . I could go on listing them all day. Leslie Charteris, whose Saint series is one of my all-time favorites. Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose books are a master’s course in adventure writing and yarn-spinning. I can’t forget Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, either, along with all the other writers and artists who produced the comic books I read so avidly for so many years.

 

Where do you usually find ideas for your novels and characters?

Many of them have come to me while I’m driving, especially on long trips. I’ve figured out the rough plots for many books while behind the wheel. Livia and I often plot books together, and we’ve done that not only on trips but also over more restaurant meals than I can count. As for the creative inspiration for those ideas and characters, I don’t really know. They just live in my head and force their way out from time to time. Also in my career, there have been a number of instances where an editor has asked me to write a novel about a specific subject, like the Gold Rush or World War II. I’ve always been pretty good at assignments like that, too.

 

What separates a memorable Western novel from an average one?

The characters and the author’s ability to take traditional elements and make something new and fresh out of them, and I think those two things absolutely go together.

 

Looking back on your career, what lesson about writing do you wish you had learned sooner?

That hard work and persistence pay off. You can make it on sheer talent, of course, but self-discipline is a huge help. When Livia and I got married, I had been trying to write, off and on, for years with no success. She said to me, “If you want to make it as a writer, you’re going to have to work at it.” Four months later, I sold my first story to a magazine. Best advice I ever got.

Bonus Question:

If you could spend an afternoon talking with any deceased Western writer, who would it be and what would you ask?

Walt Coburn, and I’d ask him about his life (he grew up on a ranch in Montana) and what it was like writing for the Western pulps at their peak.

Once again, James, thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing what comes next.