My latest novel, Coldsmith, is now available to purchase on Amazon. This is a standalone book with a setting I have not used before—the Nebraska Sandhills in the late 1870s.
Although born in the Kansas Flint Hills, I was raised in Nebraska and spent most of my life there, thus having more experience with the state’s physical landscape. These days, I maintain a Nebraska residence while spending most of my writing hours at a cabin in my birth state. Nebraska, particularly the western portion, has a rich history of western lore to draw upon for lovers of westerns, so I decided I should spend time in my imaginary world there for a spell.
Coldsmith, the first of several anticipated Nebraska novels, is likely more of a traditional western than some I write, but it will have a fair number of twists that will set the story apart from most in the genre. The male protagonist is Rance Coldsmith, a fledging “cowman” with a small ranch in Custer County. A widower, who lost his wife and children, Rance is a former soldier, cowhand and deputy sheriff. Of course, there is a female protagonist. Her name is Lisbeth Baker, the mother of two small children, Morgan and Marissa.
Rance and Lisbeth meet up the night her husband is killed, and the family’s sod house burned out, and, suddenly, Rance must figure out what to do with the survivors. The villain in the story is Print Olive, a true historical figure. A notorious Texas rancher noted for hanging rustlers, Olive wore out his welcome in the Lone Star state and moved his operation to Nebraska, where he took up his former practices. Rance takes up the badge again, and Print Olive becomes his nemesis.
I have started another novel for release later this year. The working title is Snapp vs. Snapp. This will be a story set in and near the Sandhills with much of the action occurring in frontier North Platte. It is a standalone novel, and both male and female protagonists are waiting for me to name them. A cat named Chester will have a featured role. My novels write themselves, so I cannot tell readers (even if I were inclined) much about the plot till I am further into the book.
Thanks to all my readers for their support.
Best wishes and good reading,
Ron