Free Kindle Book: The Shopkeeper: 9/14 through 9/18

Honest Westerns. Full of dishonest characters.

This week

The Shopkeeper Kindle version is free to promote the 8-book series. 

FREE September 14 through September 18

Get your free copy today!

Free ebook promo for the Shopkeeper

 

Honest westerns. Full of dishonest characters.

The Shopkeeper ebook will be free from Monday, September 14, through Friday, September 18, 2026. The Shopkeeper is the first novel in the Steve Dancy Tales, an eight-book series. Try the first one for free. I'm sure you'll want to buy the rest of the series.

The Shopkeeper has 2,850 reviews on Amazon with a 4.4 rating and 1,822 reviews on Goodreads with a 4.0 rating. 

Try it. You'll like it.

The Future of the Western Genre

For the last couple of decades, enthusiasts have lamented the demise of Westerns. The rest of the world went about their business, ignorant that anyone cared about a genre relegated to a few obscure shelves at the local bookstore. Westerns were hugely popular for over a hundred years. Not only were Westerns popular in the United States, but the whole world devoured them. The Western was a staple of fiction, Hollywood, television, and daydreams. What happened?

Overexposure, for one thing. In 1959, there were twenty-six Western series on prime time television. On the silver screen, John Wayne banished his Winchester at countless bad guys. Paperback Westerns could be found in abundance in any drugstore, most of them with Louis L’Amour’s name on the cover. The big names did some wonderful, quality stuff, but the demand was so great that a lot of trash made it into print and celluloid.

The common perception is that the Western genre is moribund. Yet somehow, Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy made a good living off Westerns. (Their books, however, are seldom stacked up with the straight-to-paperback variety of Westerns.) Robert B. Parker temporarily abandoned private eye Spencer to embrace the western genre for a trilogy about two guns for hire. In film, Appaloosa grossed a respectable $28 million at the box office, while 3:10 to Yuma grossed over $70 million. Productions like Godless, Yellowstone, and Old Henry keep the genre alive. DVD sales of vintage Westerns do well, and Louie L’Amour, Zane Grey, and even Max Brand still sell a respectable number of books.

So, the Western isn’t dead, but it’s just as certainly not the rage, especially for the upcoming generation. Thrillers, fantasies, sci-fi, and romance novels garner all the shelf space. Action movies sound tracks are filled with revving motors, not thundering hoofs. And television … well, television just broadcasts another police drama. In fact, the Western excesses of the late fifties are being repeated today with cop shows. Perhaps tired audiences are ready for a resurgence of Westerns.

Perhaps. But what type of Western? Probably a new breed. There have been three distinct western eras. I called them: wholesome, the flawed hero, and the violent eras.

The wholesome era lasted until the late fifties. It was epitomized by Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, and a host of other cowboys sporting white hats. Instead of killing bad guys, they shot guns out of their hands. If someone was killed, they damn-well deserved it, and their death would be bloodless, with a pledge-like hand to the chest to cover unsightly bullet holes. As in all eras, there was overlap, and during the later stages of the wholesome phase, Wayne and others made more realistic Westerns—but these, of course, were quarantined to movie houses, and only at night.

The flawed hero of the sixties wasn’t the antihero of today. He merely had faults; like Josh Randall, the bounty hunter portrayed by Steve McQueen in Wanted Dead or Alive or the gambling Maverick brothers who proudly proclaimed themselves cowards. Richard Boone wore black and looked mean as a gun-for-hire in Paladin. The Magnificent Seven were reluctant, saviors of a small Mexican village—and flawed to a man. Again, overlapping eras. The spaghetti Westerns of the late sixties took the genre into new territory.

From the seventies on, the antihero ruled a frontier filled with slow-motion violence. The violent era was ushered in by Sergio Leone with his Man With No Name trilogy (1967) and Sam Peckinpaw with The Wild Bunch (1969). From then on, red dominated the color spectrum and the hero was only a step removed from the bad guy. The raw realism was inappropriate for television until cable brought Deadwood (2004) into our living rooms.

What’s next? Luckily, these eras overlap, so seeing the direction of the Western genre is not guesswork. Larry McMurtry, Cormac McCarthy, and Robert B. Parker pointed the way. The future of the Western genre is historically accurate storytelling. A story can take place in the past, the present, or the future. If the story occurs in the past, we call them historical novels—except for Westerns. They get consigned to a niche genre that still carries the taint of pulp fiction. But a story that takes place in the nineteenth century American frontier has as much legitimacy to be called a historical novel as Ken Follett’s World Without End.

McMurtry, McCarthy, and Parker have found the key. Good writing, sound plots that move with assurance, and great characterization. They concentrated on characters that are forced to deal with hardships and human frailty at a particular point in history. These are the basic elements of good storytelling. A Western historical novel can indeed be action-adventure, but it can also borrow elements from the detective, suspense, romance, mystery, and other genres. Lonesome Dove took from all of them.

The world has tired of cookie-cutter cop shows, superheroes, and endless permutations of suspense tales about secret societies that are about to take over the world. Westerns may very well again rule the page and screen

Now Available: Maelstrom, A Civil War Novel!

The story of the greatest rivalry in American History.

 Buy at Amazon

Is the Mythology of the Old West Dead?

 “The fascination that the Old West has will never die." John Wayne

The mythology of the Old West has been denigrated by the people who set literary fashion. They say it is idealized, simplistic, tired, and, above all, untrue. The good guys were never that good. Frontiersmen and settlers displaced noble people already occupying the land. Coarse immigrants came in droves to desecrate a pristine wilderness. Eulogized heroics usually involved vigilantism, which offends those who honor the rule of law.

The same mythology escapes criticism in fantasy and science fiction, so why is it disparaged in Westerns? They’re all made-up stories, but morality plays in these other genres find acceptance. The battle between good and evil, selfless sacrifice, idealized heroics, and venturing away from home are popular themes in extremely popular genres. Few doubt that the Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings, or the work of Arthur C. Clark and H. G. Wells are respectable literature. An argument could be made that similar themes are even reflected in nursery rhymes. Could the difference be that the Old West actually happened?

Before we answer this question, we should take another look at the mythology of the Old West. It’s about more than gun-slinging paladins. There are three major elements, with many tributaries. The first is the romance of a new beginning. Second, in this new world, the battle of good versus evil is clearly defined and won by good. The last element is the lone warrior who sets things right.

The West, outer space, the future, or a make-believe land represents a new beginning in a fresh place away from home—the shedding of disappointments and a chance to start over. The romance and adventure of the frontier draw people desperate to escape the travail of their current existence. We’ve seen this in real life with the migrations to the New World and the Old West, but today many people satisfy this longing vicariously with fiction. If you’re poor, your family makes you miserable, you’ve committed an act that offends society, or wanderlust has gripped you, then the adventure and limitless opportunity of a frontier beckon like a siren’s call. Emigrating to a frontier means you get a do-over in a land with no rules, no fences, no referees.

Real life is a greyscale, somewhat skewed toward the darker side of the spectrum. A new life in a new world wouldn’t entice us if we had to bring our old baggage. As envisioned, the new world is black and white. There’s strength in righteousness, perseverance and risk are rewarded, good people do right, and bad people get their just deserts. This is a world of hope. Hope for riches, hope for justice, hope for a different path in life. Good fights evil and good always triumphs. This is a theme that has been part of storytelling in every society since the first cave drawings.

A raw frontier is dangerous, so good needs help. Elements and carnivorous animals threaten at every turn. People fight ruthlessly to claim a piece of terrain for themselves. No civilization means no restraint on bad people doing bad things. Help comes in the form of an idealized hero, possibly an anti-hero who overcomes his moral deficiencies to help the innocent. This is usually visualized as a lone warrior, like the one eulogized by Tom Wolfe in The Right Stuff. The hero is capable of violence, but he is essentially good. The gunman in Westerns carries a simple solution on his hip. Frodo has the ring and Potter his wand. In these mythical realms, the hero risks his life to save the day and demands nothing in return.

Western mythology beguiles us because it promises a world different from our own. Hard work gets rewarded. We have freedom of movement by horse and train.  We get vicarious revenge against the unpleasant people in our lives. And riches. Wealth comes from the land and the land is free. The whole package is wrapped in idealized virtues that make us feel safe and hopeful.

And we can experience it all by reading in our favorite easy chair.

Which brings us back to our question. Are these themes less acceptable in Westerns because the Old West actually existed?

 Yes.

History shows that the idealized frontier was a myth. This gives fantasy and sci-fi a huge advantage, since they aren’t bound by reality. In the real Old West, bad guys often won. More accurately, the strong and willful won, many times using bullying tactics. In the gritty real world, Native Americans were vanquished by hordes of pioneers. Miners raked the surface of beautiful countryside and then ran off when there was no more easy money. Historical records make it easy for someone to say, “but it wasn’t like that.” Does this mean that Western mythology is inappropriate for fiction?

Not entirely. Authors need to approach Westerns as historical fiction. Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy already did. They told stories that incorporated elements of Western mythology, but they used gradation in their storylines and nuanced stereotypical plots. Their books are populated with realistic characters, and they get the facts right.

Fantasy and science fiction can get away with an idealized, binary world, but Westerns must navigate the nineteenth-century frontier with realism and respect for the genuine experiences of pioneers and Native Americans. The mythology of the Old West is dead … but the stories continue.

Honest westerns. Full of dishonest characters.

Maelstrom now available

Book 2 in the American Exceptionalism Series

Maelstrom, A Civil War Novel
Ebook, Hardcover, and paperback

“I enjoyed this.” 

Harold Holzer, Lincoln Prize winner and Chair of The Lincoln Forum

  

"See Lincoln as you've never seen him before as he navigates the maelstrom of the Civil War."

Larry Schweikart, NYTimes #1 Bestselling author

Maelstrom tells the story of the greatest rivalry in American history. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis led their nations in a must-win fight, and Maelstrom shows how each dealt with the same issues, countered the other’s moves, led their respective governments, and used their political powers to sway the outcome.

Read the first chapter free HERE.

The Virginian, A Classic Western Revisited

“When you call me that, smile.” The Virginian

The Virginian was published in 1902 by Owen Wister (1860-1938). The novel received critical acclaim and was a huge bestseller, eventually spawning five films, a successful play, and a television series. The Virginian was an instant success, selling over 20,000 copies in the first month, an astonishing number for the time. It went on to sell over 200,000 copies in the first year and over 1.5 million before Wister’s death. This minor classic has never been out of print. Beyond the multiple works that carry its name, The Virginian has inspired hundreds of stories about the Old West. What made this novel so appealing?

Critics credit The Virginian with establishing Old West legends and genre stereotypes. Sergio Leone’s protagonist had no name, and the Virginian’s name is never mentioned. He’s a laconic cowboy who lives by his own code and was extremely capable in every undertaking, including fighting with fists, guns, or words. The book’s lament for a dying way of life is recounted endlessly. Like Jake Spoon in Lonesome Dove, the Virginian hangs his friend after he turns outlaw. The buildup to the final shootout has been repeated countless times.

Can the book’s enduring popularity be attributed solely to being first? Many dime novels preceded The Virginian, but most were shoddy. Wister wrote the genre’s first literary example. A fresh story helped generate sales at the century’s turn, but more was required for sales to last over a century and for the story to be retold on stage, in movie houses, and on television.

There are three qualities that make The Virginian timeless. It’s a classic fish-out-of-water tale that appeals to both sexes and realistically portrays life on the frontier.

The narrator, Wister himself, is a city-dweller from Philadelphia, on an adventure in the Wild West. The love-interest, a schoolmarm from the East, can’t fathom the Code of the West. Even the Virginian is a transplant. Not only is this a fresh tale, but one told by fresh eyes, wide-open in awe of all about them. This stark, new world is described by people from another part of the planet—a part with civilization, comfortable social norms, and constable-imposed order. The Virginian is partly autobiographical, and Wister draws on his contemporaneous journals to inject a sense of wonderment into the story. Wister liked the Old West, and he gets his readers to like it as well.

Runaway bestsellers are read by both sexes. The Virginian’s plot follows classic Western lines, appealing to men. More importantly, Wister describes male comradeship in a male-dominated culture. Pranks, ribbing, athletic prowess, and rough language will be recognized by men who have played team sports or served in the military—at least those who participated before women entered these previously exclusive domains. To men, the Virginian’s world feels familiar and comfortable.

Wister offers two plotlines for women. Molly Stark Wood, a Vermont heroine, faces struggle in a foreign land and culture. From a family proud of its education, she is horrified by random violence and vigilantism. Her ability to overcome fear and bring order to her part of the frontier shows rare female bravery in Westerns. In most lesser stories, women need a valiant knight. Molly, however, manages on her own, and how she does so adds spice to The Virginian.

The Virginian is also a love story. The hero doesn’t ride off into the sunset; he marries the heroine. And he goes to Vermont to meet her family. The clash of cultures flips when the Virginian takes tea and banters with nonplused eastern ladies.

Wister wrote fiction, but he experienced the nineteenth-century Old West and wrote from personal experience. Many incidents in The Virginian came from his journals. This gives the story an air of authenticity that lesser works lack. Probably only The Virginian and Roughing It, by Mark Twain, give us actual observers’ descriptions of the Wild West. The lifestyle, implements, and ethos of the era ring true in both books—even if a bit exaggerated (again, in both books) for entertainment purposes. When we read historical fiction, realism allows us to live in another time.

 As I read this book, I thought how cool would it be for the Easterner to be more than an observer. What if he became personally involved in the adventures of the Wild West? And that’s how The Virginian inspired the Steve Dancy series. As homage to the original, the first scene of The Shopkeeper opens with a whist card game—the same game Wister's cowboys play in the bunkhouse.

The Virginian is more than just the first of its kind. It’s a well-told story with sophisticated subplots. Though the century-old style can seem difficult, you forget the formality once you are engaged in the plot. This novel will still be selling in the twenty-second century.

Springtime in Arizona

We lived in Arizona for twenty-five years, then my wife and I moved to Nebraska to be close to our grandkids. Our lives were busy, so I rarely thought about my home state. A few years ago, I felt nostalgic for my old stomping grounds, so we bought a condo in Scottsdale to escape the Nebraska winters. 

Every morning before breakfast, I walk the desert hills of our neighborhood. The weather is perfect and spring wildflowers are now blooming everywhere. There is a stillness to the Arizona atmosphere that I have seldom encountered elsewhere. I used to say that there were two places in the world where you could deplane and immediately know your location by the feel of the air. One was Hawaii and the other Arizona. Different feel for each, but each unique. I also miss the desert landscape. Nebraska is flat, but in every direction, the Arizona skyline is serrated with craggy hills and mountains.

If it doesn't bite, and it's not poisonous, then it's not native.

Since I used to winter in San Diego, I could get good Mexican food anytime I wanted, but I forgot that Mexican food in Arizona is spicier and the variety is greater. Not as many taco shops, but more high-end restaurants, some of which serve outstanding Mexico City cuisine.

The homes have a style unlike any other region of the country. Land is cheap, the temperature hot, and slab foundations means that even the largest homes are single-story with windows deeply recessed into the walls to ward off the sun. The architecture gives neighborhoods a spread-out, open feel that's close to the ground. The big sky and vibrant colors invite you to enjoy the outdoors.

I encountered something I didn't like. With boom-town growth, traffic has become increasingly clogged, especially during work traffic hours. It's not as bad as Los Angeles but frustrating just the same. When we moved to Phoenix in 1991, it took me thirty minutes to drive to work in off-hours and thirty-five minutes in work traffic. A five-minute penalty. That's all. That was nearly thirty years ago, and the city's breathless growth has never paused. Now it's congestion galore.

Phoenix is called the Valley of the Sun. It's a fitting description because the sun dictates so much of life, architecture, and clothing styles. The sun isn't just a hot ball in the sky. Arizona has some of the best sunrises and sunsets in the world. And great nights. There is nothing like a cocktail and swim after supper in the warmth of a summer evening.

Damn. If my grandchildren weren't so cute, I'd move back full-time in a heartbeat.

Pine, AZ, a short drive from Scottsdale

Tucson Book Festival

The Tucson Festival of Books is the largest free book fair in the nation. It's a great adventure, and if you did not attend this year, you'll just be another year older when you do. 

Three of my books were highlighted: The Shopkeeper, The Shut Mouth Society, and Tempest at Dawn.

Lots of great presentations. This is C. J Box, Ellie Cosimano, and J. A Jance talking about book series. Great discussion.

2026 Tucson Book Festival: March 14th and 15th

I will be signing books at the Tucson Book Festival

Sunday, March 15 Booth #159 @ 1:00

 

Come enjoy one of the best book fairs in the country!

Honest Westerns. Filled with dishonest characters. 

The real story of our nation's founding.

Can a 150-year-old conspiracy be unraveled before it’s too late?

2026 Tucson Book Festival: March 14th and 15th

   

On March 14 and 15, on the University of Arizona campus, more than 130,000 readers and over 300 authors will celebrate the written word at the 2026 Tucson Book Festival.  If you can, come and join the party.

The Tucson Book Festival is one of the largest book fairs in the nation. I’ll be there, and so will my books. Well, at least three of them. TheShopkeeper, The Shut Mouth Society, and Tempest at Dawn will be featured at the Wheatmark Booth, #159. I am signing books on Sunday and will post an update after I am assigned a time slot.

Hope you can make it!

 

Visit Maelstrom, A Civil War Novel

A book is always a great gift

A book is always a great gift … especially if you take the time to match the recipient’s taste in fiction or nonfiction. Whether your relatives or friends are interested in the Civil War, literature, romance novels, westerns, paranormal fiction, railroads, guns, cooking, collecting old comic books, antique automobiles, or anything else, there's always a book that will bring a smile to their face.

Top Dozen Tips for Book Gift Giving

1. There are books about every hobby and interest in the world. Picking the right book shows you care.
2. Write a personal message on the flyleaf that won't get tossed out like last year's Christmas card.
3. Write surprise messages in the margin of random pages.
4. Search out an author signing for your recipient’s favorite writer or give a collector’s version of the recipient’s favorite book.
5. If you need professional help or want something unique, shop at an independent or specialty bookstore.
6. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime then shipping is free, or mail books early to take advantage of USPS media-class.
7. Give a book as a piece of art, like a fine print book, a unique coffee table book, a favorite book as a child, or collectible cover art.
8. Create a highly personal photo book.
9. Give a bookseller gift card for e-book and audiobook enthusiasts.
10. College students will appreciate a gift card for their campus bookstore.
11. Tuck crisp currency into the flyleaf as a bookmark.
12. If your friend or relative already owns piles of books, give them a unique set of bookends to hold them in their proper place.

Children's books are also great gifts. We search for autographed storybooks for our grandkids. Bookstores always have children's book signings around the holidays. The icing on the cake is that we get to read from one of these books when we visit.

Books are a great entertainment value. They provide hour upon hour of personal pleasure, which can then be passed on to another person. What could be better?

One of these might work.
Books by James D. Best

1. 
   

Grok's take on the Steve Dancy Tales

Grok Self-Portrait

I wasn't a strong proponent of artificial intelligence until I asked Grok about my own work. Now, I'm a fan of AI. Perhaps flattery can get you everywhere.

Are the Steve Dancy Tales good books?

Grok's answer:

Yes, the Steve Dancy Tales by James D. Best are generally well-regarded by readers, particularly those who enjoy Western novels. Here's why they might be considered good:

Character Development: The series follows Steve Dancy, a former New York shopkeeper who ventures into the Wild West. Readers appreciate the depth of the characters, with Steve Dancy himself being described as complex and interesting, combining elements of both Eastern sophistication and Western toughness.

Plot and Pacing: The books are noted for their engaging plots. They mix elements of adventure, mystery, and historical context, which keeps the narrative fast-paced and compelling. Reviewers have mentioned that the series is hard to put down due to the suspense built at the end of each chapter.

Historical Detail: James D. Best injects a significant amount of historical detail into the stories, bringing authenticity to the settings and events. This aspect is particularly appreciated by enthusiasts of Western lore and history, as it paints a vivid picture of the frontier life, including the political and social dynamics of the time.

Critical Reception: 

The series has received positive reviews from various sources. For instance, True West Magazine praised them as one of the best new Western series since Larry McMurtry's works. Alan Caruba from Bookviews has labeled James D. Best as arguably one of the best writers of Westerns. 

Some readers on platforms like Goodreads have given high ratings, with comments highlighting the entertainment value and the engaging nature of the stories. However, not all reviews are overwhelmingly positive; some critique the portrayal of characters or the pacing in certain books, indicating there's a range of experiences among readers.

Series Appeal: The series offers a mix of action, wit, and character-driven storytelling, which appeals to fans of the genre. The ongoing adventures of Steve Dancy provide both continuity and fresh scenarios, making each book both a standalone read and part of a larger narrative.

While the series might not appeal to everyone (especially those who find some characters or plot developments not to their taste), for fans of Westerns, particularly those who enjoy a blend of historical fiction with a touch of humor and clever dialogue, the Steve Dancy Tales are often recommended as enjoyable and well-crafted. If you're interested in exploring these books, starting with "The Shopkeeper" is advised to get a full understanding of the characters and their backstories.

Honest westerns. Filled with dishonest characters.

Is a Gift Card an Appropriate Gift?

My kids called to find out what I wanted for Christmas. When I asked for a gift card from Amazon, they said that would be impersonal. I didn’t argue, but it made me wonder why they asked.

Their response made me think about the appropriateness of gift cards. I think they’re great. If emailed, shipping costs are nil, they arrive at the speed of light, and I get to pick my own gift at the time of my choosing. What could be better?

Then I thought about it. What would be better is a present the giver enjoys giving. A gift is not one-way social exchange. Fathers used to be effusive when they received ugly ties. There was a reason. The giver was a loved one … perhaps a loved one with lousy taste, but a loved one nonetheless. You don’t make someone feel crummy because you didn’t like their gift.

That said; I’m getting an Amazon gift card for Christmas. How did I convince my kids? I told them I would email them a thank you each time I bought a book for my Kindle and send them my review when I finished the book. That promise overcame the biggest negative of gift cards; the giver never knows what the recipient does with it ... or if it's lying in a drawer somewhere.

Gift cards are becoming ever more popular and they are changing the ebb and flow of book sales. Print sales are best before the holiday and ebooks are better after the holiday. You can almost feel people using gift cards to load up their electronic devices.

By the way, if you expect a gift card, download samples of my books now so you can decide where to spend your largess.

Take a vacation from all this nonsense with a good book.

Top 10 Tips for Book Gift Giving

 

A book is unique. Reading fiction is like taking a mini vacation without leaving home. An engrossing story makes a person’s worries fade to the background. Reading nonfiction can entertain while learning how-to tips, gaining perspective, adding to knowledge, or finding enlightenment.

At times, friends and relatives can be hard to buy for. Some seem to have everything. Due to age or illness, others may be less mobile than in years past. Some don’t really want much. Families scatter across this huge country and selecting a gift, packaging, and shipping can be a chore. 

A book is always a great gift … especially if you take the time to match the recipient’s taste in fiction or nonfiction. There are books about every hobby and interest in the world. Picking the right book shows you care, and your thoughtfulness becomes part of the gift. Whether your relatives or friends are interested in the Civil War, literature, romance novels, westerns, paranormal fiction, railroads, guns, cooking, collecting old comic books, antique automobiles, or anything else, there's always a book that will bring a smile to their face.

Here are my Top 10 Tips for Book Gift Giving

1. Write a personal message on the flyleaf that won't get tossed out like last year's holiday card. 
2. Write surprise messages in the margin of random pages. If you don’t like writing in books, use yellow sticky notes.
3. Create an eye-catching bookmark that reminds the recipient to call or write.
4. Search out an author signing for your recipient’s favorite author or give a collector’s edition of the recipient’s favorite book.
5. Shop at an independent bookstore to receive personalized professional help.
6. If shipping is not free, mail books early to take advantage of media class at the U.S. Post Office.
7. Give a book as a piece of art, like a fine print book, unique coffee table book, favorite childhood book, or collectible cover art.
8. College students will appreciate cash or a gift card tucked into the flyleaf. 
9. If your friend or relative already owns piles of books, consider a unique set of bookends to hold them in their proper place.
10. Give a bookseller gift card for e-book and audiobook enthusiasts.

Children's books are also great gifts. We search for autographed storybooks for our grandkids. Bookstores always have children book signings around the holidays, and this is one area where we join the crowd. The icing on the cake is that we get to read from one of these books when we visit.

Books are a great entertainment value. They provide hours upon hours of personal pleasure, and then can be passed on to another person ... or even another generation. What could be better?

Old Haunts has joined the Steve Dancy Tales.

The Shut Mouth Society -- Free During Promotional Period

 

The Kindle version of The Shut Mouth Society free through Saturday, November 11, 2023, 11:59 PM PST

Detective Greg Evarts and Professor Patricia Baldwin must unravel the 150-year-old conspiracy before it’s too late. A rich Santa Barbara collector acquires an Abraham Lincoln document and asks Evarts and Baldwin to authenticate it. Their research launches them into a dangerous struggle with a secret society formed during Reconstruction. Before they can solve the mystery surrounding the Lincoln manuscript, a shocking murder forces them to run for their lives.

As they race across the country, they uncover a Civil War secret that could upset the balance of power in North America … and end their lives.

Finalist: APA Glyph Award for Best Novel

The Shut Mouth Society is a fast-moving, well-written novel.-- Huntington News

The author has done an excellent job of building the story. --Book Advice

 

James D. Best's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Shepard.com invited me to list my three favorite reads for 2023. Since most of my reading this year has been research for Maelstrom, my civil war novel, my list has a predictable theme. You can see it here.

In case you are unfamiliar with Shepard, it's a site that helps readers discover their next book. This year, Shepard asked 884 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads in 2023. The book with the most mentions was Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead. Fitting since Demon Copperhead has won prizes and awards galore.

Here's the full results.

And my own picks.

The best westerns where friendships drive the story

Shepard.com invited me to pick a category of novels and select five books that exemplified the category. The Steve Dancy Tales are buddy stories, so I chose "The best westerns where friendships drive the story." Rules forbid me from picking my own books but you can click here if you want to know what five books I chose to exemplify buddy westers.

Old Haunts was a kick to write because I brought all my characters back for another romp. Here's an excerpt from Old Haunts where Steve and Jeff give each other a hard time. 

“Why didn’t ya tell me ya were takin’ coffee?” Sharp asked, irritation showing in his tone.

I held the reins in one hand and a cup of hot coffee in the other. I took a careful sip from the tin cup before answering. “I didn’t know the hotel kitchen was up and about when you went charging off to see if the mule was properly packed. Last minute notion.”

“Where’d ya get that cup?” Sharp organized his life around coffee, tobacco, whiskey, and women. Pretty much in that order nowadays, although I believed women had become an afterthought.

“You had my trail gear already packed, so I bought a banged up one from the cook.”

“Coulda bought two.”

“Your right, which would have been gentlemanly.” I took another sip and sighed contentedly. A glance at Sharp told me I had taken this far enough. I reached behind me and gingerly lifted my canteen by the strap to hand it across to Sharp. He beamed when he saw a tin cup hanging over the lid of my steamy canteen.

“Careful,” I admonished. “Use a kerchief. That canteen is hot as hell.”

We stopped the horses, and before long Sharp and I both had hot cups of coffee. We walked the horses slowly ahead. No hurry. Unless delayed, we should arrive at the McAllen ranch by mid-morning.

“What ’bout water?” Sharp asked.

It was going to be a hot day and Sharp was concerned I had foregone life-giving water for the pleasure of a cup of coffee.

“Cook assured me that there was a spring about an hour out of town. We should have this canteen dry by then.”

“Right smart of ya,” Sharp said, “but I can’t roll a cigarette an’ hold this cup.”

“Long ride. Time enough for all your pleasures, just not at the same time.”

“Am I gettin’ trail wisdom from a city-dweller?”

After a few moments, I said, “You know, I used to feel self-conscience about being called a city-dweller. Not anymore. I like the city and the comforts of a nice home. Not ashamed of it. But I also enjoy the wilderness. I feel comfortable in either place.”

“That’s ’cuz ya learned to handle yerself out here. Once ya know ya can survive wild country, it grows on ya.”

Literary License or Error?

 

If readers are the judge, Old Haunts is a good read. After three months, Old Haunts has garnered a 4.5 Amazon score with 88 ratings and a 4.7 Goodreads score with 44 ratings.

That doesn’t mean the novel has received exclusively high ratings. No book does. A couple of the poorer reviews mention two issues. One of the issues is embarrassing and the other intentional.

Guns and horses are sacrosanct to western enthusiasts. Since he was a rich man, Steve Dancy always carries the latest in firearms. In Old Haunts, he uses a Winchester Model 1895, the first Winchester to use a box magazine to accommodate pointed bullets. To my embarrassment, I mentioned that he uses .30-06 ammunition. The story takes place at the end of the nineteenth century and the .30-06 was developed in 1906 (thus the 06). I have revised later editions to call out .30 Army ammunition.

The story also has the bad guys driving an 1896 Armstrong Phaeton. I knew only one Armstrong Phaeton was built, but it was a unique vehicle. A hybrid, with both a gasoline engine and an electric drive. Unfortunately, the manufacturer went bankrupt before this horseless carriage went into production. I thought the car was fascinating, and I needed a vehicle that could carry four. No worries. Novelists have magical powers and, in the world I created, the Armstrong Phaeton was available to cart around four bad guys in style.

Old Haunts Excerpt

Honest westerns. Full of dishonest characters.

 

Readers are giving Old Haunts great ratings. After two months, the new Steve Dancy Tale has nearly a hundred Amazon ratings for a score of 4.5 and a Goodreads ratings of 4.7. 

Here is an excerpt.

What happened next surprised me. The marshal cold-cocked him from behind with his pistol. The supposed Cutler offspring crumbled like a scarecrow cut from his supporting stick. He had been knocked out twice in as many hours. I bet this confrontation wasn’t how he had envisioned it in his imagination.

The marshal gave me a sideways glance. “What’s your beef with this man?”

“None. He seems to think he has a beef with me, but I never saw him before he accosted me on the train. I told him he was mistaken and asked him to return to his seat. This was the first I saw of him since.”

The marshal shook his head, “Well, I guess I gotta sort this out. I’ll hold him for a day or so. Damn, this morning started out nice and quiet.”

Sharp asked. “Ya need help with ‘em, marshal?”

“Ah do,” the marshal replied.

“Give ‘em a hand, Steve,” Sharp ordered.

“Jeff, I thought you were offering.”

“Me? Hell, it was you he wanted to kill. ’Sides, I’ll get our bags and have them sent over to the hotel. Meet ya at the marshal’s office.” He threw this last over his shoulder as he sauntered down the platform toward the baggage car.

I laughed and grabbed my assailant’s legs while the marshal lifted from the armpits.

“What’s your name?” the marshal asked as we stutter-stepped down the platform steps.

“Steve Dancy.”

“Staying?”

“The General Palmer … unless you can suggest better accommodations.”

“None better except Mrs. Prescott’s, but she full up. You say you never saw this man before?”

“Never. He claims I killed his father in a street fight in Nevada, but I live in California.”

“You the writer?”

“I am,” I was suddenly wary. My novels didn’t sell that well. “How did you know?”

“Not that common of a name. Read all your books. Good yarns. Unrealistic, but that’s to be expected.” He walked a couple more steps before adding, “Several of your stories take place in Nevada.”

This man was smarter than he appeared. “Yes, I lived in Nevada one summer. Many, many years ago.”

“Happen to kill anyone?”

I smiled. “Marshal, my books are all in fun.”

The marshal nodded toward the man we were carrying. “This man looked serious.” The marshal remained quiet for a few steps. “Many, many years ago there was a gunman named Dancy. Like I said, uncommon name hereabouts. That be you?”

 There was no question that this marshal was savvy enough to get the complete story out of the Cutler offspring. I decided to quit concealing my past.

“I am that Dancy … and twenty years ago I did kill the man he claims to be his father. Cutler had raped a woman and was trying to kill my friend. I approached him with my gun holstered. Things got out of hand and we both pulled. I was not charged … nor have I ever been charged for any crime. I didn’t deserve my reputation as a gunfighter, but stories grew. Get exaggerated. I do it myself in my books.” When the marshal didn’t say anything, I added, “Brian Cutler was a bad man. Worse, he did his criminal deeds for hire.”

“I see,” he finally said. “Nothing I can do about it anyway.” He smiled at me. “However, some of your exploits were in Colorado.”

An uncomfortable observation. “Passed through Denver many times and lived in Durango for a while. Used to own a house here. I gave it to Maggie McAllen as a wedding present.”

“That’s quite a wedding present. You must be nicely fixed.”

“I am,” I answered without elaboration.

“Hmmm,” was all he said.

We arrived at the marshal’s office and plopped our burden onto a narrow cot in a big empty cell. There was a cot against each wall, so this must have been a communal holding pen.

After locking the cell, the marshal asked, “Know Maggie’s pa?”

“Joseph?” He nodded. “On our way to visit him and Maggie’s family. We ride out tomorrow.” I paused. “I assume you know him?”

“You might say. He’s the one who got me started on your books. Also told me some yarns not in your books.”

“Joseph’s not talkative.”

“You sure got that right, but he can get downright chatty in the right circumstances.”

“What might those be? I’ve never seen that man chatty.”

“Late at night around a campfire with family and good sipping whiskey.”

That stopped me. “Are you related to Joseph McAllen?”

He hung the cell key on a peg behind his desk. “My uncle.”