Western readers can rejoice - the ever popular Chap O'keefe's books have been going out of print in a matter of days. Well his last novel A Gunfight Too Many (already reviewed on the Tainted Archive) is being reprinted to answer popular demand. Chap also has a new novel Blast to Oblivion out soon.
Patricia Gott (read the ARCHIVE tomorrow for an interview) tells us of her plans for the next WILD WEST MONDAY - "I called my local library late this past Saturday; they're very cooperative to local authors. When I explained the concept behind the Wild West Monday, they agreed to use that day to kick off a Western Reading Week, ending on Saturday March 7th with me signing/selling and giving a presentation of my cowgirl books and children's horse story. They will place a bookrack in their lobby of western authors including Grey, L'Amour, Wheeler, Kelton, McMurtry, Paul A Hawkins and William W. Johnstone, as well as other lesser known authors, and my books."
Well done Pat.
Also look out for a new Lance Howard western when Coyote Deadly is published later this month.
AND NOW THE BIG WILD WEST NEWS
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AD BELOW - I'm excited about this.
***********************************************************************************
12 comments:
Wow on the YouTube!
Reprinted by Hale? Is this a first for them? Does this mean readers didn't find boundary-pushing material objectionable after all?
Howard - I believe Hale have done it before but it is rare. I think things are going to get mighty rosey for the western all over again.
Yes, reprinted by Hale! After all those years of short and declining print-runs for the libraries, things may finally be looking up for the humble western and for BHW writers.
I'm sure Gary and others are playing a growing part in renewing public awareness of the western.
And yes, it is very odd from the "boundary-pushing" viewpoint, too. In A Gunfight Too Many, the young heroine, Sarah Snyder, goes skinny-dipping (though we don't call it that!) and a marital infidelity is an important plot point. Meanwhile, in Faith and a Fast Gun, Hale plans to remove a very brief scene where a man baths in a tub with his wife!
(Those who'd like a quick refresher/ catch-up on the boundary-pushing issue might like to read the article on "western noir" at www.blackhorsewesterns.com/bhe11 )
Congratulations Chap - your books deserve to stay in print. As do those of many other BHW authors.
A correction, Gary, but not vital. A Gunfight Too Many (July 31, 2008) wasn't my last novel. Misfit Lil Cleans Up came out October 31, 2008. That book also went out of print -- in eleven business days!
As you say, the BHW authors deserve to have their books available for longer than this, and I see the reprinting as an important development for all.
What we have to do now is make sure potential readers/library customers/retailers know, and take advantage accordingly.
Yeah let's all get behind Wild West MOnday on the 2nd MARCH-Show the kids how cool the western can be.
The following was posted to the Black Horse Western forum and I've asked permission to place it here. So thanks Andrea
I just wanted to comment, after watching Barack Obama's inauguration speech, on the statements he made about the importance of "the West" and history in general in founding America. Westerns may seem to be out of fashion for many, but the time of "the West" still holds a fascination and is a central part of American history. As Gary stated, I think it was on his blog, it was "a time of wonder" and dreams that was central to what America is today, and I was so pleased that Obama acknowledged this.
Andrea
Good news all around. That interview with Beau L'Amour sounds dynamite. Looking forward to that. Wonderful.
Barack Obama's inauguration speech comments were very interesting. You may remember the then US presidential candidate ran as the lead Hoofprints item in the September Black Horse Extra (link to right), not because we normally run politics, or even pix of politicians, but because it was felt that presidential values were those that "inform every western".
I find it extremely good news a BHW is going into reprint, and I think even better news that there would be a demand for those that do push some boundaries. I don't feel as many that there is a declining or puritancial audience for these, merely an audience who hasn't discovered them yet, and the efforts of various online groups, mags, and blogs and promotional engines of all the individual writers are having a wonderous effect. This past week I was lucky enough to have Coyote Deadly purchased for large print and it isn't even due out for two weeks! Something is going on with the western, and it's something good!
WILD WEST MONDAY will work - everyone thing what you are going to do on 2nd MARCH to help the genre. This came from JIM GRIFFIN - I just read the gift Michelle Obama gave to Laura Bush was a journal with a quote from western writer Louis L'Amour: "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. But that will be the beginning."
Post a Comment