WILD WEST ROUND-UP

Wild West Monday News - I have received a letter from Channel Four asking for more information on Wild West Monday. I wrote to them detailing the previous events and of how much support we have for the next Wild West Monday - I'm shamelessly looking for media coverage here and am hoping to get onto their daytime chat show. Got to be good for western fiction, folks.

This letter is very positive and the producers are saying they need more information but are interested in the initiative. Archive readers can help by signing the petition in the right hand sidebar of this blog - please scroll down and find the link (by that pic of the good looking guy pointing a gun at you) and then get you name on it. After you've signed close the page and ignore the donation request - that's nothing to do with Wild West Monday or The Tainted Archive but a nag screen from the petition host.

True West Magazine (August 2009) reveals that America is not the most prolific publishers of western fiction and in fact that honour goes to the British Black Horse Western Group who, at 72 titles per year, are the market leader. And with each title on average borrowed from libraries 5,000 - 6,000 times that's a lot of people getting their western fiction from the Brit publisher whose writers come from all four corners of the globe and before we Brits hijack the western as our own it is worth pointing out there are quite a few American writers publishing with the imprint.

As a writer with the group myself and a self proclaimed western nut I am pleased that True West, this quality American Western Magazine has finally noticed the Black Horse Books. Anyone who fancies some traditional style westerns, no nonsense adventures should give the books a chance. There's something for all tastes from a diverse group of writers. And I'm resisting the strong urge to put in a Tarnished Star plug here.


Hollywood's western fascination continues to grow - Jonah Hex is nearing completion of its shoot so expect a surge of publicity soon, lawman is being developed as a major TV series - apparently the show is completely new and nothing to do with the 1960's series of the same name, After John Travolta and Tom Cruise were linked to the main roles in the forthcoming remake of Butch and Sundance, it is now reported that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon could take the title roles - Robert Redford recently hit out at the project, fearing it will ruin the memories of a classic movie and the Coen brother's long rumoured remake of True Grit is now confirmed as their next project.

Current Western Writers of America president Johnny D. Boggs will be interviewed here on the Archive very soon - we're happier than a grizzled old prospector in a whore house at that.

David Thompson's bestselling Wilderness series hits 61 books next month when Dorchester publish The Scalp Hunters. Several books in the series have been reviewed over at Western Fiction Review.

WILD WEST NEWS

Keith Chapman AKA Chap Okeefe tells me that things are moving on nicely with his new publishing venture, as reported on the Archive recently, which will put inexpensive pocket sized paperback westerns onto the market. The first title has now been assigned an ISBN number and Keith tells me that all will be revealed very soon - Keep an eye on The Archive for details as they become available.

Also western related is the attached AD (click image for enlargement) for Jeff Smith's eagerly awaited history of his grandfather, Jefferson Randolph Smith, the old west bad guy more commonly known as Soapy Smith. The book comes out mid August but orders are being taken now. Expect an interview with Jeff via Skype on The Tainted Podcast sometime this August.

Cowboy and Aliens, a SF western, looks to be the next major project for Stephen Speilberg. The long gestating project is now in the pre-production stages.

The next Wild West Monday will be the second of November 2009 - western fans around the world will that day unite in support of our beloved genre. Stay tuned to The Archive for more details and if you haven't signed our petition in support of the western then please do so. You'll find it in the right hand sidebar of this blog.

WILD WEST ROUNDUP

Geronimo who surrendered to the US government in September 1886, died of pneumonia in Feb 1909 and was buried at Fort Sill, Okla. Now one hundred years later his grandson has brought suit in Washington against the US government for his remains to be handed over and reburied in New Mexico where the Apache leader was born. However descendants of Apaches who remained in Oklahoma have said they would prefer his remains to stay where they are. The legal battle continues.

Black Horse Western writer, Gillian F. Taylor has appeared on the BBC's Mastermind semi-finals and did herself proud. Everyone at the Black Horse stable are chuffed to bits with Gillian's performance - the audio of the show is at the bottom of this post.

The first volume of Lee A. Silva's Wyatt Earp: A Biography of the legend which appeared in 2002 is widely regarded as the premier work on Earp. Now Volume 2 subtitled: Tombstone before the Earps is to be published this June.

The Archive is saddened to report the passing of Frances Kavanaugh who died this January at the age of 93. Francis penned many screenplays for the B westerns of the 30's and 40's.

There is now a little over two months to go before the June 30th publication of my debut western, The Tarnished Star. The book is doing well on pre-orders which remains the best option to get the book as my publisher specialises in small print runs. Order now and no money will be taken from your account until the book is sent out. For readers outside the UK the cheapest way will be The Book Depository which offers free worldwide delivery - Order here . Amazon are also taking pre-orders and you can order HERE . Or you can order direct from the publisher HERE.


And now Gillian F. Taylor on Mastermind.
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WILD WEST NEWS

David Cramer's Education of a Pulp Writer blog is getting into the spirit of Wild West Monday by starting a week of western posts leading up to the big day on the 2nd March.

Robert Hale/Black Horse Westerns have announced a tentative March 2010 release for Jack Martin's Arkansas Smith.

The Coe Ranch - started in 1882 by Frank Coe, one of Billy The Kid's partners in crime is on the market for $5.4 million. The Ranch sits in 258 acres of Lincoln Country countryside. BillPippin realEstate 800 653 6460.

Dorchester Publishing are releasing a series of classic novels that were made into classic westerns. The Searchers by Alan La'may is available now and next up is Destry Rides Again by Max Brand which hasn't seen print for over 30 years. The Tainted Archive can't wait for these.

Tombstone, Arizona now boasts an 8 feet tall bronze statue of Wyatt Earp. The Tainted Archive thinks this should have happened years ago.

CHECK BACK TO THE ARCHIVE LATER for an interview with man of many names, David Whitehead.