Scott Harris's Blog, page 12

Book Review: Cloudy in the West

Some reviews are easier to write than others. This one could be very simple. Elmer Kelton Western novel ’Nuff said However, I’ll give you a bit more. “Cloudy in the West” is Kelton’s 1997 novel, a book that takes place in 1885, deep in Texas. Our protagonist is a 12-year-old boy, Joey Shipman, who loses

Forum Featuring Juliette Douglas

When — and why — did you first fall in love with Westerns? I loved Westerns as a kid, then fell away from them. Picked back up watching and reading when I began writing them. Who are your three favorite Western writers? Hum … I think honestly for me there is only one. Louis L’Amour.

Ride the Wild Range

This Thursday’s Featured Book blog post is on Cheryl Pierson’s “Ride the Wild Range.” Cheryl and I have been working together on a couple of projects, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her. She’s a bundle of energy — and all of it positive. I asked her which of her books I should start with,

Mile 9: First Line

The novel of 50,000 words begins with the first line. With apologies to Lao Tzu, writing a book is a journey, and at some point, you have to start. For most of us, staring at that blank page, or that blank screen, with not a word written, can be daunting, even overwhelming. Fight that feeling,

Book Review: Tombstone

“I’m your Huckleberry.” That’s it, you don’t need to know anything else. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in the 1993 classic, “Tombstone,” is one of the greatest roles of all time. Kilmer is perfect is every scene, and while everyone in the movie does from good to great, Kilmer is spectacular. I know I’m not

Forum Featuring Cherokee Parks

When — and why — did you first fall in love with Westerns? As a child, I fell in love with the lifestyle as much as the Westerns themselves. Why is harder to answer, and yet easier in some ways. When you grow up a cowboy, it becomes a part of you for life, something

Guide My Hand, Precious Lord

Usually for my Thursday’s Featured Book blog post, I highlight a novel written by a single author. All of the authors I highlight on Thursdays are living, unlike Monday’s Western Review when I blog about Western books and movies, new and old. It’s my way of trying to shed a little light on some of

Mile 8: First or Third

One of the early questions you have to answer, even before you start writing, is if you’ll be writing in first person or third person. This is known as the point of view (POV). Each offers advantages and disadvantages. First person POV is “I” based. Everything you share with the reader comes through the point

Book Review: Badman

Full disclosure: 1957’s “Badman” was written by Clair Huffaker, who wrote one of my all-time favorite novels — not just all-time favorite Westerns, but novels of all genres — “The Cowboy and the Cossack.” That being shared, I was predisposed to like this book. The good news is — I wasn’t disappointed. “Badman” is an

Forum Featuring Fred Staff

When — and why — did you first fall in love with Westerns? You must understand that I was raised in the middle of real life Westerns. My father’s office was next door to a saddle shop, in a very small town. I didn’t wait on him in his office; I spent many hours in the