Scott Harris's Blog, page 14
July 1, 2018
Book Review: The Shootist
John Bernard (J.B.) Books, is what was known back then as a “shootist,” though in later years the more popular term became gunfighter. Books has been told he has cancer, which he doesn’t want to believe, and comes to Carson City to get a second opinion. He moves into a boarding house run by Bond
June 28, 2018
Forum Featuring Western Writer Cheryl Pierson
When — and why — did you first fall in love with Westerns? Hi Scott! Thanks so much for having me as a guest on your forum! Ah … Westerns … I was born in 1957 in Oklahoma — so I think I’ve loved Westerns all my life. I remember as a little girl having
June 27, 2018
Destiny at Dry Camp
“Destiny at Dry Camp” is John Nesbitt’s newest novel. A man named Dunbar rides into the town of Dry Camp, and from the very beginning, he is a mystery. Others may figure him out sooner than I did, but the way Nesbitt wrote the story, I’d just about have him nailed own, and then he’d
June 25, 2018
Mile 4: Goals
Ok, I get it. The most obvious goal is write your book, have it published by a major New York publisher (after receiving a huge advance, negotiated by your prestigious, world-renowned agent), and watch it race up the New York Times best-seller list while the awards and reviews roll in. However, it’s possible, just possible,
June 24, 2018
Movie Review: Lonesome Dove
“Lonesome Dove,” a television miniseries, is a four-part adaptation of Larry McMurtry’s 1985 book of the same name. It benefits greatly from the more than six hours afforded to a miniseries that would never happen with a theatrical movie. Two former Texas Rangers, captains Augustus “Gus” McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, decide it’s time for
June 21, 2018
Forum Featuring Western Writer GP Hutchinson
When — and why — did you first fall in love with Westerns? One of my fondest early childhood memories is of my entire family gathering around the TV on Sunday nights to watch “Bonanza” together. Westerns were the “bread and butter” of television in the 1950s and 1960s. Yet, to me, they were anything
The Big Drift
Today’s featured book is Patrick Dearen’s excellent 2014 novel, “The Big Drift.” It was recommended to me when I was working on my book “52 Weeks • 52 Western Novels” and was such a joy to discover. “The Big Drift” is one of those books you wonder how you missed and then want to run
June 19, 2018
Analytical Chemists in the Wild West
The downside to full disclosure…
June 18, 2018
Mile 3: Short Story, Novella or Novel?
As I write this series of blogs, I am making three assumptions about the you, the reader. Granted, assumptions are often dangerous, so please forgive me if I’m off. First, you’re interested in writing and the process in and around writing. Second, you want to write fiction. While writing nonfiction (which many of you have
Book Review: Once a Renegade
Peter Brandvold’s 2002 novel, “Once a Renegade,” is quite a morality tale, under the umbrella of an old-fashioned Western. Shambeau is a Métis Indian who lives alone, as much as he can, and avoids people whenever possible. He is looked down on as a “dirty half breed” and lives his life by a code that
