Paul Colt's Blog, page 58

History: Fact or Fancy

They say history is written by the winners. In truth it’s written by whoever holds the pen. Nowhere is that more true than in the nineteenth century. The power of the printed word may have reached its zenith in that century. Today those words come down to us with the cachet fact; but are they? Close examination sometimes reveals a prismatic lens through which we view the past as seen by those who record it. Nineteenth century history is filled with examples- Libbie Custer’s idyllic biographical portrayals of her husband; the historical legacy of the Grant administration as taken from the talking points of his political adversaries; to name but two. Such may be the case with Pat Garrett’s claim he killed Billy the Kid. You can decide for yourself in A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

History's Window

In 1916 history’s window was closing on the storied American horse soldier. General John J. Pershing saw something of himself in a discouraged young cavalry officer. He took the young man under his wing and saved his career, while pursuing the revolutionary bandit Pancho Villa in Mexico. That young officer would go on to lead the dawn of a new United States cavalry, an armored cavalry. His name, George Patton. You can find the story in Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

So who do you read?

Recently a reader asked about authors I like to read. I thought some of you might be interested in that question. In the category historical dramatization, i.e. historical fiction where the fiction comes from animating the characters, I tip my hat to Jeff Shaara, Matt Braun and Lauren Estleman. For traditional westerns my hat tips go to Max McCoy and Dusty Richards. Dusty gets a special tip for all the help he’s given me over the years. Get into one of his stories and you can smell saddle leather. Last but not least, a hat tip goes to Robert B. Parker. That man could sure write dialog. When I read or write believable dialog that nails the character, it sounds like Parker. So there you have it. Every one of these authors sets an inspirational standard for me. I bet you’d enjoy them as much as I do.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Just Released

Five Star Publishing released A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt today. If you follow us on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-C... you know how much fun we’ve been having over the Billy the Kid controversy. As I said in a recent pre-release post, if you suggest Pat Garrett’s legendary claim might be a lie, you better circle the wagons! You’re going to hear from the ‘Garrett-killed-the-Kid-period’ crowd. And we did. Those who have read advance copies of the book, including a reviewer at the prestigious Book List, aren’t so quick to dismiss the possibility. I’ll leave it for you to decide. Hope you enjoy the book. If you do, be sure to give it a review on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Ride easy,
Paul

Booklist Review!

A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt just got a great review from Booklist.

“You wouldn’t think anything was left to say about Billy the Kid, but Colt turns in a methodical, at times brilliant, account of William Bonney set after the Lincoln County War. Colt bases his alternative views on Garrett’s account and a book by his deputy, John Poe. Devotees of the never-quite-resolved story will be much intrigued.”

A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of DoubtThe book will be released June 18. It is currently available for pre-order.
https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt

Many of you know we’ve been having some fun with the controversy over whether Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid or killed the wrong man and covered it up. What we know is that there are strong opinions on both sides. Most experts dismiss the suggestion the legend might be a lie as wild conspiracy theory. Those who have read advance copies of the book aren’t so quick to rule out the possibility. I’ll leave it to you to decide.
Ride easy,
Paul

Circle the Wagons!

I thought it might come to this. I just didn’t think the fuss would start until after the book was released. A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt will be released June 18. The pre-order announcement got the ball rolling. The ‘Pat-Garrett-killed-Billy-the-Kid-end-of-conversation’ purists came out in force at the suggestion the legend might be a lie. My email is full of: ‘Pat Garrett killed Billy period.’ ‘My great-grand something knew somebody who told them the story. There wasn’t any conspiracy.’ ‘What about the coroner’s inquest and the candlelight vigil?’ By the way those last two are good questions. The only folks willing to question Garrett’s claim are the few who’ve actually read advance copies of the book. In the bright light of hindsight, Garrett’s claim and John Poe’s memoire are both based on circumstantial evidence, hearsay, procedural irregularities and unanswered questions. If you put your pre-conceived notions aside, it’s a great story. Buckle-up. We’re in for a ride.
Paul

A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt

What makes a controversy last one hundred thirty years? A damn good story.

Historians agree, Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid, July 14, 1881. But what if the legend’s a lie? John Poe, Garrett’s deputy on the scene that night, and others question Garrett’s claim. They suggest he killed the wrong man and covered it up.

The historical record of the Kid’s death that comes down to us today rests on Garrett’s 1882 book, The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. Pick up John Poe’s memoir, The Death of Billy the Kid and lay it beside Garrett’s book and you begin to expose the controversy. Poe was a respected law enforcement officer and political figure of his time. If you take him for a credible witness to the events of the Kid’s death, you are left with two somewhat different accounts.

History is filled with controversies. What is surprising about this one is that it continues to this very day with strong proponents on both sides. Why? Because there are contradictions, procedural irregularities, circumstantial evidence, hearsay and unanswered questions that simply won’t go away. We are left with the question: is Garrett’s claim proven beyond the shadow of doubt; or is it a hastily conceived cover up?

It makes for a great story. It’s an action packed western and a love story with one of those tantalizing discoveries I call ‘unexpected’ history. Purist adherents to Garrett’s account will dismiss any assertion to the contrary as wild conspiracy theory. I’ll leave it for you to decide.

A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt will be released by Five Star Publishing June 18th. It is available for pre-order at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt
Enjoy,
Paul

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Book Club Appearances

Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory has just been selected by a book club in our area. They asked if I would come by to talk about the book. It reminded me of how much fun I've had doing that over the years. Book club members are great readers. You learn a lot from visiting with them and listening to their comments and questions. If you've got a book club that would like to read Boots and Saddles or my upcoming release A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt, I'd be happy to do a virtual meeting with your group or an in-person appearance if that works. If you are interested, e-mail contact@paulcolt.com.
Ride easy,
Paul

Special Thanks

We just got the sales figures for the fist quarter. Boots and Saddle: A Call to Glory had a great initial run thanks to all of you who bought the book and helped spread the word. This stage of the writers' journey is about building brand. We're using radio and targeted facebook promotion to do that. If you'd like to help, give the book a review on Amazon, Like Paul Colt on facebook and share it with your friends. We've got an exciting new book coming out in June, but more on that later.

Ride easy,
Paul

Boots and Saddles Review

Spur Award winning author Rod Miller posted his review of Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory on his blog today. Check it out at:

http://writerrodmiller.blogspot.com/

If you're interested in ranch life with a hard edge to the story, you get a real feel for saddle leather and a branding iron in Rod's recent release Cold As The Clay. Rod's a cowboy whose lived it. I just finished the book. It's a heck of a read.

Ride easy,
Paul Colt

https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt