Paul Colt's Blog, page 59

Landscaping

Readers often say my writing is “Visual.” Some say, “It’s like watching a movie.” I love hearing that, because that is exactly how I see it. A scene opens, the camera captures time, place, setting, surroundings, all the information we need for the action to begin. Getting that right starts with something I call ‘landscaping.’ One of my favorite parts of researching a book is visiting the locale to get a feel for topography, vegetation, wildlife and seasons. It’s exploring the Paha Sapa (Black Hills) on horseback. It’s riding rugged New Mexico hills, picking up colors in rock formations, cloudscapes and mountain sunsets. Recently a reader commented that she’d lived in an area featured in one of my stories. She said she felt like she was home. That got it right. Visual is good, but like all good things it can go too far. Michner might get away with twenty pages on the flora and fauna of Chesapeake Bay; but for the rest of us it shouldn’t take more than a few lines. That said, in the right story, land can rise to the stature of a character. There is a place in the J.R. Chance series I call Willow Creek. The protagonists go there when they need to work out a problem. Eventually they make it their home. Right now I’m heads-down in a story where the land is taking on that character quality. It might even be the title character when all is said and done. We’ll see. When we do, I’m pretty sure it will be visual.

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Ride easy,
Paul

Lingo

We speak and write a living language. It evolves. We add words, accepted meanings change and yes some words fall into disuse. This evolution in language comes into sharp focus for the intrepid author who presumes to write in another era, say the nineteenth- century. A couple of years ago I stumbled on a book based on the reminiscences of General David J. Cook, Superintendent of an organization that called itself the Rocky Mountain Detective Association. The book, first published in 1882, is a compilation of case reports on criminal investigations conducted by the association. Needless to say the language in the reports is pure nineteenth century. I found the terminology so amusing I started building a little glossary. I thought I might use a term here and there to give my stories a ring of authenticity. There is a risk of frustrating the modern reader if that goes too far, so sparing should be the watchword. Still who can resist something as tempting as: a character wending his way thitherward? Can you picture a romantic heroine who inspires cupidity? Used sparingly, I see opportunities to capture a little rascality and jollification!

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Ride easy,
Paul

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.

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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.

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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