Patrick Dearen's Blog, page 2
November 3, 2016
revised edition of "A Cowboy of the Pecos"
Release Day:
ROBERT DUVALL graciously praised my book "A Cowboy of the Pecos" as "a wonderful book to read if you want to learn about the life of a cowboy. It's not as romantic as we think!"
Today, this nonfiction book is available again for the first time in a dozen years. After Robert Duvall's endorsement, Rowman & Littlefield reissued it in both trade paperback and ebook.
"A Cowboy of the Pecos" is the story of cowboying on the Pecos River of Texas and New Mexico from earliest trail-driving days to the late 1920s. I've always considered it the best of my 10 nonfiction books. From this volume have sprung several of my novels, include my Spur Award-winning "The Big Drift."
No place better evokes the Old West than the Pecos, which an 1886 newspaper called "the cowboy's paradise." Added one 1880s cowhand, "The Pecos boys were the most expert cowboys in the world."
Be sure to look for the newly updated edition of "A Cowboy of the Pecos," not the 1996 edition.
ROBERT DUVALL graciously praised my book "A Cowboy of the Pecos" as "a wonderful book to read if you want to learn about the life of a cowboy. It's not as romantic as we think!"
Today, this nonfiction book is available again for the first time in a dozen years. After Robert Duvall's endorsement, Rowman & Littlefield reissued it in both trade paperback and ebook.
"A Cowboy of the Pecos" is the story of cowboying on the Pecos River of Texas and New Mexico from earliest trail-driving days to the late 1920s. I've always considered it the best of my 10 nonfiction books. From this volume have sprung several of my novels, include my Spur Award-winning "The Big Drift."
No place better evokes the Old West than the Pecos, which an 1886 newspaper called "the cowboy's paradise." Added one 1880s cowhand, "The Pecos boys were the most expert cowboys in the world."
Be sure to look for the newly updated edition of "A Cowboy of the Pecos," not the 1996 edition.
September 22, 2016
New in Ebook
My novel "When Cowboys Die," the story of a cowhand born 100 years too late, has just been reissued by TCU Press as an ebook.
A Spur Award finalist for Best Western Novel of 1994, presented by Western Writers of America (WWA), "When Cowboys Die" had been out of print for 20 years. It's now available in all major ebook formats.
The novel received stellar reviews, with WWA's Roundup Magazine calling it "an instant classic that deserves a place on anyone's lists of Best Western Novels."
Inspired by a West Texas manhunt in 1976, "When Cowboys Die" is the story of present-day ranch hand Charlie Lyles, who longs for an era when horses, not pickups, ruled the range. Seeking the lost Old West, he steals a horse and disappears into rugged canyon lands.
An ensuing manhunt pits the cowboy against the helicopters, radios, and assault weapons of law officers. But the lawmen are headed into territory that hasn't changed in a century--and they are chasing a 19th-century cowboy who is at home in the wilderness.
A Spur Award finalist for Best Western Novel of 1994, presented by Western Writers of America (WWA), "When Cowboys Die" had been out of print for 20 years. It's now available in all major ebook formats.
The novel received stellar reviews, with WWA's Roundup Magazine calling it "an instant classic that deserves a place on anyone's lists of Best Western Novels."
Inspired by a West Texas manhunt in 1976, "When Cowboys Die" is the story of present-day ranch hand Charlie Lyles, who longs for an era when horses, not pickups, ruled the range. Seeking the lost Old West, he steals a horse and disappears into rugged canyon lands.
An ensuing manhunt pits the cowboy against the helicopters, radios, and assault weapons of law officers. But the lawmen are headed into territory that hasn't changed in a century--and they are chasing a 19th-century cowboy who is at home in the wilderness.
March 14, 2016
New Book
This is release day for "Bitter Waters: The Struggles of the Pecos River," the first environmental history of the stream.
My 22nd book, "Bitter Waters" explores man's influence on the Pecos from 1583 to today throughout its 926 miles -- from its headwaters near Santa Fe, NM to its confluence with the Rio Grande on the Texas-Mexico border.
I also examine the river's many issues, including low flow, salinity, saltcedars, golden algae, threatened species, stakeholder conflicts, NM-TX water division, and proliferation of the headwaters forest.
"Bitter Waters" culminates six years of work during which I interviewed 160 individuals and gathered 1,400 files. My thanks to Pecos River Resolution Corporation, which sponsored this book, and to the N.S. Haley Memorial Library, whose underwriting allowed the University of Oklahoma Press to issue "Bitter Waters" in a hardcover edition.
It's available at http://www.oupress.com/ECommerce/Book.... Online booksellers also carry the title, in both print and ebook editions. If you're in the Midland area, I'll sign copies April 30 at the Haley Library, 1805 W. Indiana.
My 22nd book, "Bitter Waters" explores man's influence on the Pecos from 1583 to today throughout its 926 miles -- from its headwaters near Santa Fe, NM to its confluence with the Rio Grande on the Texas-Mexico border.
I also examine the river's many issues, including low flow, salinity, saltcedars, golden algae, threatened species, stakeholder conflicts, NM-TX water division, and proliferation of the headwaters forest.
"Bitter Waters" culminates six years of work during which I interviewed 160 individuals and gathered 1,400 files. My thanks to Pecos River Resolution Corporation, which sponsored this book, and to the N.S. Haley Memorial Library, whose underwriting allowed the University of Oklahoma Press to issue "Bitter Waters" in a hardcover edition.
It's available at http://www.oupress.com/ECommerce/Book.... Online booksellers also carry the title, in both print and ebook editions. If you're in the Midland area, I'll sign copies April 30 at the Haley Library, 1805 W. Indiana.
October 20, 2015
THE BIG DRIFT in audio soon
I'm pleased to announce that my novel "The Big Drift"--winner of the Spur Award and three other awards--will be released as an audio book in December.
Publisher is Recorded Books of Maryland, the nation's largest independent audio book publisher.
"The Big Drift" will be narrated by actor Tom Stechschulte, who has appeared in the 2004 remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" and several episodes of "Law and Order." He has narrated more than 200 books, including novels by Cormac McCarthy.
"The Big Drift" is the story of two Texas cowhands--one black, one white--who face a brutal blizzard and haunting memories as they try to return drifted cattle to their home range in 1884-85.
It's currently available in trade paperback and in a hardcover large print edition.
Publisher is Recorded Books of Maryland, the nation's largest independent audio book publisher.
"The Big Drift" will be narrated by actor Tom Stechschulte, who has appeared in the 2004 remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" and several episodes of "Law and Order." He has narrated more than 200 books, including novels by Cormac McCarthy.
"The Big Drift" is the story of two Texas cowhands--one black, one white--who face a brutal blizzard and haunting memories as they try to return drifted cattle to their home range in 1884-85.
It's currently available in trade paperback and in a hardcover large print edition.
August 7, 2015
Spur Award acceptance for "The Big Drift"
Here's a clip of my remarks as I received the prestigious Spur Award for western traditional novel for "The Big Drift" at the Western Writers of America awards ceremony in Lubbock, TX June 27.
https://youtu.be/GIo3-KiRr3M
Also delivering remarks is Melinda Esco of TCU Press, which published "The Big Drift." The novel is the story of two Texas cowboys--one white, one black--who face a blizzard and haunting memories as they attempt to return drifted cattle to their home range in 1884-85.
My thanks to Joe Allen for this video.
https://youtu.be/GIo3-KiRr3M
Also delivering remarks is Melinda Esco of TCU Press, which published "The Big Drift." The novel is the story of two Texas cowboys--one white, one black--who face a blizzard and haunting memories as they attempt to return drifted cattle to their home range in 1884-85.
My thanks to Joe Allen for this video.
June 4, 2015
4th Award for THE BIG DRIFT
My good fortune continues. Earlier this week, "The Big Drift" won the Peacemaker Award for Best Western Novel, sponsored by Western Fictioneers. It had been named a finalist for this national award in April.
This is the 5th year that awards have been presented by Western Fictioneers, which is composed of professional fiction writers.
"The Big Drift" has now won four awards, including the Spur Award of Western Writers of America, the Fiction Book of the Year Award from Academy of Western Artists, and the Elmer Kelton Award from West Texas Historical Association. I'm astounded and humbled that so many different judging panels have found something worthwhile in "The Big Drift."
My thanks to Western Fictioneers for this latest honor, also also to my publisher, TCU Press.
This is the 5th year that awards have been presented by Western Fictioneers, which is composed of professional fiction writers.
"The Big Drift" has now won four awards, including the Spur Award of Western Writers of America, the Fiction Book of the Year Award from Academy of Western Artists, and the Elmer Kelton Award from West Texas Historical Association. I'm astounded and humbled that so many different judging panels have found something worthwhile in "The Big Drift."
My thanks to Western Fictioneers for this latest honor, also also to my publisher, TCU Press.
March 11, 2015
Spur Award for THE BIG DRIFT
HUGE NEWS -- I've just learned that my novel THE BIG DRIFT has won the Western Writers of America 2015 Spur Award for best western traditional novel.
I'll receive the award June 27 in Lubbock, TX, during the annual Western Writers of America convention.
A Spur Award is probably the most prestigious award for western writing in the nation. After so many decades of rejection slips and solitary writing, it's gratifying to receive this kind of recognition. It's also humbling, considering that previous winners include giants such as Elmer Kelton, Larry McMurtry, Louis L'Amour, Tony Hillerman, and my writing idol, Leigh Brackett.
My thanks to TCU Press--and especially director Dan Williams--for publishing THE BIG DRIFT.
This marks the second award for THE BIG DRIFT this year. In Irving, TX on March 28, I received the Elmer Kelton Fiction Book of the Year Award from Academy of Western Artists.
I'll receive the award June 27 in Lubbock, TX, during the annual Western Writers of America convention.
A Spur Award is probably the most prestigious award for western writing in the nation. After so many decades of rejection slips and solitary writing, it's gratifying to receive this kind of recognition. It's also humbling, considering that previous winners include giants such as Elmer Kelton, Larry McMurtry, Louis L'Amour, Tony Hillerman, and my writing idol, Leigh Brackett.
My thanks to TCU Press--and especially director Dan Williams--for publishing THE BIG DRIFT.
This marks the second award for THE BIG DRIFT this year. In Irving, TX on March 28, I received the Elmer Kelton Fiction Book of the Year Award from Academy of Western Artists.
January 16, 2015
Award for THE BIG DRIFT
Exciting news -- The Academy of Western Artists has notified me that my novel "The Big Drift" has won the Elmer Kelton Fiction Book of the Year Award. I'll receive the AWA award statuette March 28 at ceremonies in Irving, Texas, adjacent to Dallas.
"The Big Drift" explores race relations on the Texas Range in 1884-1885. It's set against the backdrop of the big cattle drift of 1884, when a Great Plains blizzard pushed hundreds of thousands of open-range beeves down into Texas.
Since 1996, the Academy of Western Artists (AWA) has presented annual awards to musicians and artisans who celebrate the American West. Last year, AWA added a book award fittingly named for Elmer Kelton, who died in 2009.
Elmer was a giant among western novelists, but he was an even greater man. He was also a personal friend, so it's a special honor to be selected for this national award that bears his name.
My thanks to AWA, and also to my publisher, TCU Press.
In 2014, my novel "To Hell or the Pecos" won the similarly named Elmer Kelton Award sponsored by another organization, the West Texas Historical Association.
"The Big Drift" explores race relations on the Texas Range in 1884-1885. It's set against the backdrop of the big cattle drift of 1884, when a Great Plains blizzard pushed hundreds of thousands of open-range beeves down into Texas.
Since 1996, the Academy of Western Artists (AWA) has presented annual awards to musicians and artisans who celebrate the American West. Last year, AWA added a book award fittingly named for Elmer Kelton, who died in 2009.
Elmer was a giant among western novelists, but he was an even greater man. He was also a personal friend, so it's a special honor to be selected for this national award that bears his name.
My thanks to AWA, and also to my publisher, TCU Press.
In 2014, my novel "To Hell or the Pecos" won the similarly named Elmer Kelton Award sponsored by another organization, the West Texas Historical Association.
December 22, 2014
To Hell or the Pecos, large print reissue
I'm pleased to announce that my historical novel "To Hell or the Pecos" has just been reissued in large print.
The publisher, Center Point Large Print of Maine, did a superb job with this hardcover edition, which has already made its way into domestic and foreign libraries. For a writer, there's nothing like expanding your readership to other continents.
"To Hell or the Pecos" won the 2014 Elmer Kelton Award from West Texas Historical Association, and was a 2013 finalist for the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Here's the video trailer: http://patrickdearen.com/ToHellortheP...
My thanks to TCU Press for negotiating this deal. The new large print edition is available at:
Center Point (use "title search"): http://www.centerpointlargeprint.com/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-he...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hell-Pecos-Patr...
The publisher, Center Point Large Print of Maine, did a superb job with this hardcover edition, which has already made its way into domestic and foreign libraries. For a writer, there's nothing like expanding your readership to other continents.
"To Hell or the Pecos" won the 2014 Elmer Kelton Award from West Texas Historical Association, and was a 2013 finalist for the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Here's the video trailer: http://patrickdearen.com/ToHellortheP...
My thanks to TCU Press for negotiating this deal. The new large print edition is available at:
Center Point (use "title search"): http://www.centerpointlargeprint.com/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-he...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hell-Pecos-Patr...
May 10, 2014
"Amazing Stories" interview
"Amazing Stories," the venerable pulp magazine in which stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Leigh Brackett first saw print, has resumed as an online publication. I'm pleased to report that a recent issue featured an interview with me about my writing.
I discuss not only my new sci-fi Starflight Series, but "The Big Drift," my historical novel that is forthcoming from Texas Christian University Press. I also delve into my writing methods.
The full interview is available at http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2014/02/...
I discuss not only my new sci-fi Starflight Series, but "The Big Drift," my historical novel that is forthcoming from Texas Christian University Press. I also delve into my writing methods.
The full interview is available at http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2014/02/...
