The Western novel is unique to America, its characters diverse, and its canvas of subject matter infinitely broad. The authors in this story collection make up a perfect model of these criteria. Elmer Kelton, who wrote primarily about Texas, is regarded by his peers as the best to ever write in the genre. Literary scholars have considered his novel The Time It Never Rained a classic American work. Multi award-winning author John D. Nesbitt is noted as one of the fresher voices writing Westerns today. In 2009 and 2010, Nesbitt won three back-to-back Spur Awards for his novels and short fiction. Best-selling author Don Bendell has featured his character Joshua Strongheart--and Strongheart's Native American heritage--in both his military thrillers and his historical Western novels. Bendell is often compared to the iconic Western writer Louis L'Amour. Texas author Mike Kearby, winner of the Will Rogers Medallion Award, has become a favorite of Western fans world-wide. Kearby also has a strong youth following and has ventured into graphic novels. Steven Law's novel Yuma Gold was a number one best-seller on Amazon.com, and his fans have labeled him the twenty-first century's best Western writer.
D. B. Jackson, whose debut novel, They Rode Good Horses, won the Will Rogers Medallion Award for 2012, was declared by his editor to be the heir to Elmer Kelton's readers. Also included in this collection is a special treat from literary scholar and Texas native L. D. Clark. Taken from his novel A Bright Tragic Thing, Clark has penned a screenplay based on the Civil War hangings in Gainesville, Texas, which claimed the life of his great-grandfather. This anthology is a clear representation of the classics of Western writing, but also for now, and for the future.
