Richard Lear's Blog
September 29, 2023
Even Though No One's Asked...
In the final rewrites of GARRISON, the sequel to THREE RODE THE TRAIL. The writing is better than with the first book and with a more streamlined but just as gripping plot. It even has the first lovemaking/sex scenes I've ever written. Gotta admit they're very good. They should sell a few books for me!
Like the TRTT, this novel has comedy sprinkled in with the drama and action. A bit more gun play here, and more memorable characters. The Old West is brought alive as effectively as it was in the first book.
Because of my growth as a novelist I'll be revising TRTT after GARRISON is published. It'll be re-released with the same cover but it'll be a more gripping read, a faster page turner because ya gotta find out what happens next. I advise you buy and read Garrison first to get a taste of what you'll enjoy with the revised THREE RODE THE TRAIL.
Like the TRTT, this novel has comedy sprinkled in with the drama and action. A bit more gun play here, and more memorable characters. The Old West is brought alive as effectively as it was in the first book.
Because of my growth as a novelist I'll be revising TRTT after GARRISON is published. It'll be re-released with the same cover but it'll be a more gripping read, a faster page turner because ya gotta find out what happens next. I advise you buy and read Garrison first to get a taste of what you'll enjoy with the revised THREE RODE THE TRAIL.
June 20, 2023
THREE RODE THE TRAIL: Audiobook Edition
I took advantage of Google Play Book's free AI-narrated audiobook program. Amazon's preventing me from listing the audiobook edition here, no idea why. I've clearly designated as a new edition. Oh well, it's why I don't use this account for marketing any of my novels anymore.
May 26, 2023
GARRISON Preview
I've decided to post the 1st chapter from my latest novel-in-progress GARRISON. It's the sequel to my first book THREE RODE THE TRAIL. When the new novel opens up, Garrison is standing over the freshly-covered grave of his younger brother Ike. In this book, Garrison rides off on a trail of both revenge and redemption. I plan to self-publish it later this year.
Chapter 1
Garrison Fleck was standing over the grave of his younger brother Ike. The earthy smell of the freshly tossed dirt covering the grave filled his mind with memories of when he and Ike had first been brought to this ranch. Uncle Roy had owned it back then. He had picked them up at the Upper California Crossing on the South Platte River near Julesburg in 1865. He and Ike had grown up on this ranch and had come into ownership of it after Roy was killed in 1871.
Ike’s grave was dug next to Roy’s among a stand of boxelders near a stream that ran through the ranch. Garrison had chosen a simple headstone for his brother, made from white granite with a rounded top. The inscription was equally as simple: “Isaac Fleck 1861-1878”. Ike had always introduced himself as “Isaac” to the few people he chose to meet, and Garrison felt he would have liked that name inscribed on his gravestone. It bothered him that he couldn’t recall Ike’s middle name because it had never been used. The letters were bigger with just the two names anyway.
But more than the headstone Garrison was thinking about the guns Ike was buried with, a matched set of .36 Colt Navy 1851 revolvers. It was the same outfit that Ike’s idol, Wild Bill Hickok, had worn. Ike had wanted them for years. And now in death he finally wore them. Garrison had made damn sure of that.
Why the hell hadn’t he listened to Ike and bought him those guns while he had still been alive? Just one more regret added to the long list that comprised Garrison Fleck’s life.
Garrison had held onto the twin .44-40 Merwin Hulbert revolvers that he had bought Ike for the stagecoach guard job. One of the guns would serve a purpose, implementing a plan he had in mind.
He wanted to start the ride to Pueblo this afternoon but he would wait until next morning. There was plenty of time to kill.
© 2020 Richard Lear
Chapter 1
Garrison Fleck was standing over the grave of his younger brother Ike. The earthy smell of the freshly tossed dirt covering the grave filled his mind with memories of when he and Ike had first been brought to this ranch. Uncle Roy had owned it back then. He had picked them up at the Upper California Crossing on the South Platte River near Julesburg in 1865. He and Ike had grown up on this ranch and had come into ownership of it after Roy was killed in 1871.
Ike’s grave was dug next to Roy’s among a stand of boxelders near a stream that ran through the ranch. Garrison had chosen a simple headstone for his brother, made from white granite with a rounded top. The inscription was equally as simple: “Isaac Fleck 1861-1878”. Ike had always introduced himself as “Isaac” to the few people he chose to meet, and Garrison felt he would have liked that name inscribed on his gravestone. It bothered him that he couldn’t recall Ike’s middle name because it had never been used. The letters were bigger with just the two names anyway.
But more than the headstone Garrison was thinking about the guns Ike was buried with, a matched set of .36 Colt Navy 1851 revolvers. It was the same outfit that Ike’s idol, Wild Bill Hickok, had worn. Ike had wanted them for years. And now in death he finally wore them. Garrison had made damn sure of that.
Why the hell hadn’t he listened to Ike and bought him those guns while he had still been alive? Just one more regret added to the long list that comprised Garrison Fleck’s life.
Garrison had held onto the twin .44-40 Merwin Hulbert revolvers that he had bought Ike for the stagecoach guard job. One of the guns would serve a purpose, implementing a plan he had in mind.
He wanted to start the ride to Pueblo this afternoon but he would wait until next morning. There was plenty of time to kill.
© 2020 Richard Lear
April 20, 2023
Garrison
Haven't been on Goodreads for a long while. Honestly, I've forgotten about logging on since I start writing the sequel to my first novel. The first draft of "Garrison" was completed a few months ago. I'm going through the different drafts now polishing what I wrote, adding, deleting, still getting new inspiration for making the story better. Just finished reading "Anna Karenina" and it's become influential on how I'm rewriting selected scenes and characters. Leo knew how to add realism to his characters in many scenes which served to shine through some of his more arcane and long-winded prose. But overall, reading Tolstoy is like taking a masterclass in fiction writing.
My plan is to finish the "Garrison" manuscript and have the book published by the fall.
My plan is to finish the "Garrison" manuscript and have the book published by the fall.
December 13, 2022
Smashwords Sale!
My Book, THREE RODE THE TRAIL is part of the Smashwords 2022 End of Year Sale! Find your next favorite book—mine and others—at https://smashwords.com/shelves/promos/ and follow @smashwords for more promos like this! #SmashwordsEOYSale #ebook #sale #books2read #indiebooks
May 1, 2022
Working On Sequel To THREE RODE THE TRAIL
Currently writing the follow up novel titled "Garrison". I hope to finish up within two years.
April 22, 2022
A Wish About Western Novels
I wish Western novels were still as popular as Western TV series and movies. There are new ones like Django and 1883, and older series like Deadwood that ran for years. The movie The Ballad of Buster Scruggs performed quite decently for Netflix. Some movies like the movie version of Django, The Hateful Eight, Hostiles, and 3:10 To Yuma were critically acclaimed and some fared very well at the box office.
The reality is neither literary agents nor book publishers will take a chance on Westerns written by first time authors with no track record. But my first novel was a Western with very modest sales. No matter. I'm currently working on the sequel because a few other readers (including my wife) want to know what happened to one of the lead characters after the end of the book. I want to find out too.
The reality is neither literary agents nor book publishers will take a chance on Westerns written by first time authors with no track record. But my first novel was a Western with very modest sales. No matter. I'm currently working on the sequel because a few other readers (including my wife) want to know what happened to one of the lead characters after the end of the book. I want to find out too.
March 19, 2022
THREE RODE THE TRAIIL Book Giveaway is over!
Congratulations to the 100 people who won a free eBook. It's already been downloaded to your Kindle device.
Thank you to the 562 people who requested a copy and the close to 518 people who put my book on their to-read list.
I hope everyone who reads my novel enjoys it and, if you do, please rate it highly AND post positive reviews here and on Amazon.
Thank you to the 562 people who requested a copy and the close to 518 people who put my book on their to-read list.
I hope everyone who reads my novel enjoys it and, if you do, please rate it highly AND post positive reviews here and on Amazon.
February 22, 2022
My Website
Remember to visit my website at
https://www.richardlearauthor.com/
You can read my blog there which gives "behind the scenes" info on what inspired me to write THREE RODE THE TRAIL and other news. You can also leave your own comments. And there's some fancy shmancy graphics effects that I'm proud of, especially since it's my first website.
https://www.richardlearauthor.com/
You can read my blog there which gives "behind the scenes" info on what inspired me to write THREE RODE THE TRAIL and other news. You can also leave your own comments. And there's some fancy shmancy graphics effects that I'm proud of, especially since it's my first website.
February 18, 2022
Book Giveway Has Gone Live!
The book giveaway for my first novel, THREE RODE THE TRAIL is now live. Enter now to win 1 of 100 Kindle editions! Giveaway closes on Mar. 18, 2022. You can find it here:
