ReadWest: Stories of the American West

by Elmer Kelton, Steven Law (Foreword)

All profits from the sale of this story will benefit the ReadWest Foundation, Inc. Matthew Wayland and his young wife Rachal have settled on a small farm in Kerr County, Texas. While breaking the ground for his new wheat field, Matthew senses a Comanche attack and makes a fast track for home to protect his wife and defend their land.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, grabbed the attention of Western and mainstream readers, has been considered, by his editor, to be the heir to Elmer Kelton’s audience. 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.

Genres: Fiction, Westerns

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2011

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[Steven Law]

I have a short story in this collection titled "Forsake the Wicked," which is about Ben Ruby, the main character in my novel YUMA GOLD, and goes back to his childhood upbringing in Missouri, and the battle with an abusive stepfather.

[Leanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in the mood to read a short story and happened across this. The setting is west Texas and is a short read of about 20 to 30 pages. A young couple working the land have Comanches attack. This has put me on the hunt for a book by this author called The Time It Never Rained. Hope to find it.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story where the wife is way tougher and smarter then the husband. Doesn't happen much in western stories. Good to see it for a change.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 2 out of 5]

So sad. Typos.