that colors my judgment, but I find the notion of fiction as a cash machine offensive. Authors should be able to support themselves with their writing, if that is their goal—and I heartily support that goal. No one is owed a living, however, and those who are unwilling to master whatever craft composes their livelihood might better serve themselves and the unsuspecting public by finding another field of endeavor.
Oh, dear. That was a rant, wasn’t it? I don’t mean to sound like a snob. I was fortunate to have language mechanics drummed into me from the moment of my birth: My mother was an English teacher. I wholeheartedly support storytellers of all stripes, especially those who take advantage of the resources available to help them with the mechanical aspects of writing, if that is an area in which they find challenges. Telling a good story—and creating a career—involve more than just haphazardly slapping words on a page and offering the product for sale. Professionals respect themselves, and their potential market, enough to do whatever they do conscientiously.
What is your favourite western film or character?
Oh, lord. That is a really tough question. I appreciate grit in a story: tough characters with compromised souls who wiggle themselves into tight spots of their own making. I love to watch characters struggle through issues for which there are no easy answers. I enjoy suspense, and the challenge of putting together puzzle pieces. Right now, oddly, the best examples I can cite are television shows: AMC’s Hell on Wheels and BBC America’s Copper. The latter technically isn’t a western, because it’s set in New York during the waning days of the Civil War, but it overflows with grit and characters who must make tough choices.
I’ve read several excellent western novels recently, too. Bound for
the Promise-Land by Troy D. Smith and Unbroke Horses by Dale B. Jackson come immediately to mind. I recommend both, for very
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