The Apache Kid: Vengeance and Fear on the Reservation

Few figures in Arizona history have drifted as far from the actual historical record as the Apache Kid. Newspapers, dime novels, and decades of scary campfire stories turned him into a phantom outlaw that bore little resemblance to the man. However, the man behind the name, Haskay-bay-nay-ntayl, began as something else: an Army scout who rose under Al Sieber, the Chief of Scouts, and who was trusted with responsibility at the Apache reservation in San Carlos, AZ.

I know people hate clicking links, but there is more over on my blog about this interesting character and how he features in The Rim Country series of novels about the Pleasant Valley War.

Here's another of my articles about lawmen and outlaws in the Pleasant Valley War. Sheriff Owens should have had movies made about him. No idea why there weren't.

The full article is on my personal website, where it's easier to format, etc., but I think you'll find it worth checking out... this was a really interesting wild west figure.

https://todnewman.com/sheriff-commodore-perry-owens-bane-of-northern-arizona-outlaws/

I've been discussing some of the famous, less-famous, and even infamous characters involved in Arizona's Pleasant Valley Range War. Today we feature Billy Mulvenon, the Sheriff of the county that also (inconveniently?) hosted the residence of the Governor of the territory.

Mulvenon made two "invasions" of the remote Pleasant Valley, often with large posses and Deputies from other nearby counties. None of these were well organized and generally ended less satisfactorily than Mulvenon would have liked. Most likely he was manipulated by the factions.

But he did get results, and went on to have a successful life as a brewer of beer in Prescott, AZ!

For more on this interesting figure and the novel I've included him in, head over to my blog.

For Lovers of Arizona History - James D. Houck, a man of contradiction and one of the real-life characters I write honestly about in "The Rim Country." Stay tuned as I continue to blog about some of these highly-capable but conflicted characters of the Wild West.

LInk to my BLOG entry on this staple of Arizona History

Indie Author marketing is not something I enjoy, but I'm always trying new things and measuring to see if they work.

Latest thing is free sample downloads. Making PDF's that require a password to copy (so scammers don't get them). All set up on my publisher's site now: https://desdichadobooks.com/bookstore

I'll report back if it helps "ease" some folks into this ancient Roman/Celtic fantasy series.

I'm trying to put well-written books on Wattpad, hoping to reach a younger age demographic...

I'm starting the second book of my Western trilogy on Wattpad, but it might make sense to check out the first book there (will stay there for a few more months): https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/410930550-the-rim-country-book-one-in-the-pleasant-valley

Or you can buy the book at https://todnewman/shop ... but I'd be happy if people just read it for free.

Wattpad is free and there's no subscription (you can bribe them to turn off the ads, though).

The Rim Country: Book Two, "The War (1887)" Artwork getting better by the day. Outline developing. Meanwhile, check out Book One! https://todnewman.com/shop/the-rim-country-book-one/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Man%27s_Walk_(miniseries)

I've read the book (all the Lonesome Dove series, to be honest) and liked it. Decided to try the TV series (on PlutoTV) because wife and son wanted to see the Odyssey and I did not.

The show isn't bad at all. And the casting seemed solid (a very young Jennifer Garner plays Clara). Worth a watch.

This just published. I've been working on a more serious Western lit series, but had been sitting on this novelette, which is written in the world of my "Halls of the Shadow King" Celtic/historical fantasy series.

How does the cover strike you?

This is my typical style, but I worked to make this one a bit more colorful (no AI, just digitally filtered/colorized line art). I love the stone wall in this one...

Price will always be as low as Amazon allows, because these novelettes are the gateway to my full-sized published novels.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9BVBCJ4