America’s expansion to the Pacific Ocean was described by Theodore Roosevelt as, “The great leap Westward.” Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad served as the lynchpin in America’s expansion strategy. By the time the War Between the States ended in 1865, more than 30,000 miles of railroad track stretched from coast-to-coast. Two major events triggered this
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Describing a writer as a Master Story Teller can be a bit risky because the term suggests a promise of titanic proportions. But, JAMES REASONER would have no problem meeting such expectations. James represents his craft well, writing in a variety of genres—including Westerns, mysteries,  fantasy, war, and historicals. Ironically, I first became acquainted with his
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A hanging isn’t an appropriate event to coax a smile from others, but an Arizona lawman thought otherwise and his creative freedom was met with pure outrage. Navajo County Sheriff Frank Wattron thought it might be clever to issue a specially-worded invitation to the 1899 hanging of back-shooter George Smiley. His attempt at literary license, however,
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Erle Stanley Gardner ranks as one of the most prolific specialists of crime fiction. His alter-ego lawyer-detective “Perry Mason” stands as one of fiction’s most recognizable characters. The popular courtroom sleuth made his debut in a 1933 novel, Case of Velvet Claws and appeared in more than 80 novels, a radio show, several motion pictures, and a
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