"Beware a Pale Horse" Now Available on Amazon

Dear Readers,

My latest novel, Beware a Pale Horse, has now been released and is available on Amazon. Beware a Pale Horse is a sequel to The Accidental Sheriff, which was an Amazon best seller for some months and is still doing very well. This book continues with the adventures of writer Grant Coolidge, lawyer Hannah Locke, and teenage entrepreneur Trouble Yates. Bushwa Sparks, Enos Fletcher, Samantha Morris, and other characters from the previous book will have roles, also.

The plot centers around a range war flaring up in Big River County where Lockwood, Wyoming is located. The county Stock Growers Association has employed hired guns, self-identified as the Justice Riders, who are terrorizing local homesteaders and alleged rustlers with lynchings. Once again, the writer protagonist will be reluctantly pressed into the conflict. There will be some action in this one and, of course, a bit of romance.

I enjoy writing about the characters in my Lockwood novels. Most of my readers are aware by now that characters from other novels frequently appear in cameo roles in my current books. This book will be no exception.

My current project is another sequel to the Lockwood books. The working title is Sammy and Trouble, however that may be changed prior to release of the novel. This will complete a trilogy set in Lockwood, Wyoming. The book will focus on Trouble Yates and Samantha Morris, who will now be old enough to marry. But will the obstacles be too great? Will both live to see a wedding? The author does not decide such things in advance, so we must wait and see what happens. As I have explained previously, I do not outline or plot my stories before I write. I come up with a setting and a few characters I think might be interesting, as well as a tentative title, and just start writing. A sequel, of course, has many of the characters already identified. I just don’t know what is going to happen to them. It is a challenging job playing God with characters’ lives. I am hoping for an early April release.

I hope you will enjoy Beware a Pale Horse. Sequels to a successful novel tend to leave this writer a bit uneasy because of a certain fear of letting your readers down from a previously popular title. You will be the judge of that.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Best wishes and good reading.

Ron

"The Accidental Sheriff" Now Available on Amazon

My latest novel, The Accidental Sheriff, is now available on Amazon Kindle. I always seek to provide something a little different for my readers, and I hope this book does that. The male protagonist, Grant Coolidge, is a dime novelist who writes westerns without ever having been west of the Mississippi River. He proceeds to remedy his travel deficiencies in this book and encounters a basketful of surprises in Lockwood, Wyoming,

If you have read my other books, you have visited Lockwood in the Coyote series andLooking for Trouble, and you will meet many of the inhabitants again. I also include two strong female characters, Hannah Locke and Bright Moon Dupree. Romance? Count on it. A few tears? Could be. Humor? I have tried.

You will meet Trouble Yates, Sammy Morris and Enos Fletcher again. I think readers will like a new character, Obadiah “Bushwa” Sparks, as well as several other newcomers.

I hope my readers enjoy this novel. It has been fun to write. My next book will be a sequel with a storyline based upon a range war. Since I don’t outline or plot ahead, my readers now know as much as I do at this point. My working title is Beware a Pale Horse. By release time, my publisher may want to change this, but I like to have a title when I do my writing. I hope to have this completed for November release.

For those who may not be aware, permit me to brag a bit. In June Old Dogs was honored by Western Fictioneers, an organization of western fiction writers, with the Peacemaker Award as the Best Western Novel of 2021. I was interviewed on the Western Fictioneers blog a few weeks ago. If any reader is interested, you may click this link to read the interview.

Thanks for your interest in my novels.

Best wishes and good reading.

Ron

"Day of the Dog" Now Available on Amazon

Old Dogs may not may not have been my best novel, but it certainly enjoyed market success, and many readers have expressed that it was their favorite of my novels. Confession: While I do not consider the book my best work, it wins out as my own personal favorite by a nose. Thus, I could not resist the temptation to revisit the characters in the book.

Day of the Dog is now available on Amazon Kindle. This book features Jordy Jackson, Jack Wills’s foster son, and Jack’s granddaughter Sierra, as well as Rudy Kilgore, the old Texas Ranger and Jack’s loyal friend. And a new canine warrior is introduced to worm his way into the hearts of readers. Many of the other characters in Old Dogs make appearances, also. And many “Jackisms” will keep Jack Wills’s memory a continuing presence.

The novel can be read as a standalone, but if you have not read Old Dogs, you should really read it first. Day of the Dog turned into more sequel than I originally intended. I have flinched at writing sequels to some of my best sellers (i.e. Grit, Cut Nose) for fear of disappointing, but I could not stay away from this one. I hope readers will agree with my decision.

Thanks to all those who make it possible for me to pursue my dream as a fulltime novelist.

Best wishes and good reading.

Ron Schwab

"Snapp vs. Snapp" Now Available on Amazon

My latest novel, Snapp vs. Snapp, is now available on Amazon Kindle. The print edition will follow in the weeks ahead. Snapp vs. Snapp is another story set in the Nebraska Sandhills, much of it in 1880s North Platte. The book is another Blood Hounds novel, this plot featuring Audra Scott, the former prostitute turned Pinkerton detective, as the female protagonist. The male protagonist is a young lawyer, Aristotle (Ari) Adams. Both represent the hot-tempered Libby Snapp in a divorce proceeding against her rancher husband that turns lethal.

Snapp introduces an array of new characters, including Ari Adams’s alcoholic father and Chester the cat. Snapp vs. Snapp is a traditional western mixed with a mystery storyline injected with a bit of humor. I hope my readers will find some hours of entertainment here. While Snapp is the fourth book in the series, it is always my goal for these books to be able to be read as standalone novels. If you wish to make yourself familiar with the earlier books, however, they can be purchased individually or as a "box set."

I am currently working on a sequel to Old Dogs, without question my most popular novel. Day of the Dog will take readers back to Texas and life on the Lucky Five Ranch following the death of Jack Wills, without a doubt my most beloved protagonist ever. As the title suggests, there will be a new dog in town. I am excited to revisit the characters in this novel and hope to have it completed for March release.

Thanks to all my readers for a 2021 that has seen more of my titles sold than I could have imagined possible. I hope I can continue to produce books that you will enjoy.

Best wishes and good reading.

Ron

"Coldsmith" Now Available on Amazon

My latest novel, Coldsmith, is now available to purchase on Amazon. This is a standalone book with a setting I have not used before—the Nebraska Sandhills in the late 1870s.

Although born in the Kansas Flint Hills, I was raised in Nebraska and spent most of my life there, thus having more experience with the state’s physical landscape. These days, I maintain a Nebraska residence while spending most of my writing hours at a cabin in my birth state. Nebraska, particularly the western portion, has a rich history of western lore to draw upon for lovers of westerns, so I decided I should spend time in my imaginary world there for a spell. 

Coldsmith, the first of several anticipated Nebraska novels, is likely more of a traditional western than some I write, but it will have a fair number of twists that will set the story apart from most in the genre. The male protagonist is Rance Coldsmith, a fledging “cowman” with a small ranch in Custer County. A widower, who lost his wife and children, Rance is a former soldier, cowhand and deputy sheriff. Of course, there is a female protagonist. Her name is Lisbeth Baker, the mother of two small children, Morgan and Marissa.

Rance and Lisbeth meet up the night her husband is killed, and the family’s sod house burned out, and, suddenly, Rance must figure out what to do with the survivors. The villain in the story is Print Olive, a true historical figure. A notorious Texas rancher noted for hanging rustlers, Olive wore out his welcome in the Lone Star state and moved his operation to Nebraska, where he took up his former practices. Rance takes up the badge again, and Print Olive becomes his nemesis. 

I have started another novel for release later this year. The working title is Snapp vs. Snapp. This will be a story set in and near the Sandhills with much of the action occurring in frontier North Platte. It is a standalone novel, and both male and female protagonists are waiting for me to name them.  A cat named Chester will have a featured role. My novels write themselves, so I cannot tell readers (even if I were inclined) much about the plot till I am further into the book. 

Thanks to all my readers for their support.

Best wishes and good reading,

Ron

"Old Dogs" Now Available on Amazon

My latest novel, Old Dogs, is now available on Amazon Kindle. Print editions are generally available about a month later.

I am especially excited about this book. Sometimes I start to burn out on a novel when I am about three-fourths finished and then fun turns to hard work. This book kept me enthused to the final sentence. I hope this portends holding reader interest as well.

Old Dogs is a standalone Western set in West Texas, and, yes, one of the protagonists is, in fact, canine. But the other two old dogs are elderly men. Readers sometimes ask if I visualize specific persons for characters in my books. Usually not, but in this instance I did. For old Western movie fans, I saw Walter Brennan in the role of Rudy Kilgore and Ben Johnson playing Jack Wills. Sometimes, Glenn Ford stood in for Ben. Unfortunately, all are deceased and cannot be summoned for the movie roles.

The reader should find a few laughs in the story and a fair amount of action, including battles with Apaches and Comancheros, but the book is more character driven than action focused. There will be romance for one of the old dogs. Younger male and female characters vie for equal time in the book’s plot. The story might best be described as bittersweet.

Many writers say that their most recent book is always their favorite (not necessarily best). That has not always been my experience, but I must say that Old Dogs is my frontrunner for personal favorite right now.

My next project is not yet titled but will be soon, because I find I cannot write without a title. That does not preclude the possibility of title change prior to publication (but only rarely). The book will be another standalone, probably set in the Nebraska Sandhills, and then midsummer, I will likely return to one of my series books (The Blood Hounds, The Law Wranglers or The Lockes).

Once again, thanks for your interest in my projects and good reading.

Ron

Third Blood Hounds Book Now For Sale

My latest novel, Looking for Trouble, was just released on Amazon today. This is the third book of The Blood Hounds series based upon the adventures of National Detective Agency operatives. Trace and Darby Crockett, the husband-wife team, will be featured in this novel. They will be joined by Maddie Sanford and her wolfdog, Pirate, from the No Man’s Land novel. Most of the action occurs near Lockwood, Wyoming, the setting of my Night of the Coyote novel, and readers of that book will meet old friends, Ethan Ramsey and Enos Fletcher in small roles here. I hope readers will find a nice mix of suspense, action, romance and humor in this novel. Readers will discover several new characters some may want to read more of. There are certainly a few who offer more story for this writer to tell—likely soon.

My next project will be a standalone novel, which I hope to have completed for March release. Title is Old Dogs. The main protagonists will be two old men and, yes, an old dog. I am really excited about doing this book, but I do not know much about the storyline yet. As I have doubtless mentioned before, I do not write from an outline. I decide on some characters I want to write about, and they write the story. Sometimes, I can’t wait to see what the next chapter will do with the characters. This is a far cry from my years as a law wrangler when I was required to know the endgame before I put any words together.

I hope to have four or five titles released in 2021. I will resist the temptation to speculate on what they might be, because I most likely will have a different project calling before I get there.

Thanks to all who take the time and spend the money to read my books. I will try very hard to keep you entertained. Best wishes for a great 2021 to all of you.

Ron

The Long Walk Just Released

My latest novel is now on Amazon. My twentieth western/historical novel, The Long Walk, is based on the Kit Carson commanded Navajo war and eventual incarceration of the Navajos at the Bosque Redondo in New Mexico Territory in the 1860s. As my readers know, I often include non-traditional western protagonists in my books, and in this instance both the male and female main characters are physicians. I love to write historical fiction, although the research sometimes slows my progress on the story and tests my patience.

If you are not familiar with the Navajo Long Walk, this is the opportunity to read a nutshell version of what appears to be the most profound event in Navajo history. I found this book a special challenge to write, trying to stay true to the historical facts of the event while weaving in the occupations of my protagonists. Action and conflict were not problems. Much like Cut Nose, a Western Writers of America finalist for best historical western novel, truth was more bizarre than fiction. Readers will judge my success at adapting a mix of fictional and historical characters to this event in a way that makes the novel both entertaining and educational.

Some have asked if or when they will see another Blood Hounds book. I am just starting my work on the third book of this popular series and hope to have it ready for release late November of this year. Tentative title is Looking for Trouble. I usually choose a title before I write my first word of a novel. Since I do not outline a novel before I start writing, a title serves as a bit of a compass, I suppose. Sometimes, the compass sends me in a different direction, however, and the title gets changed after the book is finished. Back by popular demand will be teenager Maddie and her wolf-dog Pirate, as well as the cast of Pinkerton detectives.

Thanks to all readers for their interest and support.

Best wishes and good reading.

Ron

No Man's Land Released Today!

The second book of The Blood Hounds series, No Man’s Land, is now available to download on Amazon. Print editions should be available in a few weeks. The novels in this series do not need to be read sequentially, although the backstories of the characters in the first novel probably add some flavor to subsequent books.

Trace and Darby Crocket, as well as Audra Scott, are again featured in the sequel, but the readers will also meet an addition to the detective team. As the title implies, the Pinkerton crew will revisit No Man’s Land and an outlaw hideout in a place called Copperhead Canyon. Their mission: recover gold bullion taken during a train robbery that resulted in the murder of two fellow agents and find a girl abducted by the robbers.

Readers who enjoyed the first book of The Blood Hounds series should enjoy the second, which includes a bit more action and several interesting new characters.

My next project is a historical Western based upon the Navajo “long walk” of the 1860s. This novel has probably required more research than any I have done yet, but the reading has been totally captivating. This will be a standalone book and longer than most of my novels. It will be a challenge to take this on and produce a book that will both educate and entertain. I hope to have this completed for August release.

I also solicit your help. The Western market has experienced a huge influx of new writers, and the competition for readers is growing. Your reviews on Amazon (hopefully favorable) will help boost our sales. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Best wishes and good reading,

Ron

Spur Finalist Award

I am glad to be able to share some exciting news with readers and followers of my novels. Western Writers of America has recently announced winners and finalists for the 2020 Spur Awards sponsored by that organization, and my novel, CUT NOSE, has been declared a Spur Award Finalist for Best Western Historical Novel. I look forward to accepting formal presentation of the certificate at the WWA annual convention in Rapid City in June.

WWA is an organization of professional writers established in 1953 to promote fiction and non-fiction literature about the American West, and today boasts over 700 members. I have been a member for some years, but submissions are eligible for judging regardless of membership. If you are interested in more information about the organization or Spur Awards, you may go to the WWA website at https://westernwriters.org.

As many of you know, my latest novel, THE BLOOD HOUNDS, was released a few weeks ago in the Kindle edition on Amazon. Early sales and reviews have been positive, so we are optimistic about the book’s reception over the next several months. Trade paperback copies should be available the end of this month. I am currently working on the as yet untitled sequel to the novel, which we hope to have out the end of April.

Best wishes and good reading.

Ron