Just saw this write up at Western Fiction Review........

After barely surviving the Civil War, all Confederate sharp-shooter Ethan van Kirk wants is a quiet life on his homestead with his eight-year-old daughter, Lucy. Then a shadow from his past appears. Suddenly he is forced to use his deadly shooting skills again in a deal with the Devil. Ethan must kill an innocent man to save his daughter’s life.

And the clock is ticking….

This is Lee Walker’s third Black Horse Western and having read the previous two I was eager to read this.

The majority of the tale takes place during one morning, and Lee Walker creates an air of menace and tension superbly ensuring the reader will find this a very difficult book to put down before the end is reached. Ethan’s frantic struggle to save his daughter and not kill an innocent man seems destined to fail as he discovers those he thought were friends cannot be trusted and time is running out fast. Unknown to Ethan there are a couple a people trying to help but are they strong enough to do so? And even if they are can they act before the time Ethan has to squeeze the trigger?

I can’t really say more about the story without spoiling it for those who intend to read this book. What I will add is I’d highly recommend it to all who enjoy edge-of-the-seat plotlines that will have you guessing as to the books’ outcome. 

Lee Walker is a pseudonym used by Ed Ferguson and on the strength of this book and the two before it, this author has joined the top ranks of my favourite western writers.

Hi all

 

Got a very pleasant surprise in the post yesterday. I had ordered in advance a copy of Nik Mortons How to Write a Western in 30 Days (with bullet points!) I thought it wasn't meant to be out until the end of July but it was brought forward.

 

First, the look and feel of the book is terrific! What a great cover!

 

I immediately sat down with a cup of coffee and dived in. When I looked up again nearly two hours had past.

 

I'm not going to give too much away for those who are going to buy a copy in the future but all I can say is I wish this book had been available before I started out - it would have saved me a ton of rewrites and edits!

 

And even though I'm on my fourth Western, 30 Days is peppered with great little nuggets of wisdom, suggestions and gentle reminders of what the western is all about and how to write one!

 

Well done Nik. This will be taking pride of place in my collection of Western reference books. Going over to Amazon now to give you a ***** star recommendation.

 

 

Devil's Deal Published

 

Hi all,

 

I logged on to my blogspot today and couldn't believe that it has been nearly a year since I last made an entry! Amazing how time flies. Anyway, I though today would be a good day to restart the blog.

 

This morning, the postman arrived with copies of Devil's Deal. It's always an amazing thrill when you hold the finished product in your hands and as always, this did not disappoint.

The story is about  Ethan Van Kirk who was an ace Confederate sharp-shooter during the Civil War.  Now the war is over, all he wants to do is lead a quiet life on his homestead with his eight year old daughter, Lucy - but the past will not leave him in peace. He is plagued by nightmares and his worst fears come to life when he meets an old officer from his army days. Suddenly, he finds himself caught up in a plot to assinate a Senator and is forced to use his deadly shooting skills again in a deal with the Devil. Ethan must kill an innocent man to save his daughters life.

 

And the clock is ticking... 

 

Devil's Deal is published by Robert Hale Ltd and is available in libraries and Amazon. 

The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler

If e-books mean there will be no traditional bookstores left, I think the saddest thing about that will be the loss of being able to find the 'accidental' book. I love browsing in old bookstores and I cannot tell you how many books I have stumbled across that are now old favourites and a few, that were no less than life changing.

One such book that has a major influence on me as I try to be a better writer is 'The Writers Journey' by Christopher Vogler. Mine is the 3rd Edition.

The blurb on the back says that the book is 'an international best seller and one of the most influential writing books in the world!' Quite a hype to live up to - and I think it does.

First, it is a beautiful book. It is a weighty tome, serious and substantial but very easy to read. Secondly, the illustrations by Michele Montez are beautiful and make you want to linger and study them before moving on. Thirdly, it makes you think!

I now read novels and watch movies in a completely different way. Voglers book explains storytelling paradigms through myths and step-by-step explanations on plot and characters using popular examples such as Star Wars and Titanic. It has given me a new depth of understanding into my own writing and a framework so that now, I can see why certain things don't work and why others do.

Educational, interesting and quite frankly, inspirational, I would recommend this to anyone who loves the art and craft of story-telling.

Pay Dirt - Western Fiction Review

The following review of my most recent book, Pay Dirt was posted on Western Fiction Review.

At last Lee Walker’s second BHW has appeared. After reading his first, Gun Law, I was looking forward to this one. The book starts with a horrific prologue, which explains the animosity between brothers Jim and Michael Payne. The story then jumps forward a number of years and the reader joins Jim as he arrives in Golden Gulch. It isn’t long before he finds himself confronting Craven and becomes a target for the conman’s hired guns. Lee Walker has come up with a great bunch of characters that are a pleasure to read about.

The story moves forward quickly and is filled with well-written action scenes that paint vivid images within the mind. The final blazing showdown takes up a good portion of the book and provides an exciting conclusion to the story.

Lee Walker is a pseudonym used by Ed Ferguson, and he writes in an easy to read style that defies you to put the book down before the end. Once more, like after finishing Gun Law,
I’m left looking forward to the third western from Lee Walker.

New Novel Accepted by Robert Hale Ltd

Robert Hale Ltd, publisher of the Black Horse Western imprint has just agreed to publish my third novel, Devil's Deal.

Managing Director, Gill Jackson, described the new work as 'an exciting Western with plenty of tension.'

The book should be issued early in the new year and I look forward to seeing it in print.

Preview of Pay Dirt Cover!

It's always an exciting moment when you see the artwork for your forthcoming book for the first time; and this did not disappoint!

Thanks to all at Robert Hale for consistently coming up with exciting and eye-catching front cover designs. They may not always relate directly to the plot but hopefully, they capture the excitement and pace of the story and give the reader a flavour of what they've come to expect from a Black Horse Western.

Pay Dirt should be available in January 2012 and I look forward to holding a pristine copy in my hands.