Jerry Guin discusses Research and Westerns!

Those of us who write western fiction live in a world that is 150 years past.

 We try to authenticate the time era of speech, dress and mannerisms that would be perpetrators and their counterparts, the good-guys would use.  If a date of 1872 is picked for the story then identifying the correct weapons, horses or other animals, saddles, wagons and such, that were used during that time would need to be identified. 

Meaning considerable research of history, for that time, is needful, before a story is considered.  For example:  During the Civil war, the only six-guns available shot cap and ball loads which took considerable time to load.  The person loading the six-gun would take a measured load of powder, enclosed in a paper pack, and place it into each of the cylinders.  Using a loading rod, he would then push a lead ball up against each paper cartridge to secure it.  A small percussion cap placed on a nipple for each cylinder completed the loading and the weapon was ready to fire.   

A gunman in 1865 might have a holster to carry his six-gun in but would not have a cartridge belt because there were no cartridges yet.  It was not until later years, around 1870, before the first sealed cartridge loads were available; making the loading much easier, faster and cleaner.  It also brought on the advent of cartridge belts to carry extra ammunition.  Cap and ball pistols could not shoot a sealed cartridge unless converted to do so, which meant sending it back to the factory.  Some were converted but for the most part, customers sought out the new cartridge six-guns.  Manufacturers at that time switched over and began producing cartridge firing weapons only and discontinued cap and ball shooters. 

If you like western fiction, you might check out my short story.  “Justified.”  It is an old west tale with villains and heroes up to the task.  Hey, it is only .99 cents.

A tale with more length is “Charlie’s Money.”  This is about a long lost, but not forgotten, hunt for a stolen treasure.  This story, set in 1873, reads like a novel.  Mystery abounds as two former prisoners seek out the treasure, the location given to them from the lips of a man who is on his deathbed.  Others want the loot for themselves and go to extreme lengths to insure they get it.  Derrick and Harlan take a wild ride on a Texas to Kansas cattle drive.  There is six-gun action along with many setbacks right up to a surprise ending.   “Charlie’s Money” is available from High Noon Press at Amazon books as an E-book at 2.99 or paperback for 7.99.

I have been writing western fiction since 1995 with more than thirty short stories published under the name of Jerry Guin and two novels under the name of J L Guin.  I hold membership in Western Writers of America and The Western Fictioneers.  I am pleased to be associated with High Noon Press and together we will bring forth some new western adventures.    

Jerry Guin’s stories from High Noon Press can be found on Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble Nook. Here is the Amazon Kindle link for “Charlie’s Money” available in both ebook and paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Money-ebook/dp/B00DQEBP4M/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378984000&sr=1-4&keywords=jerry+guin