Journal Notes

“Chris Enss has done it again. For years and many many books, Chris has brought us wonderful stories and insights about the women of the west. How these heroines of calico helped to shape, define and build the frontier. Now: we step into the early days of filmdom with strong, independent women that helped create the magic of the movies. The weaker sex, not in a heartbeat. Women that mastered feats far beyond those of mortal men. An exciting book about women with an iron will, determination and skill. Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stuntwomen belongs in every western lovers library.” Peter Sherayko, actor, producer, author

📚 Book Signing Event! 📚

Join New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss for a special signing of her latest true crime hit, Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne, at Las Vegas Books in Las Vegas, Nevada!

🗓 Saturday, August 23
🕚 11 A.M. – 2 P.M.
📍 Las Vegas Books

Come meet the author, hear the story behind the infamous couple who captivated a nation during the gangster era, and get your copy signed!

A gripping tale of love, crime, and betrayal you won’t want to miss. Spread the word and we’ll see you there! #MeetTheKellys #ChrisEnss #TrueCrime #BookSigning #LasVegasBooks

🚨 Last Chance to Win! 🚨

Today is the FINAL DAY to enter to win a copy of Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne — the thrilling new book from New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss!

Critics are raving:
“A meticulously documented history and biography that reads like an action/adventure novel from start to finish.”

Step into the gritty underworld of 1930s crime, where a notorious gangster and the woman behind his rise captivated a nation — and law enforcement. Don’t miss your chance to own this gripping true story of love, crime, and betrayal.

👉 Enter now at before time runs out!

A heartfelt thank you to Erik Wright and The Tombstone Epitaph for the article highlighting the work on the women of the American West. I’m honored to be featured in such a historic publication that continues to keep the spirit of the Old West alive. Your thoughtful coverage mean the world. Grateful beyond measure! #TombstoneEpitaph #WomenOfTheWest #WesternHistory #ChrisEnss #Gratitude

Thank you to the Tombstone Epitaph for the thoughtful review of

The Sharpshooter and the Showman—

your recognition means a great deal.

Did you know that Pawnee Bill and May Manning Lillie, the stars of the Wild West Show, weren’t just entertaining audiences—they were also pioneers in bison conservation? 🦬 As part of their show, they transported a herd of bison, and their love for these majestic animals grew into a passion that led them to create the largest privately-owned collection of pure-blood bison in the world!

Their dream home at Blue Hawk Peak became a bison conservatory, helping spark the movement to preserve bison in the U.S.

Read all about their remarkable love story, their wild adventures, and their contributions to bison conservation in “The Sharpshooter and the Showman” by Chris Enss!

#NationalBisonMonth #WildWest #BisonConservation #AmericanHistory #TakingYouPlaces #bookstagram

📕 “The Sharpshooter and the Showman: May Lillie, Pawnee Bill, and their Wild West Show”
✒️ @chrisenssauthor
📚 Available at your local bookstores, museums & gift shops from Farcountry Press, an independent, family-owned, award-winning book publisher based in Helena, Montana!

Enter now to win a copy of

Meet the Kellys:

The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne

“This book is such a fun look at a terrible time in American history, the Great Depression and the gangster era. Reads like a novel but every word is true. A masterpiece.” David Crow, bestselling author of The Pale Faced Lie.

Enter to win a copy of the hardback book or an audio book

July 15! For one day only, grab your e-book copy of

Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne

at a special sale price—available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever e-books are sold!

History lovers are invited to the Nevada County Historical Society’s upcoming speakers event for a captivating presentation by Chris Enss on her book Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne.

When: Thursday, July 17th, 2025 at 7:00 PM.

Where: The Sierra Presbyterian Church located at 175 Ridge Road, Nevada City.

Gangsters. Lovers. Legends. Meet the Kellys—the bootlegging, bank-robbing, husband-wife duo known as “Machine Gun” Kelly and Kathyrn Thorne—who masterminded one of the most infamous kidnappings in American crime . . .

How did a small-time, hip-pocket bootlegger become one of the most notorious gangsters in the country? For George “Machine Gun” Kelly, the answer was simple: a woman. Her name was Kathryn Thorne, a charming, strong-minded beauty who had family connections in the crime world—and big ambitions for the tall, handsome bootlegger. By the time she met Kelly, she was already an experienced criminal herself, divorced twice, and ready to marry a man who could give her the posh life she always dreamed of. With that in mind, she bought Kelly his first machine gun. And the rest is history . . .

George Kelly wasn’t a natural-born gangster and never carried a weapon bigger than a revolver. But Kathryn changed all that. Like a mobbed-up Lady Macbeth, she pushed her husband to commit greater crimes, introducing him to her friends in the underworld and convincing him to join in a series of bank robberies. Soon, the Kellys were living large, with a house in Texas, expensive jewelry, the works. But it wasn’t enough, and eventually the couple hatched a daring plot to kidnap oil tycoon Charles Urschel. Their plan worked. They collected the ransom—and captured the attention of the nation, the world . . . and the FBI.

A shocking story of ambition and greed, crime and punishment, Meet the Kellys offers a fascinating portrait of a reluctant gangster named after a machine gun and a scheming moll as driven as Bonnie Parker and Ma Barker. A must-read for true crime fans.

Admission: FREE and open to the public, this event lasts one hour. Free refreshments offered after the presentation. For more information, call or text Daniel Ketcham at (530) 477-8056

Enter now to win a copy of

Meet the Kellys:

The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and his Moll Kathryn Thorne

American gangster George Kelly Barnes (1895 – 1954), aka Machine Gun Kelly, with his wife Kathryn at their trial for the kidnapping of businessman Charles F. Urschel, at the Federal Court in Oklahoma City, 9th October 1933. Kelly has a bump on his head after being hit with a pistol butt during an altercation on his arrival at court. Kelly and his wife pleaded guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment. (Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

“This was a compelling and informative listen that offered a deep and often surprising look into the lives of Machine Gun Kelly and his wife, Kathryn. The story of the kidnapping, the aftermath, and the ripple effects on those connected to them was both sobering and fascinating. It’s the kind of story that stays with you—one that invites you to reflect on history, resilience, and the complexity of the people behind the headlines.

The author approached the subject with care and insight, and the narration brought an added layer of depth that made the experience all the more engaging. I found myself thinking about the people involved long after the audiobook ended.

This was more than just a true crime story—it was a powerful exploration of human experience.” Happy Amazon Reviewer

Meet the Kellys:

The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and his Moll Kathryn Thorne.

Available at bookstores everywhere!