Journal Notes

The speaking engagement I had this past Saturday was a real joy. The audience was very receptive. I enjoy talking about women of the Old West and how they helped tamed the wild frontier. My friend, Cynthia Martin has sat through the same lecture more than a half a dozen times. At each event she still looks interested in what I’m saying. She’s a great friend and a good sport. An old friend will help you move. A good friend, like Cynthia, will sit through the same lecture you give over and over again and never complain. I realize I’ve been out and about too much with the books because I’m eating every meal at McDonalds. I went into a McDonald’s yesterday and said, “I’d like some fries.” The girl at the counter asked, “Would you like some fries with that?” McDonalds is such a routine with me I didn’t even realize what was said until after I got the double-fries order. The invitations for the launch of Thunder Over the Prairie will soon be in the process of being printed. The book will be in stores by mid May. I’ve had some people I invited to the launch already decline. Dodge City, Kansas is a bit far for most people to go to celebrate the publication. They’ve been kind about and told me they’d happily wait for the book to be made into a TV movie. It’s interesting, if you read a lot of books, you’re considered well-read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you’re not considered well-viewed.

It’s official! The next project I’ll be working on is a biography of Elizabeth Custer. I spoke with my editor this morning and was given the green light. I’ve been fascinated with the Widow Custer for years. I visited the scene of Custer’s Last Stand in 2007 and wanted to write about how Elizabeth must have felt looking over the same plot of land so many years ago. And here I thought the last book I’d be contracted to write for a major publishing house was the Cody book – I’m grateful. Next month is National Women’s Heritage Month. I have a lot of signings scheduled around the state in March. I’m going to try and visit my brother and my nephew soon. Corey will know me, but Rick?. He suffered quite extensive trauma in the beating and rape at Beaumont. It’s heartbreaking. I hurt for my parents. My mom will probably never fully recover from all that happened either. She seldom if ever leaves her house. The actions of two disturbed creatures haunt our lives. The real guilty parties are still out there waiting to destroy again. I sincerely hope it’s true that what goes around comes around. The lies will be found out and sooner than they know. Elizabeth Custer believed the same thing. And she was ultimately proved right. God is good no matter what!

The recent book signing tour was through Nevada and Arizona. I visited several book stores and had a speaking engagement at the Prospector’s Association annual meeting in Kingman. I met a lot of nice people there. I got lost once or twice but didn’t mind much because I was listening to a book on CD called Twilight. I’m a little late to the genius of this material, I know. It’s a great love story. The primary target audience for the book is teenage girls, but I was captivated by it just the same. I couldn’t help remembering what it was like to be 17 again and waiting on my grandmother’s porch for my crush to drive by. I can’t say life was simpler even then, but I had just enough innocence that the future still had a rosy tinge. I fell in love really quickly when I was much younger. That scared guys away. My ex-husband can attest to that. And I wasn’t shy about telling the object of my desire how I felt either. I would admit to them, “I’m in love with you, I want to marry you, I want to move in with you.” And they’d respond, “Ma’am, give me the ten bucks for the pizza and I’ll be outta here.” Things with the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans project are moving along slowly, but they are moving. It’s been hinted that to promote the initial production of the film a major casting call for young lady equestrians is in the works. The Cowboy and the Senorita film will include many lady riders to participate in the reenactments of the rodeos the duo hosted. I’m a little old for a part, but maybe I’ll take a riding lesson or two anyway. I could be an extra way, way off in the distance. And now I have to go and unpack. That’s the worst part of the book signing tour – the unpacking.

I’ll be traveling to the Las Vegas area Monday to speak at a conference about the book A Beautiful Mine. I thought I’d post the review Clark Isaacs, the President of the organization wrote about the book. I’m happy to send interested readers a review copy. All you need to do is drop my an email and let me know you’d like a book. Enjoy. A Beautiful Mine Women Prospectors of the Old West: There’s gold in them thar hills, and the women came to get it out! Chris Enss presents some of the finest snapshots of women prospectors of the old west and how they made their mark in history. When reading these marvelous tales of rough and tumble characters it is impossible not to get a feeling how our western states were developed. There are many illustrations and actual photographs which depict how hard life actually had been for these women. Through the years they not only prospected, they found gold and had the mines to show for it. Side line businesses were started so as to fund their ventures in the hills. We learn about their restaurants, boarding houses, and managing skills. Yet, they gave charity to miners on the skids by giving them free food, bathing, and often staking to search for a new claim. Compassion was really the second name for many of these tough broads, but never cross them like Jamieson did when he shot and killed Charley (Charlotte) Hatfield’s husband. She did a lot of searching for many years until she caught up with him by chance and shot him three times! Author Chris Enss brings to this compilation of true stories, a keen eye for interesting anecdotes about each of these women of the old west. In 1905 Lillian Malcolm said “The grandest and healthiest life known is this rough pioneer life. And I don’t see why more women are not in the hills.” Early photographs are from many historical societies in the western states and you have to see them to really get this wonderful flavor of seeing a woman swinging a pick or sifting a pan for gold. Chris has written for television, short subject films, live performances, and the movies. Her professionalism shines and you are easily transported to yesteryear in an old western motif. Past books have included The Doctor Wore Petticoats, The Lady Was a Gambler, Pistol Packin’ Madams, and Outlaw Tales of California. A Beautiful Mine is a recommended exceptional read and a great addition for your bookshelf.

There’s nothing more satisfying than a western film. With rare exception, the bad guy always gets it in the end. I think that’s what makes westerns so popular. We all want to see the liar, the cheat, the truly evil person get what’s coming to them. Real life isn’t like that. If you tell one big lie and get away with it, it’s easy to do it again. Some of the good guys have helped her do just that. I’m glad Nomadic Pictures is considering bringing Thunder Over the Prairie to life. I’m going to live vicariously through Wyatt Earp. I try not to think of vengence in such a way, but I was informed today that the one responsible for taking my brother from my family is now claiming someone else was involved. If it were only 1881 and my last name was Earp. I hope the people in Rolla, Missouri who visited my site today at 4:27, 4:38 and 7:18 p.m. will be okay. I’ll just keep praying that God will help me finally get past this new hurt. I’m so sad.

I’m nearing the end of the second rewrite of the Buffalo Bill book and thought I would include a sample of one of the chapters. Cody was involved with an actress named Katherine Clemmons and that involvement caused a great deal of hardship and embarrassment for him and his family. Lots of great men have met their downfall through opportunistic women. That’s a big part of what the Buffalo Bill book is about. The book I’ve written about my brother is in part about the same thing. By the way, The Deadliest Accusation is set to be released in December 2011. And now, a little Buffalo Bill? On February 17, 1894, the Posh Chamberlain Restaurant in Washington D.C. was filled to capacity with well-dressed guests, enjoying the elegant ambiance and sumptuous food. Forty-eight year old William Cody was among the fashionably coifed patrons. He was seated at one of the pristinely set tables wearing a tailored suit and tie, his long hair combed neatly away from his handsome face, his signature beard and mustache trimmed and waxed. Katherine Clemmons, a San Francisco born actress with soft, stunning features and a petite frame, sat across from William sipping on a glass of wine and drinking in every word the showman said. It was obvious from the way he looked at her that the two were more than just dinner companions. They ate their meal and shared a bottle of champagne, as a handful of musicians serenaded the patrons with a delicate, classical piece. In the midst of the harmonious setting Fred May entered. Fred, an acquaintance of both William and Katherine, walked across the eatery to their table. Fred and Katherine exchanged a flirtatious glance as ordinary pleasantries were exchanged. Sometime during the tense conversation that transpired between the three, William punched the man in the face and knocked him to the floor. The distinguished clientele around the activity halted their eating and quietly speculated about what had happened. The wait staff hurried to the table apologizing profusely for the disturbance and helping Fred to his feet. With a slight bow and broad grin to the other diners around him, William quickly tried to defuse the awkward situation. “Just a difference of opinion between gentlemen,” he told them.

Yesterday’s excursion to LA turned out to be better than I hoped. I had three meetings about various film projects in the works and got to know Jay O’Connell, author of The Train Robber’s Daughter. Jay graciously gave me a lift back to the airport when all was said and done. It was a pleasure to sit and chat with a fellow author about the business and swap ideas on how to promote the books. Jay works at Warner Brothers on the show The Big Bang and he gave me a tour of the lot. At one point I was in the same air space as George Clooney. He was there filming an episode of E.R.. Life suddenly made sense! Perhaps I’m being a little overly dramatic, but it was a kick! I’m back to work today on the Buffalo Bill book. I’ve uncovered so much information about his extramarital affairs that I’m finding it hard to condense it all into 40,000 words. I’ve got to do some editing. I’m lunching today with another fellow author. He happens to be a Federal Judge as well. He’s a Christian who has written several books on the subject of forgiveness. Funny how that subject keeps coming up in my life. In addition to discussing the writing process, I’m anxious to share my story with him about my brother. I’d like to get his take on why the attorney I hired to help my brother continues to visit my website. I had another visit from the firm while I was in Hollywood. Oh well, I knew a long time ago they weren’t really working in the best interest of my brother. I’m glad they have such a great relationship with the prosecuting attorney’s office. I am in awe of the new feature on my site that enables me to track all the visits. I’ve had visitors from a variety of school board members and teachers who have requested copies of the book Frontier Teachers for classroom use. I’ve had visitors to the site from as far away as Turkey, London and France and as close as Norborne and Rolla, Missouri. My motivation for getting the feature was to increase book sales, but I’m learning so much more.

Today I received the children’s book I wrote that supposed to be due out three months ago. The book is entitled The Christmas Adventures of Cowboy True. I’m glad the book is here. Jeff and Melissa Galpin, the illustrators on the project, did a wonderful job. The finished product is vibrant and eye catching. My only problem is IT’S JANUARY! So?the book will be in wide release for Christmas 2009. If you’d like an advanced copy email me and I’ll get one out to you. I’m off to LA at the end of this week. I’m feeling a little nervous about it. I really want these meetings to go well. One of my friends told me not to worry and to go and just “be myself.” “Be yourself” is about the worst advice you can give to some people. I’ve been doing that and it hasn’t worked out like I thought it would. I’ve narrowed down the careers I’m qualified to pursue should writing cease to be something that’s offered to me. A magician’s assistant and juggler are the only other skills I have. And I’m not very good a juggling. It’ll be okay, right? I am a little worried about driving to my appointment in LA. I am the worst driver. I should just drive a hearse and cut out the middleman. More later?I hope.

I will be in Los Angeles next week. I’ll have a chance to meet Jay O’Connell, the author who provided Howard Kazanjian and I a quote for the book Thunder Over the Prairie. I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet with the promotional director for Barnes & Noble and discuss the in store publicity for the book. I’ve always enjoyed working with Barnes & Noble. I can’t say I’ve sold a lot of books when I’ve done signings there, but that’s not because they haven’t put their all into it. I’m uncertain about what to wear to LA. I generally dress like a real estate agent – business suit, heels, bouffant hair. Okay, so I dress like a real estate agent from the 60s. Maybe I’ll wear a dress. I know a lot of women wear dresses without pantyhose, but I can’t do it. And I have to wear Control Top pantyhose. I’ve found there’s no quicker way to flatten my stomach-and shut down my entire digestive tract. Guess I’ll have to go shopping. I’ll look from something from my favorite designer, On Sale. Before the holidays I decided I’d write a letter to my brother’s daughter from his first marriage. I knew it was a long shot that I’d hear anything back and I was right. It’s unfortunate, but not unexpected. I can’t help remembering one of the last times I saw her. She had gotten permission to go to a dance and I was going to do her hair and her step-sister’s hair. While I was doing her step-sister’s hair, her step-mother entered her bedroom and starting dumping clothing out of her dresser drawers and the closet. Then her step-mother ordered her to pick it up. I never got to help her get ready for her dance. I missed out on that and so did she. She was very upset over the incident. Her step-sister wasn’t made to pick up anything. It was reminiscent of a scene from Cinderella. The image of her on the floor, crying, putting all those clothes away is tattooed on my brain. What’s that have to do with trip to LA, what to wear or writing? I think those memories shape everything you do and every decision you make. From the most mundane such as how to dress, to the more complicated such as how to write a much needed letter.

Work on the Buffalo Bill book continues. I’ll have it done and out to the publishers by the middle of next month. I’ll have to set the material aside next Thursday. I’m supposed to be in Los Angeles to discuss a couple of scripts I’ve written that have been optioned. But I think my actual presence could only hurt the situation. I’d like to see things move along a little faster, but my heart isn’t as into the process as it used to be. I used to be so enamored of the industry. I didn’t realize luck played such an important part of getting a job. Lucky I’ve never been. My lucky number is four billion, which usually doesn’t come in handy when you?re say, gambling. “Come on, four billion?” I think there’s roughly four billion scripts my screenplays are competing against so you’d think my number would come up more often. It’s basically an industry for people (and by people I mean women writers) in their 20s and 30s. I’m fighting fifty?which is too old for gymnastics and Hollywood. I’m not complaining? (although I can see how one might think I am)? it just is. There’s a Star Trek convention going on the same time I’m in town, maybe I’ll forego any meetings and attend that event instead and just people watch. The crowds fascinate me. I never really understood the people who participate so fervently in those conventions. I mean, I like Mary Tyler Moore too, but I don’t rent out a big hall and dress up like Rhoda. I might feel differently about all of this tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m glad I’ve got Buffalo Bill.