Thanks above all to Ivan Held, who called to ask if I might be interested in writing some western fiction. (I was.) Jim Donovan, as usual, was a great literary agent and friend. This was my first chance to work with editor Christine Pepe at Putnam, and she’s every bit as good as Robert B. Parker once told me.
I’m grateful for all of my friends at Putnam, past and present.
Jim Turner and Sara Tirrito provided solid research, and I received plenty of moral support from Major Kevin “Cap” Mulkins, Bob Pugh, Bob Palmquist, Bruce Dinges, Tom Gaumer, and Anne Collier. Mike Blackman, James Ward Lee, and Carlton Stowers read the chapters as I wrote them, and offered constructive criticism as needed.
Settings in real life are identical to those described in this story. Fictional Glorious is in about the same spot as the actual town of Superior, just a little distance west down the road from Globe. If you take Highway 60, you’ll see Queen Creek, Apache Leap, and Picket Post Mountain. The scenery is gorgeous and well worth even a long drive.
Cash McLendon will be back soon.