ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Each of Cotton Smith’s novels brings an exciting picture of the human spirit making its way through life-changing trials, driving through physical and emotional barriers, and resurrecting itself from defeat. His stories of the West are praised for historical accuracy, unexpected plot twists, and memorable characters. They are also enjoyed for their insightful descriptions of life of that era—and for their rousing adventure.

In Dark Trail to Dodge, the ex-Ranger John Checker seeks a reunion with his long-separated sister, bridging a terrible childhood, and Tyrel Bannon, a Texas farm boy, undergoes a trying initiation into manhood. In Pray for Texas, Confederate cavalryman and pistol fighter Rule Cordell struggles to overcome not only losing the war, but the anguish of a tyrannical minister father. In Behold a Red Horse, we see the three Kerry brothers deal with the strongest one being blinded. In Brothers of the Gun, John Checker must face knowing his half brother is an evil man bent on destroying him by kidnapping their sister’s children and taking them into the Indian Nations. And in Spirit Rider, we see a young white man challenged by white society after growing up with an Oglala stepfather holy man who talks with sacred stones. And in Sons of Thunder, Rule Cordell tries hard to put his days as a pistol fighter behind him but finds he can’t when his friends are challenged by a cunning carpetbagger. The Thirteenth Bullet and Winter Kill both carry this fascinating psychological edge. True West agrees, “Although the characters in Cotton Smith’s books are for the most part traditional Western men—strong, dynamic, action-driven individuals—their motivations and mannerisms definitely break the mold of traditional western novels. For one thing, they have and show far more emotion than the average man (in or out of a western novel). Characters are placed in realistic, emotionally driven situations, bringing with them souls filled with concern, fear, joy, and desire.”

His love of the West came quite naturally and quite early in life, as did his gift for writing. “I rode with them all, you know,” Cotton likes to say. “Roy, Gene, Hoppy, I was right there with them. Roy Rogers and Wild Bill Elliott were my favorites. Yeah, I can hold my own on western movie trivia with anyone.” From the earliest he can remember, he was wearing chaps, boots, spurs, and strapping on a set of cap guns. “Like the song says, my heroes have always been cowboys.”

That love affair turned into a lifelong study of the American West. “Silver screen fascination grew into an appreciation I will never grow tired of. I believe the excitement is in what really happened during this special time in our nation’s history. I believe it lives on in each of us, if we simply stop long enough to let it surface. In this time of special trial, that victorious linkage will serve us well. America will win.”

Cotton Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri; some would say a century later than he should have been. He grew up enjoying both adjoining states, Kansas and Missouri, living mostly in Kansas. His ancestors fought in the Civil War, mostly for the South, as regulars and guerrillas. As a young man, he learned to ride horses from a grizzled wrangler he remembers fondly. He also learned how to roll a cigarette then, too! “Looking back on it, he taught me the right ways around a horse—and he taught me some other things too. Like swinging into the saddle with the horse loping. And springing up from the rear, like the movie stars did. Never occurred to me then that I could get hurt. Guess no young person ever does.”

Cotton tells it this way: “There is much we can learn from our ancestors, perhaps today more than ever. The men and women who built this country were exceptionally strong people who overcame enormous odds to establish good families, create towns where only wilderness existed, establish businesses, and leave us with much to build upon. They loved the land and that love was returned manyfold.”