Last week I met with best selling author Stephen Coonts and discover he's a really nice man. While he's not a western writer, I'll not hold that against him. Since both of us spent years in the milit…

[W. R. Benton]

Last week I met with best selling author Stephen Coonts and discover he's a really nice man. While he's not a western writer, I'll not hold that against him. Since both of us spent years in the military, we communicated well and mostly about our service years.

The Emerald Cost Writers hosted a wonderful 3 day event and I even spoke to a few big city (NY) agents who kept telling me Western Fiction was dead, but like most cowboys, I don't hear much after I make up my mind. And, even if they're correct, I write westerns because I enjoy writing westerns. I don't see my giving it up now, not after more than 10 books published and 15 on my hard drive.

As a matter of fact, I am starting my own publishing company, Dancing Fox Publishing, with my wife Melanie and while neither of us knows much about the task, we're both writers and artists, so we'll make out fine. I expect some layout and other problems, but I'll work it out. If I didn't learn anything else in the military, it was I'm not a person to easily give up. If I can teach myself HTML, I can do book layouts.

Hope all of you have a great Easter and I'd like for you to spend a few seconds remembering the reason for the Holiday and it ain't about no rabbit or eggs.

Take care, stay safe, and may God Bless each of you,

Gary, a.k.a., W.R. Benton
Author of "US Army Scout James McKay"