Things have been busy for me. I went to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Western Writers of America’s conference two weeks ago. This is always a big week for me to meet with my friends and publishers. Almost everyone was there and this year we had a fun time in this busy town. I didn’t get to see much of the town but I have been there many times before. Of course, folks like Elmer Kelton who wrote some great western books and was a good friend is no longer among us. And several more folks that I knew well have passed on to the big pastures.
Author Max Evans was highlighted during the conference, since he is in his 80s and wasn’t able to travel far. Max wrote “The Rounders” which was the most hilarious western to ever come down the road. The film is replayed often on the Western Channel giving you a chance to watch it. A lot of actors who worked with Max were there or their children attended on their behalf.
The members are many like myself who write western fiction, but also western romance writers, cowboy poets and songwriters are members. I won’t take away from the non-fiction side of our organization because many historians belong and attend. So we are diversified but there is an air of comradely at every meeting among every one of us.
This was my year to become president so I took over on the last day and will serve for two years. Since I spent two years as vice president, now I’ll spend two years at the gavel and then two more years on the board of directors as past president. It is long term but I was flattered to be chosen by the membership to lead them. Also, this year I received a Spur finalist award for my book “From Hell to Texas,” a part of the Byrnes Family series, which is a very nice award. If I can’t be first, then one of the top three is very nice.
Each year the WWA’s conference is held in June somewhere in the west. Next year we go to Las Vegas for our meeting. You must have written a western book or three short stories to join WWA, but anyone can attend the convention.
Western Writers of America, which I joined in 1985, has been very inspirational to me. I have sold most of my books through the agent I met there. Cherry Weiner has been the person who has represented me for nearly 20 some years. I have sold books to many editors at this meeting.
I get asked a lot how I took up writing westerns. I always read them. As a boy I went to see Gene, Roy and Hoppy on Saturdays. But I could read a paperback western in a night while going to both high school and college. I fooled around trying to write them long hand in a notebook. My girls read them when they got to be teens. And said, “Oh, dad why don’t your sell them?” I told them I figured they had enough western writers. They insisted I try. So I tried and finally learned how, that was 120 books ago.
I really enjoy writing them and it keeps me out of the pool halls. I guess they still have them? Pool halls that is. God bless
Western novelist Dusty Richards and his wife Pat live on Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas. For more information about his books you can email Dusty by visiting ozarksfn.com and clicking on ‘Contact Us’ or call 1-866-532-1960.
