May 25, 2006 Bonus Blog
I thought Fred Nolan’s response yesterday was a tad over the top, but I assumed he was just being humourous (English spelling?), but evidently it wasn’t intended as humour:

“No, Bob, it's testiness. You know how us old farts are .See, I thought what we all do is TRUE West, not Let's Make It Up West. Just call me ‘bilious the kid.’”
—Fred Nolan

“I am deeply sorry if I caused you any problems. I don't know who Nolan was calling an asshole, but he is out of line for such a GREAT author. If you have a problem with the post, take it off. I would not want to hurt your reputation. He made a big deal out of my typing. If you look on the keyboard, you will see that the C is next to the V. I just hit the wrong key.”
—Jim Johnson

Jim,
FYI: there is a fraternity hazing aspect to writing a book, especially a Billy the Kid book. As you just found out, most of the authors are quite territorial and easily provoked.

When I published my first Billy book back in 1992 I expected love and praise for joining the club. Boy Howdy! Was that naive!

The only encouragement I can give you is just be thankful you didn't write a book on Wyatt Earp. Then you really would get the abuse!
—BBB

Speaking of Abuse
I want Gus Walker, “The Mapinator”, to do a map for my next Classic Gunfight on Henry Newton Brown (a pard of Billy the Kid!) and the ill-fated bank robbery at Medicine Lodge, Kansas. I faxed Gus, who moved to Alabama earlier this year, several overviews and my notes for what I want and when I bugged him this afternoon about it (“Did you get the faxes? Have you started?”), I got this reply:

“Yup, faxes be here. I try to work a little, take a break a little, even suck some crawfish haids a little, that’s the story of , that’s the glory of, not being in the same building with someone with ADD! Luv you bro!”
—Gus Walker

”Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger