March 4, 2009
Been working on broadening my color palette in my six sketches a day. Did these last night:



From time to time I get queried by youngsters regarding a career in history. Here's one I got this morning:

On Mar 3, 2009, at 5:59 PM, Stephanie wrote:

Dear Bob Boze Bell,
Hello, my name is Stephanie Burnside and am a subscriber to True West Magazine. I love to learn about the American West. My favorite people to learn about are Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. But my most favorite is Billy the Kid. I am considering becoming a historian and a writer when I go to college in 2010 and am wondering if you could share any of your favorite things about what you do. I was also wondering if you would recommend any good books on Billy the Kid. If you have any interesting information to share with me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Burnside

Stephanie,
How great that you are interested in history. First of all, like you, I have loved the Old West since I was a kid, and I am living my dream. I do exactly what my passion is: finding out the truth about history, and creating articles that tell the true stories of the West. It doesn't get any better than that.

You need to read anything by Frederick Nolan and Robert Utley on the subject of the Kid. Michael Wallis has a new book out on the Kid that is good. And, may I humbly suggest, you need my Illustrated Life & Times of Billy the Kid to put it all in perspective.

Also, check out our Community at truewestmagazine.com as we talk about Billy the Kid almost daily and some of the big names in the field are on there sharing new finds, etc.

Good luck to you on your journey, and don't give up. Remember this: 95% of people have jobs they got from a relative or a friend. That means, in most cases, the job chose them, they didn't choose the job. So if you set out to be a historian and actually become one, you will be automatically in the rare 5% of the population. You also need to go to the University of New Mexico and study under Distinguished Professor Paul Andrew Hutton. He loves all the things you love and he will guide you to the Promised Land.

And finally, remember that work is only work if you'd rather be someplace else. And I'm exactly where I want to be. I hope you join us in the field.

—BBB

"Hooray for the last grand adventure! I wish I had won, but it was worthwhile anyway."
—Ameilia Earhart