March 12, 2024
Had a great weekend. A few highlights.
The Giant Cowskull at Amado
Both Stuart and I ordered new custom hats at a legendary haberdashery on North Campbell.
Hat Crazy Amigos @ Arizona Hatters
We had dinner at El Corral on River Road on Friday night with three of our best writers and solved some of the biggest challenges we have before us in the publishing world.
El Corral Neon
Back to Amado and researching the William B. Rude vs. Apache dustup. Were there 100 Apaches, or were there 30? Here's what I believe.
Somewhere about here the fight happened.
And, after a few hours walking where they walked it was time for refreshment.
Tres Hombres de Bacanora, Sonora
And, finally. . .
Five Takeaways From The Tucson
Festival of Books
1. People want new stories. I heard from several readers that the Tom Mix cover story was a welcome relief from the same ol' same ol'.
2. "The Old West" is an anachronism and should be banished from our vocabulary. It sounded accurate a half century ago, but now it's just old because it is, well, old.
3. We need to expand our coverage into the 1950s and probably beyond. When I was a kid the Western frontier we celebrate was a half century in the past, now the 1950s era is a half century away and it's time to move the needle.
4. We need rollicking stories. People are sick and tired of the angst and whining. We need to stay away from the overly scholarly—read that gender and racially divisive subjects. Enough already.
5. We need more levity, i.e. humor. Many readers told me they love Truth Be Known and quite a few told me it is their favorite department. Enough griping already. Le't laugh and let's have some fun!
"Have more than you show, speak less than you know."
—William Shakespeare
Please don’t go woke on us! Where I live my True West magazines are passed around many times…young and old alike.. Even my mail carrier reads it before I get it. Interest in the old west does not seem to be waning but growing as people discover our past where people in our nation were strong and sought new frontiers. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHow did you get to "woke" from the above list of improvements?
DeleteThat was my take from #4
DeleteI really disagree with #3. This is True West and you need to stay in the 19th and very early 20th century. I would love to see stories of John Wesley Hardin and Clay Allison. With Wild West Magazine out of business, if you don't tell the stories of the frontier west, who will? Mark TW Maniac 235
ReplyDeleteI'm starving for more Billy the Kid info. Was fortunate to visit Lincoln and Ft. Sumter in May 23
ReplyDelete