Michael N. Riley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Writers Republic
Date of Publication: June 24, 2022
ISBN: 9798885364409
Number of pages: 190
Tagline: Some men are just to mean to die!
Book Description:
The book is set around 1900, when New Mexico was still a territory.
Doc Strafford has bought a small mercantile in Portales, New Mexico Territory, to start a new life. Over the years, Doc has become more involved in the growth of Portales. He eventually sells his interest in a saloon to two seedy characters, Jewels Davis and his albino son, Jefferson.
When Doc invites his old friend from the Civil War to visit Portales and the surrounding territory, it draws suspicions from the Davises to the point that they torture Doc's hired hand, Gustavo, just to find out what Doc is up to.
Michael N. Riley was born in Grants, New Mexico, in 1960, the second generation born in New Mexico from either of his parents’ families. Like most, they homesteaded from other states. His father’s side was from Texas and his mother’s family was from Alabama. When he was three, they moved from Grants to Clovis, New Mexico. He went to school and graduated high school and eventually moved to Portales, New Mexico, to attend Eastern New Mexico University. He ended up getting married and working for an electric cooperative reading electric meters. During that time, he had several old timers tell him stories about coming to New Mexico when it was a territory. Most of them were old ranch hands and farmers. Their eyes would light up when they told stories about the real Wild West and some of the shenanigans they would get into. This is how he came up with this story.
Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know your opinion once you've read the book.
DeleteGood morning everyone. Wanted to thank momma for hosting this site. I’m new to all of this being it is my first book. Looking forward to any comments.
ReplyDeletelooks intriguing
ReplyDeletePhotos used for the book are actual structures still standing in the Portales, NM area.
DeleteThis sounds very interesting
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your recent release of Arch, Michael, your book sounds like a fascinating read! Good luck with your book and the tour!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it with me and have a spectacular week!
Interesting cover! Sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteI think you chose a good title for your book, but it is a little difficult to read.
ReplyDeleteThe house on the cover looks creepy!
ReplyDeleteThat's neat that you drew upon true stories to create your story.
ReplyDeleteI didn't remember that New Mexico was a territory in 1900.
ReplyDeleteKind of nice to write a story with the setting in the area you live in.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very interesting and fascinating historical read, thanks for sharing it with me and have a terrific TGIF!
ReplyDeleteDavis sounds very seedy! Torture!
ReplyDeleteI like that the photos are of actual structures located in the area of the setting of the book. It looks like the house was a very nice home at one time.
ReplyDelete