THE STAGECOACH MURDERS - Howard Worley - One Free Book

Today's interview is a little different. My writing friend Rebecca DeMarino's father wrote western novel. He's a Christian man who wrote a book for the general western market. She contacted me about him and his novel, and I gladly agreed to feature him and his book. He learned to write novels by reading Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey. I grew up reading those books. Rebecca wrote the answers, then read the interview to her dad, and he approved it.

Welcome, Rebecca and Howard. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.  

Dad would tell you there is nothing of himself in his characters, but it’s easy to see from a reader who knows him well that his ethics and morals are firmly ingrained in Boone!

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?  

Quirky is not a word I associate with my dad at all, but I do remember that as a pilot for the Navy, on a flight from San Diego to Oak Harbor, WA, he looked down over Corvallis, Oregon, and said that’s where I want to retire. He bought 20 acres there sight unseen and when he retired from the Navy eleven years later, that’s where we lived!

When did you first discover that you were a writer? 

Dad has always been an avid reader, but his inclination to write came at age 86. I’ve always thought he decided to write a novel because I was writing a novel!

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.  

While he’s enjoyed reading biographies and other nonfiction works, his choice in fiction is anything by Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?  

I can tell you he keeps his sanity by turning off the TV and allowing others to do some of the running!

How do you choose your characters’ names? 

I’m not sure where he came up with the name Boone, but his heroine was named after a little girl we met when we stayed at the Highland Springs Resort.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? 

He’s done many things in his life as a pilot, a rancher and cowboy, and I’m sure finishing his book at age 89 would be high on the list. But his 59 years and 9 months married to my mom before she passed away trumps everything else.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?  

 Why, a horse of course!

What is your favorite food? 

Smoked oysters.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?  

This is a tough one – I know he loved every aspect of research and syntax has never been a problem of his. I do know that when he told me he was going to write a western romance, I gave him a couple of writing books to get him started. He read them, told me they were confusing and he thought he’d just write and see how it turned out. He’s a natural! He also underwent open-heart surgery, and two days later had a stroke before his novel was finished. Talk about a roadblock!

Tell us about the featured book. 

Don’t let the title, THE STAGECOACH MURDERS, fool you. This is western romance at its best. His heroine, the beautiful Lily MacIntyre, travels west with her parents. When the stage leaves Arizona City, Boone Osborne joins the ride. Lily is annoyed with herself for being attracted to the handsome ex-Texas Ranger,  but when her father is murdered on the stagecoach and her mother dies of a broken heart, she finds herself bent on revenge and Boone the means to achieve it. Both want to find the killer, but Boone seeks justice and Lily seeks vengeance. If they cannot trust each other, can they trust their own heart?

Please give us the first page of the book.

CHAPTER ONE                            

Boone Osborne leaned against the porch post in front of the Arizona City stage station and watched as two men loaded trunks atop the Concord stage. He fingered his gun belt, slung low and tied down. A Henry rifle leaned against the wall behind him. His bedroll lay on the floor.

He recognized the driver trudging from the stage office, Cliff Hadley. A man of medium height and dressed in a black broadcloth suit with a white shirt and string tie followed. His auburn hair curled around his ears beneath a grey beaver hat.

“Howdy, Cliff.” Osborne nodded to Hadley.

“Oh, how do, Boone. Didn’t see you there. This here gentleman is Mister Brendan MacIntyre. He has been hired to boss the Wilkinson-Hall Stage Line.”

Osborne acknowledged the introduction and offered his hand before he turned back to the driver. “Cliff, I need to get back to Highland Springs. I missed the regular stage this morning. The agent here said you were on a special run. He thought you might have a seat for me.”

“I expect there’s room inside. There shore ain’t no room on top with them trunks and all. Here’s the thing. Phineas Banning sent me down here special to bring Mister MacIntyre, his family and his belongings back to Los Angeles, pronto. My orders were, for shore, don’t haul any other passengers. It pains me to think of going against my orders.”

“Mister Hadley, I will take the responsibility of countermanding your orders,” said MacIntyre. “My family and I will be pleased to have this young man accompany us.”

Sounds intriguing. Can’t wait to get my copy. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Dad doesn’t have a website or do the social media thing, but you can read more about him on my Dad&Me blog at www.rebeccademarino.com.

Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your dad with us. His story really illustrates that it's never too late to follow your dream.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Stagecoach Murders - paperback
The Stagecoach Murders - Kindle


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