From the Lady Publisher:

It appears that summer has finally arrived in Montana, but as some might say, 'Like a woman's fancy,' that could change in 10 minutes! Since I am a woman, it is safer for me to make this statement, even though gender does not necessarily have anything to do with changing our minds! The Sunday Latigo cartoon today demonstrates how conditions can push sudden changes in our lives.

Our Chat room picked up a couple of new visitors this month, Flatwillow from Montana's Petroleum County, with interesting tidbits from his daughter about working on the set of the new Lone Ranger and Tonto movie. The movie is in progress at an undisclosed location and stars Johnny Depp. Cindy and Sam came onboard, both huge fans of Johnny Depp (as is Stan), and Ken Colson came late after the hour was up with a question about any new novels in the works (hope you make it for live chat in July, Ken)?Answer, yes, and yes! 

We received the first proof on the next Merlin Fanshaw The Big Open, but the unedited manuscript is what was sent…so Stan was quick to straighten out the facts. We expect a new proof soon. I include a copy of the cover. The Big Open is not yet available, but the cover will give you a quick glance at how tantalizing the subject of this newest Merlin Fanshaw novel is, as a picture is often worth a thousand words! The photographer, James Woodcock of the Billings Gazette, Billings, Montana, took the photo in 1989 during the Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive, and aptly named the photograph The Big Open! Providence? Stan and another friend were the creators of this great 100 year celebration of Montana's statehood.

   
I also want to report there was a slight hiccup on the E-Book version of Vendetta Canyon, the most recent reprint in the Merlin Fanshaw series. You have been able to buy a Trade Paperback, but the E-Book version did not make the 'final cut' date as is normal. There was a delay in publishing it in E-Book form. Keep checking with Amazon for this wonderful Merlin Fanshaw story about a family feud, and its' surprising conclusion http://www.amazon.com/s/re=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stan+Lynde%2C+kindle%2C+vendetta+canyon+novel ($9.99 for Trade Paperback. $2.99 for the E-Book version as soon as it is available). 

    As a final word and reminder, the next chat room is coming SOON. The first Monday in July is JULY 1ST 7 - 8 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Hey, it's cowboy country, is there any other time? Next topic in the Chat Room is 'Fiction Writing 101!' Read Stan's Personal today about this topic and come prepared for some lively discussion! And Dan Richmond, winner of last month's Merlin Fanshaw Monthly Quiz, we hope you are back at the July 1st chat. We missed you in June! 

    New to the Chat Room?   Stop by a few minutes early to sign up with your real name, or think up an alias to keep your anonymity, or to keep us guessing who you are? Here's the link http://stanlynde.net/chat-room_290.html.

Regards Bonnie Bowman, Social Media:

Reminding everyone to keep a watch in all the western media posts, blogs, and talk spots for opportunities to keep in touch with the vast western family via the Internet. If you run across some of the posts of Stan's work, very likely Bonnie did the posting and she alerts Stan to 'cowboy up' to comments she finds as she is cruising the Internet highways. Bonnie posts new Stan Lynde cartoons each and every Sunday, so grab your morning java and check online for authentic western humor, cartoons and commentaries at Stan's blog http://www.stanlyndeauthor.com.

Personal from Stan Lynde

Welcome to Writing 101

Writing 101 isn’t a real class. It’s sort of my own personal Home School for writing that includes tips, rules, and advice from professionals I admire. Such as this, from A.B. Guthrie, Jr., on adjectives and adverbs:

The adjective is the enemy of the noun and the adverb the enemy of damn near everything else.

And from Elmore Leonard, whose Ten Rules for Writing include:

Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue.

Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said.”

Have I ever broken the rules? Oh, yeah. Have I ever. However, I am presently in recovery. I finally admitted I was powerless over the adverb, and that my writing had become unmanageable. Here, I’ll write a few sentences on the blackboard.

“Don’t mess with my grizzly,” the hunter growled.

“Gee, Mary, you’re a peach,” Harold gushed.

 “I hate your guts!” the burglar said angrily.

Did the hunter really growl? Did Harold really gush? Did we need the word “angrily” to tell us the burglar was angry?

I didn’t think so. Don’t be afraid to write “said.” I know it will seem repetitious to you, but your reader won’t notice. Trust me.

As for adjectives, how about:

“Bernard swiftly and surely saddled the big, bad, brown, big-footed bronc and waved his sun-bronzed hand to Betty, the golden-haired, slender schoolmarm from Cheyenne.”

Class dismissed. Will someone remain after class and help me clean the erasers?

Stan's Novels Currently Available

If you would like to order your own copy of these books, just click on the book link.  It is available both in E-Book for $2.99 and Trade Paperback for $9.99.  Also click on the Audio Sound 'button' and hear some of the story read by Stan himself (he reads is own novels for his Audio Books).

 

 

In this issue:
• From the Lady Publisher:
• Nuggets from the Merlin Fanshaw Westerns
• "Personal from Stan Lynde
• Merlin Fanshaw Monthly Puzzle
• Grass Roots
• Latigo
• Rövar Bob
• Stan Lynde's Cowboy Lore & Legend
• Western Website Recommendations
• Stan's Novels Currently Available
• Fans Speak

Nuggets from the Merlin Fanshaw Westerns

From Summer Snow:

Sunlight exploded through the notch that was Brimstone Gap and sent long rays of brightness across the badlands. Rutherford whuffed, grunting, as he stepped off into a shadowed wash, then gathered himself and lunged back up and out into the daylight. I slowed the buckskin from a trot to a walk as I rounded the mesa’s base. The weathered old barn, looking lonesome and forlorn, came into view as I topped the rise. In the valley below, still in shadow, lay the abandoned cabin, weed-grown and fallen in upon itself. The old windmill stood on spindly legs above the springs, the rotting blades of its fan wheel like the petals of a dead sunflower.

I drew rein and pulled the buckskin to a stop. Barely breathing, I sat, listening. Rutherford bowed his neck, rubbing the side of his head against his foreleg, and I heard the clicking of his bridle bit, loud in the stillness. Beyond the barn, a raven rode the rising air currents out across the valley, its call raucous and rude. I shifted in the saddle, and heard the leathers creak. I held my breath. Tense as a bowstring, I waited.

It was Rutherford who let me know we weren’t alone. A low nicker rumbled deep in his throat, and he raised his head, tasting the air. His ears pointed back at a sound I couldn’t hear. A bead of sweat crept out from beneath my hat brim and crawled down past my ear. The voice that broke the stillness came from behind me, harsh, and ugly as a bruise. “Step down off that goddam horse.” It said, “Keep your hands high and your eyes on the ground. Make any other move, and you’ll be a long time dead.”

Merlin Fanshaw Monthly Puzzle

Merlin Fanshaw Monthly Puzzle (first winner with the correct answer to this month’s Merlin Fanshaw Puzzle can claim as their prize either “Bronc Rider” OR “Quicksilver” Stan Lynde Pencil Drawing.  Congratulations to Dan Richmond of Manhattan Beach, California for last month’s victory of what was one of the tougher questions so far in the quiz. What are the odds that a Cowboy from Montana would land a job with the Wall Street Journal as a reporter? Go to http://www.stanlyndeauthor.com/ and click on the link to the Merlin Fanshaw Monthly Puzzle and test your skills against the questions that Stan prepares for this fun “in the know” quiz.  Answers MUST be posted on his blog.  Here is June 24th, 2012 Merlin quiz question:

In the Merlin Fanshaw novel VENDETTA CANYON, “Griff Tallon” is:

a.    A sheep man

b.    A gambler

c.    A range detective

d.    A cowboy

Good luck!  The winner will be announced next month!

       

Fans Speak

From Anonymous @ James Reasoner's Blog 'Rough Edges' June 15, 2012 http://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2012/06/forgotten-books-rick-oshay-hipshot-and.html

     'I envy you the experience of discovering Stan Lynde's novels for the first time the characters, the historical details, and the plots are outstanding. I would rank him among the very best authors of traditional westerns. It always amazes me to find someone so talented in two different venues.'