| BUSHWACKERS |
| A
western novel by Steven P. Jones
|
| Background Novel |
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| Bushwackers Quiz |
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| Q & A with Author |
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| Author's Bio |
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| Press Releases |
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| Order Information |
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| Author's Homepage |
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BACKGROUND ON THE NOVEL:
Learn more about the history behind THE BUSHWHACKERS with these trivia notes.
There are also quizzes you can take.
BUSHWACKERS QUIZ
MINING AND GHOST TOWNS QUIZ
SAN JUANS QUIZ
WESTERN HISTORY QUIZ
TRIVIA
PAYING TRIBUTE
Paul Kirk was the name of the man behind the mask for DC Comics'
award-winning adventure series MANHUNTER. Originally created in 1942 by the CAPTAIN
AMERICA team of Jack "King" Kirby and Joe Simon, MANHUNTER was
brought back to life in 1973 by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson in DETECTIVE COMICS
#437. Very few stories, comics or prose, have influenced me as much as the seven
Goodwin and Simonson MANHUNTER stories that ran in `TEC #s 437-443. When
the time came to name THE BUSHWHACKER'S manhunting protagonist, Paul Kirk
seemed the logical choice!
UNLIKELY SOURCES
While researching Alferd Packer the Cannibal for another novel I wanted to
write set in 1870s Colorado, I stumbled across an obscure biography
about a British adventurer named J.G. Jebb. Flipping through its pages, I
spotted a chapter about Jebb helping track a gang of bushwhackers in
1860s Colorado. This chapter was my first exposure to the Espinoza murders.
Jebb's biographer-his second wife-played fast and loose with the
facts involving the Espinoza crimes, but what I
read in his biography inspired me to write THE BUSHWHACKERS.
"NEVER GIVE UP!"
I originally pitched THE BUSHWHACKERS to Leisure Books in 1996. The pitch
was rejected as too traditional, but I was encouraged to try again
if I could find a new slant for my story. I tired again, but Leisure Books
never responded one way or the other, even when I tried to follow up.
(Oh, well…) Six years later I learned that
Avalon Books was looking for westerns. The rest is history.
FAMILY NAME
I was researching my father's family tree while writing the third draft for
THE BUSHWHACKERS, and discovered that my grandfather Domer's
grandparents came to American from England. Their name was Fairchild. I
liked it. In fact I liked it so much that I
changed the last name of
THE BUSHWHACKER'S wandering terminus family to Fairchild.
BAD GUYS TURNED GOOD GUYS?
Sheriff Jeb Moses is a reformed outlaw in THE BUSHWHACKERS. His character
was not inspired by any Old West historical figure, but from
the fact that it was not uncommon for outlaws to work as a lawman (and for
a lawman to turn outlaw). The most famous of these flexible folks
may be Georgia's own gentleman-rogue Doc Holliday, but even Billy the Kid
was once deputized.
CREATURES, HUMAN AND OTHERWISE, OF THE SAN LUIS
VALLEY
http://www.phantombookshop.com/seancasteel/creatures.htm
The San Luis Valley of the Colorado Rockies has been the site of
enough bizarre events to rate its own branch office of the X-Files! In this
article Sean Casteel explores, among other things, Felipe Espinoza, America's
first serial killer whose crimes were one of the crucial
inspirations for THE BUSHWHACKERS.
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO,
NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO
http://sangres.com/mountains/sanjuans.htm
This incredible, rugged terrain is one of the most beautiful areas in the
United States and the setting for THE BUSH