Something Solid - Something Solid

Book Review: REBEL: The Last American Novel

2020/12/12 No Comments

Rebel: The Last American Novel; by T.L. Davis; 12 Round Publishing, Montrose, Colo., 275 pages, trade paperback. Life never affords enough comfort or security to youth that they can pass through their nonage without some acquaintance with the sterner side of human existence. For some, that acquaintance can come even in the tenderest of years. But for anyone, even the sheltered and mostly grown, life shows its rougher edges soon enough. And so by our teens we are all awakened to the insensitivities that life can visit upon us. How we respond to that awakening defines our character. “You’re a

With Sam Elliott shortly after the Western Heritage Awards, when American Cowboy won its Wrangler.

With bestselling Western novelist Elmer Kelton in his home in San Angelo, Texas, in 2008.

Latest Articles

When a Government “Does Good”

People who live in the United States ought—all of them—to be about the business of doing good. But the government of the United States has no business going about doing good. Serving justice, yes—when justice needs to be served. But for the government to actively do good? That’s going beyond

On the Set with Sam Elliott

Koolaid Powder in Rain Gauge

My wife Kit and I were disappointed when, after installing a rain gauge just 8 feet outside our kitchen window, we couldn’t discern the rainfall amounts on the gauge from that distance. Each reading required a trip outside. We decided to add some kind of dry substance that could add

Review: Wichita State Baseball Comes Back

Wichita State Baseball Comes Back: Gene Stephenson and the Making of a Shocker Championship Tradition (The History Press, historypress.net, Charleston, S.C., 2014, 140 pp., 31 black-and-white photos, $19.99 paperback). No one needs to be a fan of Wichita State University baseball, nor—I’m tempted to say—even a fan of college baseball

Twenty Years Ago… AC Gets Its Start

The photo that accompanies this blog post is a shot I snapped moments ago of part of an article that appears on page 22 of the current (June) issue of American Cowboy magazine. That issue commemorates the 20th anniversary of the magazine for which I was founding editor (and for

American Cowboy Magazine’s Backtrail: A Great Ride

Howdy, neighbor! If you’ve arrived here after having read the material in the 20th Anniversary Edition (June/July 2014) of American Cowboy magazine, then know that this is the article you’re seeking. I said I’d be sharing “further reminiscences” here, and that’s exactly what’s going on. I’ll try not to

On the Set with Sam Elliott

Yesterday I received this photo from my longtime friend Robert Guernsey, who is a cameraman on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch. That’s Sam Elliott, star of the series, in the center. Robert is on the right and his first assistant cameraman, Vito De Palma, is on the left. This was taken during the last week of shooting before summer hiatus was to begin (in May). Robert showed Sam a back issue of American Cowboy magazine that I had sent him. The issue (JA99) had Sam as its cover story. Sam wasn’t aware that Robert and I had any connections, but as soon as Robert mentioned to Sam that Jesse Mullins had written the article (I interviewed Sam in Palm Springs – this was many years ago), Sam replied, “I know Jesse. In fact, I’ve seen him two other times since this article was done.” That’s true – I visited with Sam on at the Western Heritage Awards in Oklahoma City on two different occasions. Sam autographed the magazine cover for Robert, and that’s why Robert is displaying it in this shot. Thanks, Robert, for sharing this. Fun stuff.

Latest Articles

Be the First to Know

Be the First to
Know