Rod Miller is a versatile author celebrated for his compelling narratives of the American West, often delving into themes of honor, endurance, and the untamed beauty of the frontier. His prose and poetry evoke a strong sense of place and time, capturing the rugged realities and mythic essence of life on the edge. Miller's style is characterized by its rich language and profound understanding of the historical and cultural context, offering readers an enriching glimpse into the soul of the West.
""Rawhide Robinson sails across the sea to help the Army acquire camels for military service in the desert Southwest. In America, the ungainly camels cause nothing but upheaval and a desert challenge is mounted"--
SPUR AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR ROD MILLER Justice Payne built a town on an island in a river. He owns all the land and buildings as well as many of the businesses that occupy the buildings, and collects rent and taxes from the others. As self-appointed judge, mayor, tax assessor, and holder of every other office of note, Justice controls all aspects of life in his town. Most accept the situation, if grudgingly. All, that is, except for Mercy O'Malley, owner and madam of a profitable brothel on the island. Justice and Mercy are often at odds. He suspects her of short-changing him financially and she resents his autocratic highhanded manner. Mercy foments a strike and a revolt, demanding elections. Will Justice prevail? Will Mercy? Follow the rollicking conflict through the pages of Justice and Mercy.
"The new life they find in New Mexico is not what the Pate and Lewis families hoped for. Driven by disagreements with their father, eldest sons Richard and Melvin abandon the Pate family to join eastbound freighters on the Santa Fe Trail, an antidote that provides no relief. Younger brother Abel works with his father to build a ranching empire atop the Pajarito Plateau, while the Lewis family establishes a thriving mercantile network in Santa Fe and outlying communities. The families you met in Father unto Many Sons return in This Thy Brother as they face the challenges of poverty, discrimination, war, graft, rustlers, romance, and the harsh realities of life in the desert Southwest. Together, the families work for prosperity while the departed sons turn toward a different future. Will a tenuous foothold in a new land hold firm? Can the broken families survive? Will-can-the prodigal sons return? Seek answers to these and other questions in the pages of This Thy Brother"--
When Rawhide Robinson, babysitting a herd of beeves on a train bound forChicago, reads about a rat infestation in the mining boomtown of Tombstone, hehatches a plan that results in yet another string of extraordinary adventures.Retired mountain man Longshot Hawken shows the way down the Santa Fe Trail. ArloAxelrod ramrods a reluctant cowboy crew of Zeb Howard, Johnny Londo, TonyMorales, and Frenchy Leroux. And as if handling an unpredictable herd wasn’ttrouble enough, the shiftless Buckskin Zimmer does his best to do the worst tocrew and critters. Then, the designing Don Carlos Valencia’s woeful wooing ofthe magnificent Magdalena Maria Martinez y Montez de Monterrey forces her tothrow in with the cowboy band in an attempt to escape his clutches. And allalong the way, Rawhide Robinson holds the enterprise together as he meets everyadventure head-on, and regales his drovers—and anybody else who will listen—withcampfire tales of insane adventures, exploits, and escapades experiencedelsewhere during his extraordinary cowboy career on the western frontier.
"January 29, 1863. United States Army troops attack a Shoshoni village on the banks of the Bear River in what is now southeastern Idaho. Four hours later, the army abandons the field, leaving behind the dead bodies of some three hundred men, women, and children. This all-but-forgotten massacre stands today as the worst killing of Indians by the military in the history of the American West. In the pages of And the River Ran Red, four-time Spur Award-winning author Rod Miller puts human faces and feelings on this incomparable tragedy. Follow Shoshoni leaders Bear Hunter and Sagwitch, military officers Colonel Patrick Edward Connor and Major Edward F. McGarry, Mormon leader Brigham Young, and frontiersman Porter Rockwell in a tapestry of intrigue and violence leading up to the massacre, and its aftermath. Chilling in its detail, scrupulous in its portrayal of history, And the River Ran Red sheds light on a dark day that deserves to come out of the shadows and find its place in the history of the West"--
SPUR AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR ROD MILLER Orphaned, homeless, and on the verge of manhood, Wilson Hayes finds refuge in the employ of powerful rancher Jesse Longmore. Cowboy skills, tenacity, and grit propel the young man's rise to a powerful position on the Fishhook Ranch and membership in the family-but Longmore's belief that he has become a threat results in his driving Hayes away and into the uncomfortable company of an outlaw band and then a rival rancher. Follow Wilson Hayes on an empire-building quest of biblical proportions as he seeks a way home to the Fishhook. "Rod Miller has been taking home those Spur Awards, and it's no small wonder. He's a cowboy who writes like one, and even talks like one. But he's got a real grip on the genre with Cold as the Clay. Don't read it in an isolated line shack, it's a tough story by a master storyteller." -Dusty Richards, Western Writers Hall of Fame author
""Rawhide Robinson sails across the sea to help the Army acquire camels for military service in the desert Southwest. In America, the ungainly camels cause nothing but upheaval and a desert challenge is mounted"--
Rod Miller, an acclaimed Spur Award-winning author, brings his storytelling prowess to life in this captivating work. The narrative delves into rich characters and immersive settings, showcasing Miller's talent for blending history with engaging plots. Readers can expect a compelling exploration of themes that resonate with the human experience, all while being entertained by Miller's signature writing style. This book promises to be a memorable addition to the author's impressive repertoire.
Set against the backdrop of the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, this narrative intertwines a poignant love story with a historical tragedy. Polly Alden, an Arkansas emigrant, and Tom Langford, a young Mormon, navigate a landscape rife with animosity between their communities. As tensions escalate during the wagon train's journey, their love is tested by fear and hatred. This tale explores the profound themes of love versus hate and the struggle between good and evil, inspired by a dark chapter in American history.
Set against the backdrop of 1860, this novel offers a fresh perspective on the murder of Governor Lillburn Boggs. Through a blend of historical events and imaginative storytelling, it delves into the motives and intrigues surrounding the case, exploring themes of power, justice, and the complexities of human nature. The narrative invites readers to reconsider the circumstances of the crime, presenting a captivating mix of mystery and historical fiction.