Shows
Writing the WestNew Book Spotlights Bank Robber-Turned-Silent Film Actor Henry StarrLong before Hollywood perfected the outlaw antihero, Henry Starr was writing his own script across the banks and backroads of Indian Territory and Oklahoma. A Cherokee bank robber who famously vowed that no one would die in his heists, Starr was sentenced to hang twice, won a commutation from President Theodore Roosevelt, and ultimately stepped in front of the camera as a silent “movie Starr,” dramatizing his own life for audiences across the West. In his new book and ongoing film and theater projects, writer and filmmaker Mark Archuleta traces Starr’s remarkable trajectory from “gentleman bandit” to matinee idol, peel...
2025-12-0343 minWriting the WestLouis L’Amour’s Son Beau Discusses Restoring Rivers West For Lost Treasures SeriesFor fans of Louis L’Amour, the Lost Treasures series has opened a rare window into the legendary author’s creative process — the drafts, the letters, the abandoned openings, and the stories-behind-the-stories that shaped his iconic body of work. In this episode, Beau L’Amour returns to Writing the West to discuss the newest release in the series, Rivers West, a novel with a fascinating editorial history and an equally compelling restoration process. From early 19th-century political intrigue to the challenges of expanding the western genre, Beau reflects on his father’s far-reaching vision, his remarkable discipline, and the behind-the...
2025-11-1954 minWriting the WestThe Real Story Behind Wyatt Earp And Doc Holliday’s Lifelong FriendshipFew relationships in American frontier history are as mythic — or as misunderstood — as the bond between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. In his new book, Brothers of the Gun, acclaimed historian and author Mark Lee Gardner brings their story together in a way no one has quite done before: as a dual biography rooted in original research, newly surfaced primary sources, and on-the-ground archival work. We spoke with Gardner about why these two larger-than-life figures remain inseparable in both legend and legacy, what drew him to revisit one of the West’s most retold sagas, and how friendship — fierce, flawed...
2025-11-0545 minWriting the WestHow Triumph And Tragedy Shaped The Story Of AmericaIn this episode of Writing the West podcast, Paul Andrew Hutton sits down to discuss his new book, The Undiscovered Country. Drawing on a lifetime of research, Hutton threads seven iconic lives through 150 years of frontier transformation—balancing myth and memory, tragedy and triumph—from Braddock’s Defeat to Wounded Knee. We talk popular vs. academic history, the surprising friendship of Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill, and why the story of the West is inseparable from the story of America.
2025-10-2248 minWriting the WestIndigenous Voices And The Power Of Thrillers With Author Vanessa LillieWith The Bone Thief releasing October 28, Vanessa Lillie continues the story of Syd Walker—a Cherokee archeologist and BIA agent caught between worlds, where missing women, stolen remains, and centuries of colonial history collide. In conversation, Lillie shares why the series is so personal, how truth fuels her fiction, and why Indigenous storytelling is as much about survival as suspense.
2025-10-0843 minWriting the WestAuthor Bruce Borgos Brings Mystery To The Modern WestBruce Borgos has quickly established himself as one of today’s standout voices in crime fiction. With his Porter Beck mystery series—praised by the likes of Craig Johnson and C.J. Box—Borgos delivers stories that are equal parts sharp-edged thrillers and rich explorations of the modern West. In this conversation with Cowboys & Indians, he reflects on his journey from voracious young reader to USA Today bestselling author, the inspiration behind Porter Beck, and why Nevada’s wide-open spaces and untold histories provide the perfect backdrop for his blend of mystery and Western storytelling.
2025-09-2446 minWriting the WestGold, Guns, And Greed: The True Story Of DeadwoodHistorian Peter Cozzens, author of Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West, joins Cowboys & Indians’ Writing the West podcast to discuss the real Deadwood beyond the HBO drama and dime novel myths. From the Lakota’s struggle to the town’s fleeting three-year heyday, Cozzens offers a vivid look at the forces—lawlessness, entrepreneurship, and greed—that defined one of the West’s most iconic places.
2025-09-1036 minWriting the WestBeyond Buffalo Bill: The Couple Who Brought the Wild West to LifeFew stories from the Old West capture both romance and resilience like that of May Lillie and Gordon “Pawnee Bill” Lillie. She was a Quaker girl from Philadelphia who became one of the world’s finest sharpshooters; he was a dreamer who transformed himself into a legendary showman. Together they built one of the era’s most famous Wild West shows and later turned their Oklahoma ranch into a hub of frontier culture and buffalo preservation. In her new book, The Sharpshooter & The Showman, author Chris Enss brings their extraordinary partnership to life.
2025-08-2740 minWriting the WestJosh Holloway And Ryan Whitaker Bring Louis L’Amour’s “Flint” To Life On ScreenFor veteran actor Josh Holloway (Lost, Colony, Yellowstone, Duster), the road to Flint began more than two decades ago, when the Georgia native first read Louis L’Amour’s tale of a dying gunfighter drawn into one last battle. Over the years, Holloway pursued the project through starts, stops, and near-misses—until director and screenwriter Ryan Whitaker (Surprised by Oxford) entered the picture with the right script, the right connections, and the right timing. In this conversation for Writing the West podcast, Holloway and Whitaker talk about the unlikely series of events that finally brought Flint into production, the creati...
2025-08-1342 minWriting the WestLife, Loss, And 8-Man Football On Indigenous Reservations With Journalist John GlionnaFor decades, journalist John Glionna roamed the American West chasing stories that others overlooked: small towns, strange landmarks, and unforgettable characters. But it was in McDermitt, Nevada that Glionna found the heart of his first nonfiction book, No Friday Night Lights: Reservation Football on the Edge of America. What began as a tale about a struggling eight-man football team turned into something far richer: a chronicle of identity, belonging, and survival in a place most Americans will never visit. In this wide-ranging conversation, Glionna reflects on building trust in tight-knit communities, navigating controversy, and why these stories matter more...
2025-07-3042 minWriting the WestBestselling Author Bryan Burrough Reveals How Texas Shaped the Gunfighter EraIn this episode of Writing the West podcast, we sit down with journalist and historian Bryan Burrough, author of the riveting new book The Gunfighters: How Texas Made the West Wild. Known for his bestsellers Barbarians at the Gate and Public Enemies, Burrough brings his sharp investigative lens to the gunfighter era, tracing its roots in Texas honor culture, post–Civil War violence, and the rise of Western mythology. From Wild Bill Hickok to Wyatt Earp and lesser-known legends like Pink Higgins and Luke Short, Burrough explores how these men became the American archetype of rugged individualism—and how thei...
2025-07-1641 minWriting the WestLouis L’Amour's Son Beau Discusses His Father’s Legacy And Expanding The Western GenreWe sat down with Beau L’Amour — writer, producer, and the literary steward of his legendary father, Louis L’Amour. From audio dramas and graphic novels to film adaptations and hopes for future productions, Beau offers a candid look at the joys and challenges of carrying forward a legacy as vast as the American frontier. We talk about why his father’s stories are so difficult to adapt, how Taylor Sheridan has reinvigorated the western on screen, and why the genre’s future may lie in overlooked eras like the Mexican War or Cold War. Whether you’re a lifelong Lou...
2025-07-021h 10Writing the WestJohnny D. Boggs Talks The Frontier Spirit And Why Everything’s A WesternIn this episode of Writing the West, we sit down with one of the most prolific voices in modern Western literature: Johnny D. Boggs. From his early days in South Carolina dreaming of wide-open spaces to becoming a full-time author in New Mexico, Boggs shares how TV Westerns, journalism, and real-life history shaped his storytelling. We talk about everything from cattle drives and morally complex characters to the future of the genre, writing strong female leads, and why every good Western starts with the land. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just saddle-breaking into the genre, this conversation of...
2025-06-1842 minWriting the WestScholar George Matthews Discusses The Life & Legend Of Billy The KidBilly the Kid is quite possibly the most popular outlaw of the Old West. From his time as a regulator fighting against the corrupt Santa Fe Ring to his daring (and murderous) escape from the Lincoln County, NM, jail to his eventual death at the age of 21, Billy the Kid’s life and legend has remained a steadfast topic for academics and Hollywood alike. Years of research by scholar George Matthews culminated in the book, Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend, which presents the first full-picture view of who Billy the Kid was before and during his li...
2025-06-0549 minWriting the WestCraig Johnson Explains How Westerns Have Evolved And Dishes On His Latest Longmire NovelIn this episode of Writing the West, we sit down with bestselling author Craig Johnson, the mind behind the beloved Walt Longmire series, to discuss his upcoming novel Return to Sender. From his Wyoming ranch, Johnson reflects on the enduring relevance of the Western genre, the real-life stories that inspire his plots, and why voice, empathy, and lived experience matter in good storytelling. With warmth and wit, he opens up about his writing journey, the evolution of Walt Longmire, and what it takes to keep readers—and himself—hooked after 21 books.
2025-05-2127 minWriting the WestLaurie L. Dove Discusses Crafting Authentic Indigenous Characters In Her Debut NovelSeasoned journalist and writing professor Laurie L. Dove's debut novel, Mask of the Deer Woman, is the culmination of a lifetime of craft and advocacy. Tackling the real-world issue of missing Indigenous women, Dove's novel also explores the ethereal bond between mothers and daughters, as well as the innate symbolism of Native American cultures. In this exclusive interview with Cowboys & Indians, Dove discusses how her journalism influenced her writing, what it was like to find a publisher, and how her network of editors and fans alike helped her cross the publishing finish line.
2025-05-0731 minWriting the WestAnne Hillerman Talks Finding Her Own Voice And The Dark Winds TV SeriesAuthor of the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series of Native American crime fiction novels, Anne Hillerman inherited both her passion for writing, and her series' characters, from her late father, legendary writer Tony Hillerman. In this exclusive chat with Cowboys & Indians, Hillerman discusses how and why she took on the world of her father's invention, fans' reactions to her style and works, how she put together the 10th and latest book in her own section of the series, and her thoughts on the AMC television show "Dark Winds," which is based on the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito stories.
2025-04-2342 minWriting the WestC.J. Box Dishes On Writing, Wyoming, And His Latest Joe Pickett NovelC.J. Box, the bestselling author behind the Joe Pickett series, knows Wyoming like the back of his hand, and it shows in his writing. Drawing from years of firsthand experience in the Mountain West, Box brings an authentic perspective to his novels. In this exclusive interview with Cowboys & Indians, he shares how his love for the region influences his storytelling, the lessons he learned from his journalistic background, and his approach to crafting well-rounded, real characters — both male and female — who resonate with readers of all backgrounds. That, and he gives us the details on the latest installment of t...
2025-04-0344 min