West of the Page

What happens when you combine a 1970s government operative, a remote-viewing psychic ability, an abandoned Oregon gold mine, and a mystery that refuses to stay buried? In this episode, we sit down with LA Times bestselling author Baron R. Birtcher to talk about his story “The Bullet Song,” featured in Hard Country from Roan Weatherford Publishing. We dig into the real-world history and political m...

What does it take to write an authentic Western story—and to live a life worth writing about? On this episode of West of the Page, Lindsay and Staci sit down with award-winning cowboy poet and author Rik Yonder Goodell to talk about his writing, his remarkable collection of life experiences, and the stories that have come from them. Rik’s cowboy poem “Die First, Then Quit,” featured in the Rough C...

From true crime to the Old West, M. William Phelps knows how to build a compelling character. In this episode, the New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist talks about his leap into Western fiction, the real-life experiences that inform his complex characters, and his story “Divinity Price” in Hard Country . Phelps takes us behind the research that brings the post–Civil War W...

What happens when the Old West is changing, the law can't always be trusted, and a perfectly respectable man might be more dangerous than someone carrying a gun? Bestselling author Heather Graham joins us to talk about her story, "The Almost Wild Wild West," featured in Hard Country . A lifelong history buff, Heather drew inspiration from the places and people of the American West—an...

What happens when a master of suspense steps into the world of the Western? In this episode, award-winning author Jeffery Deaver takes us behind the scenes of his short story, "Paradise," featured in Hard Country, an anthology benefiting the U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund. Deaver talks about blending the classic Western “stranger comes to town” story with noir, creating characters...

Bestselling crime thriller author Harry Hunsicker joins West of the Page to discuss his powerful short story, "The Butcher of Boquillas," featured in the anthology Rough Country, edited by Reavis Z. Wortham and published by Roan & Weatherford Publishing. Set in the rugged borderlands of Big Bend and Boquillas, Mexico, the story follows a deputy sheriff pursuing a murder suspect acros...

Some stories are written for more than entertainment—they're written to make a difference. In this episode of West of the Page , bestselling thriller author D.P. Lyle shares why contributing to the Hard Country Anthology was an easy decision. He talks about his personal connection to the U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund, why supporting the families of fallen U.S. Marshals matters, and why...

What happens when a veteran officer turns real-life experience into fiction? In this episode of West of the Page, we sit down with J.B. Stevens, author of "You Can't Escape This," from the Hard Country Anthology, to talk about the stories that shaped his life—and the ones he now writes. Drawing on his combat service in Iraq and years in law enforcement, Stevens shares how authentic e...

What does it take to write historical fiction that feels authentic? In this conversation, author Paul Colt shares the journey behind his writing career, the inspiration for his latest work, and the experiences that have shaped his approach to storytelling. From uncovering overlooked moments in American history to traveling the landscapes where those events unfolded, Paul reveals why authenticity m...

What happens when a retired U.S. Marshal turns decades of real-world experience into unforgettable fiction? Best-selling author Marc Cameron joins us to talk about the road from Alaska law enforcement to the pages of his latest work, why Rough Country is more than just another anthology, and how the places he's lived and worked shape every story he tells. Along the way, he shares the origins of hi...

What does it take to write 30 novels , overcome imposter syndrome , and keep readers turning pages for more than three decades? Bestselling author Matthew Clemens shares the mindset, discipline, and creative process behind his remarkable career. From writing 2,000 words a day to collaborating with Max Allan Collins, Matthew offers a candid look at what it really means to be a professional storytel...

Retired Oklahoma State Trooper and author Betsy Randolph joins us to discuss her powerful contribution to the Rough Country anthology, If Only: A Policewoman’s Heartache . Drawing inspiration from a traumatic real-life case she encountered during her 27-year law enforcement career, Randolph explores the emotional toll of policing, the cumulative impact of trauma on first responders, and the import...

Crime fiction author Phillip Thompson joins us to discuss his short story "Get Out of Denver," featured in the Hard Country anthology. Thompson shares the inspiration behind the story, the challenges of writing outside his usual Southern crime fiction settings, and what makes a compelling noir-inspired character. He also reflects on his journey from journalism and the Marine Corps to bec...

What does it take to build a career spanning 19 novels, dozens of published short stories, and multiple award-winning mystery and Western series? In this fascinating conversation, author Larry Sweazy pulls back the curtain on his writing life, sharing hard-earned lessons about creativity, discipline, storytelling, and the unexpected ways great ideas take shape. From discovering characters on the p...

Award-winning author and historical researcher Jefferson Glass joins us for a fascinating conversation about the American West, historical fiction, Western mysteries, and the art of bringing history to life on the page. We explore Jefferson's unique research process, his passion for uncovering forgotten stories from the Northern Plains and Rocky Mountain West, and how real historical locations...

Award-winning author Laura Buchwald joins West of the Page for a fascinating conversation about ghosts, grief, creativity, and the stories that connect us. Laura discusses her debut novel The Coat Check Girl — a finalist for the American Bookfest Awards in Best General Fiction — and takes us inside the supernatural world of Josie, a young woman learning to live with her ability to communicate with...

From Top Gun graduate to bestselling thriller author, retired Navy fighter pilot Jack Stewart shares the stories behind the stories. In this conversation, Jack dives into his military career, the reality of Top Gun training, and his contribution to the upcoming anthology Rough Country — a gripping historical fiction tale set in the golden age of aviation, where an air mail pilot flying through the...

Award-winning author Anthony Wood discusses the inspiration behind his modern western short story, The Last Hanging Tree, featured in the Rough Country anthology. Set in 1940s Round Rock, Texas during World War II, the story follows a newly elected sheriff investigating cattle rustling, only to uncover a devastating connection much closer to home. In this episode of West of the Page, Wood explores...

In this episode of West of the Page , award-winning Western and Southern fiction author James Wade joins us for a deep conversation on craft, character, and the power of place. From his latest short story “ The Harvest ” in the anthology Rough Country —written in support of the U.S. Marshals—to his broader body of work, Wade unpacks how setting becomes a living force, how moral lines blur under pr...

Bestselling author Craig Johnson, the mind behind the iconic Walt Longmire series, sits down for an in-depth interview exploring his latest work in the Rough Country anthology. Discover the fascinating true story behind “The Perfect A,” inspired by a 1930s Wyoming sheep herder’s unexpected connection to the New York Philharmonic, and get a rare look into Johnson’s creative process, storytelling te...

Lysandra James talks about her fantasy novel Truthtaker—a genre-bending story that blends historical fiction, time displacement, and magic. In this episode, we explore the world of Truthtaker, where characters from the Regency era are mysteriously transported to the Ice Age and form a powerful matriarchal society known as “New London.” With magic that shifts the balance of power, the story dives i...

From comic books to cult classics—here’s how Joe R. Lansdale became one of the most original voices in modern storytelling. Lansdale dives into his wild, genre-bending career, from crime and horror to westerns packed with grit and myth. He talks about his story “Under the Moon of Arizona” from the Rough Country anthology , where he reimagines real-life Black cowboy Nat Love and brings overlooked h...

Dive into storytelling, science, and second chances in this episode of West of the Page ! Hosts Lindsay Flanagan and Staci sit down with author Mary Shotwell to explore her unique journey from biostatistics to bestselling fiction. From dolphin research to whale-watching rivals, Mary shares how her scientific background shapes her unforgettable stories. We talk about her Maiden’s Bay romance series...

New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap joins us to talk about writing thrillers, his creative process, and how real-life experience shapes powerful storytelling. Drawing from 16 years as a firefighter and EMT, Gilstrap explains how he translates real-world adrenaline into compelling fiction and why he chooses not to outline his stories. He shares insights into writing novels versus short...

In this episode, we sit down with author Annie Atkin to talk about her gripping Western romance Devil in the Daylight and the story behind the book. Set against the rugged backdrop of the Old West, the novel follows Maggie Bennett, a woman determined to see the outlaw who killed her father brought to justice. But the dangerous journey to return him to Bluff City forces Maggie to confront the possi...