WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COTTON SMITH
DARK TRAIL TO DODGE
• “Cotton Smith quickly pulls the reader right into young Tyrel Bannon’s boots as he struggles to master both the basics and the subtle details of staying alive on the trail, while keeping hundreds of Texas longhorns moving without stampeding. An entertaining, believable and fast-paced tale.” -- Dallas Morning News
• “Realistic details that will have readers tasting trail grit in their morning coffee with this well-crafted, enjoyable western.”—Bookseller
• “Author-historian really got the heck into Dodge! Cotton Smith tells tale of perilous cattle drive from Texas to Kansas. Diverse characters coming together to work on a cattle drive weave a story of struggle and adventure.”—Kansas City Star
• “One of the Top 25 books of the American West.”—ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
• “Cotton Smith has taken the traditional cattle drive to Dodge and breathed new life into it with interesting characters, clever plot twists and great descriptions.”—Don Coldsmith, Tallgrass, Spur Award Winner
• “Accurate and exciting tale of a mystery-laden cattle drive from south Texas and into Dodge City.”—Estes Park Trail-Gazette
• “The plot, characters and physical descriptions were outstanding! The author is obviously a person well acquainted with the intricacies of good writing. I hope this volume is a first in a series with many of the same interesting characters.”— Barnes & Noble Review
• “Dark Trail To Dodge is the action-filled story of a farmboy’s rough initiation into the cowboy world during an eventful trail drive from Texas to Dodge City. Interesting characters, fast-moving narrative.”—Elmer Kelton, Good Old Boys, Seven-time Spur Award Winner
• “Hard-eyed characters and six-gun action. Smith knows cattle drives and cowboy lore.” -- Publishers Weekly
• “A cast of colorful characters! Fictional but historically accurate.”—The Independent
• “Deep in the Wild West of the 1800’s! A story of accuracy, excitement and unforgettable characters.”—Overland Park Sun
• “Winning accolades for its compelling storyline and accurate look at the Old West. Couldn’t put it down.”—Lawrence Journal-World
• “I’ve read a lot of westerns, from Shane to you name
it. This one ranks right up there with the best.”—Amazon Review
• “Exciting and historically accurate . . . and brings to life some memorable characters battling the weather, rivers, Indians, rustlers and fatigue.”—Wickenburg Arizona Sun
• “An intriguing tale!”—Johnson County Library
• “Cristics have praised the book for its interesting characters and historical accuracy.”—Kansas City Star
PRAY FOR TEXAS
• “(Cotton Smith’s) stories are centered around the wonders of the human spirit in overcoming life's obstacles." -- True West
• “A two-leveled story about change. One deals with the turmoil that was laid upon the South after the war. The other is about one man and the personal agonies he has to deal with.” – Overland Park Sun
• “But the hero, or anti-hero, in Cotton Smith’s second novel is fighting more than Yankees in Pray For Texas. Deep inside the tormented gunman and soldier is fighting his abusive, tyrannical father, a Texas preacher.” -- Roundup
• "Pray for Texas has plenty of pulsating action for fans of the traditional Western, not to mention plot twists and a wonderful collection of characters. But the novel also offers a darker story with a well-honed psychological edge that helps Cotton Smith secure his place as a promising new voice of the American frontier.”—Roundup Magazine
• "Outstanding! A must read! Lively characters in an unforgettable setting."— Steven Law, ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
• “A fast-moving, action-packed account of an unrepentant, unreconstructed Texas Rebel.”—Elmer Kelton, Author of The Pumpkin Rollers, Seven-Time Spur Award Winner
• “Happy trails for fans of western novels. It’s called Pray For Texas, and it features the adventures of one Rule Cordell, a ‘pistol fighter’ who is a mean
hand with a Colt .44 revolver.”—Kansas City Star
• “The awfulness of the end of the Civil War (and the awfulness of Cordell’s father) are still with me. This book is about a person changing — and it’s wonderful.”—Amazon Review
• “It is impossible to read Pray For Texas and not come away changed.” -- Loren Estleman, The Master Executioner, Spur Award Winner
• “Book of the Month”—ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
• “Pray For Texas tells a memorable tale of the Civil War’s bitter end and the harsh Reconstruction period in Texas.”—The Independent
• “Cotton Smith has done it again. Pray For Texas rings true, with interesting and unexpected plot twists, marvelous characters, and great descriptions."— Don Coldsmith, Spanish Bit Series, Spur Award Winner
• “Emotions — both good and evil — emerge in this Civil War epic.”—Corinth Library
• “A haunting tale of the end of the Civil War.”—Double D Western World
• “Pray For Texas was excellent — from the colorful characters to the fast-paced storyline. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone, whether you’re a Western fan or have never read one. I was riveted.”—Barnes & Noble Review
BEHOLD A RED HORSE
• “Those plot twists and turns are what make Cotton Smith's books engaging, and he admits, "There have been a number of times when the characters 'took over' and the story changed." All of which adds up to great storytelling.” – True West
• “Characters that stand out from the ordinary. Somehow the three brothers must make peace among themselves if they hope to accomplish their goal.” – Roundup
• “Cotton has pushed the envelope with his stories. The hero of Behold a Red Horse is one of three brothers; the strongest of them, but a man who is blinded after an accident with a horse making him-most likely-the first ever blind Western book character hero.” -- True West
• “Readers praise his memorable characters, unexpected plot twists and he captures the look and feel of the real West.”—The Independent
• “The unbreakable human spirit takes center stage once again in Cotton Smith’s third western history novel. His books have won accolades from critics and readers alike for their historical accuracy, memorable characters and intriguing plot twists.”—Bethany Magazine
• “A genre fiction favorite.”—Steven Law, ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
• “The characters and the story hooked me from the first page! This is a must read — I can’t wait for Cotton Smith’s next book!”—Barnes & Noble Review
• “It makes me very proud when books with local origins achieve national prominence. Behold a Red Horse follows three brothers after the Civil War as they drive a herd from Central Texas To Kansas to save the family ranch. Here’s the first twist: the brother who has to lead the drive has just been blinded by a kick from an untamed horse.”—Vivien Jennings, Bookends
• ”The first western to have a blind hero.”—Double D Western World
• “From his vivid descriptions of a prairie night, to his hoof-pounding action scenes, Cotton Smith captures the look and feel of the real West.”—Mike Blakely, Author of Summer of Pearls, Spur Award Winner
• “A fine read for a cold winter’s evening with characters that stand out from the ordinary.”—Roundup Magazine
• “Paperback pick.”—ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
“Prediction: Behold a Red Horse will rank among the best western novels of all time. The three brothers are memorable -- and so are all the other characters in the book. I couldn’t put it down. I feel like they are family!”—Amazon Review
BROTHERS OF THE GUN
• “In Brothers of the Gun, two men who are reared as brothers find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict that has two young children smack dab in the middle. With guns drawn, they keep you on the edge of your seat wondering how they will wrap up the conflict.” – True West
• “Cotton Smith is a writer who understands the best of the Western. He adds interesting and unexpected plot twists, marvelous characters, and great descriptions.”—Don Coldsmith, Author of Medicine Hat, Spur Award Winner
• “A rip--roarin’ traditinal Western with strong characterization, and non-stop action. A good read for a long spring night.”—Roundup Magazine
• “Cotton Smith is one of the best new authors out there.”—Steven Law, ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
• “Get ready to saddle up for one amazing western! This is a fabulous story of revenge, friendship and the complexity of family. The people seem so real and well drawn, creating a startling clarity for the reader. Cotton Smith is a wizard with the written word.”—Amazon Review
• “Honored sequel to his first novel, Dark Trail To Dodge.”—Double D Western World
• “Cotton Smith’s is a significant voice in the development of the American Western.”—Loren D. Estleman, Author of White Desert, Spur Award Winner
• “Emotional story of a Texas Ranger dealing with two evil half-brothers and, ultimately, himself.”—The Independent
“A sequel to Dark Trail To Dodge . . . the novel has been honored . . . Several of his other books are up for honors.”—Kansas City Star
“Get ready to saddle up for one amazing western! This is a fabulous story of revenge, friendship and the complexity of family. The people seem so real and well drawn, creating a startling reality. Cotton Smith is a wizard with the written word.”—Amazon Review
• “Paperback pick.”—ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
“The characters are intriguing — the descriptions vivid — the plot keeps you hooked. I didn’t want to put this one down.” —Barnes & Noble Review
SPIRIT RIDER
“In Spirit Rider, Panther-Strikes, an Oglala-raised white man loses his Oglala wife in an intertribal raid, rejects his Indian upbringing, and returns to the "white man's world" to become an astute businessman with an understanding of Oglala spirituality, who later finds that he must return to his Oglala ways.” – True West
“Spirit Rider tells a tale of destiny, intrigue and resurrection through an 1870’s Denver businessman with a haunting past as an Oglala warrior, honored as one who rides with their ancestors who protect him from harm.” – Bethany
“A griping tale, interwoven with the haunting mystique of the Plains people.” – True West
“Smith is a considerable student of the Plains Indian. The hero of Spirit Rider is Vin Lockhart, a successful 1870s Denver businessman in a silver-rich land, wrought with danger and opportunity — and the trick is knowing which is which. Lockhart is a man with a haunting past and a reputation for being dangerous himself. But no one, except his business partner and closest white friend, knows he was raised by the Oglala Sioux, honored as a warrior of great courage, and revered as one protected by the spirits.”—The Wickenburg, Arizona Sun
“Though set during the “classic era” of Western fiction, (Cotton Smith’s novels) don’t follow the classic formula: The focus is on history, not Hollywood. Critics praise Smith’s historical accuracy and psychological realism. Yet fans of a genre known for action want to be entertained. Smith is happy to oblige.” — Kansas Alumni Magazine
“Spirit Rider really hits home with haunted characters where the past never quite lets go, combined with the drive to dig out a personal destiny. The reader will be struck with the wondrous spirituality of the Oglala Sioux who raised the hero. You can’t leave this book without being changed.”—Amazon Book Review
“Cotton Smith is one of the finest of a new breed of writers of the American West.”—Don Coldsmith, Spur Award Winning Author of Tall Grass
“Spirit Rider is a suspenseful story of a man walking the razor’s edge between two worlds., the Indian and the white.”—Elmer Kelton, Spur Award Winning Author of “Good Old Boys
“Cotton smith is one of the best new authors out there.”—Steven Law, ReadWest
“Cotton Smith’s is a significant voice in the development of the American Western.”—Loren D. Estleman, Spur Award winning Author of “Black Powder”
“Each of Smith’s novels brings an exciting picture of the human spirit making its way through life-changing trial, uncertain morality, driving through physical and emotional barriers, and resurrecting itself from defeat. His stories of the West are praised for historical accuracy, unexpected plot twists and memorable characters. They are also enjoyed for their insightful descriptions of life of that era – and for their rousing adventure. Smith is a considerable student of the Plains Indian, having spent years in research on the Lakotan Nation and the Oglala, in particular. Through Spirit Rider, he offers a comprehensive and fascinating look in to the magnificent life that belonged to them.”—Double D Western World
“Spirit Rider tells a tale of destiny, intrigue, and resurrection through an 1870’s Denver businessman with a haunting past as an Oglala Sioux warrior, honored as one who rides with their ancestors who protect him from harm.”—Bethany Magazine
"Paperback Pick"—ReadWest Online Magazine (www.readwest.com)
“”I didn’t want the book to end; it was such an engaging story. Cotton Smith showed what a great novelist he is.”—Barnes & Noble Review
SONS OF THUNDER
“A good bet for film . . . Sons of Thunder.”—True West Magazine
“Paperback Pick.” – Readwest
“Hats off to Cotton Smith for keeping the spirit of the West alive in today’s fiction. His plots are as twisted as a gnarled juniper, his prose as solid as granite, and his characters ring as true as jinglebobs on a cowboy’s spurs.” -- Wrangler and Spur award-winning writer Johnny D. Boggs, author of Spark On The Prairie and Once They Wore The Gray
“Although the characters in Cotton Smith's books are for the most part traditional Western men: strong, dynamic, action-driven individuals; their motivations and mannerisms definitely break the mold of traditional Western novels. For one thing, they have and show far more emotion than the average man (in or out of a Western novel.) Characters are placed in realistic emotionally driven situations, bringing with them souls filled with concern, fear, joy and desire.”– True West
"Cotton Smith gives us a fast-paced story with gritty action and plenty of pistol play."—TrueWest Magazine
"Cotton smith turns in a terrific story every time. Based on conflicts between Confederate Texans and the hated state police, or "Regulators" as they were called, Sons of Thunder is an exciting tale with a hero to cheer for and a villain to hate."—RoundUp Magazine
"Cotton Smith is fast becoming one of my favorite western authors. His characters and plots just seem to get inside you and stay there. Sons of Thunder is a fascinating story — with one of the greatest villains ever!"— Amazon Review
“Sons of Thunder tells tale of destiny and intrigue against a background of post-Civil War Reconstruction in Texas. Cotton Smith’s sixth novel, Sons of Thunder, is a wonderful sequel to Pray For Texas."—Double D Western World
“Cotton Smith is one of the finest of a new breed of writers of the American West.” —Don coldsmith, Spur-Award-Winning Author of The Long Journey Home
“A promising new voice of the American frontier.”—Roundup Magazine
THE THIRTEENTH BULLET
"Number 11 on Andy Raven's Top 25 Recommended Books of the American West"
"Number 1 on Mindy Adams 'More Western Best Sellers That Are Fast on the Draw'"
"This was a great read. I loved the uncle -- such a memorable character with all of his superstitions. Cotton Smith shows fascinating insight into the prejudice of being Irish at the time. Can't wait for the next book to come along."
-- Barnes & Noble Review
“An action-filled traditional Western novel written in staccato prose like the firing of a .45 satisfies the reader in search of the excitement of the old West.” -- Roundup
“Paperback pick of the month.” – Readwest
"A memorable, twisting tale of Celtic revenge, superstition, betrayal and surprising action."—Double D Western World
“The traditional Western will never die as long as Cotton Smith is writing. In the Thirteenth Bullet, as in all his other work, he transfuses red blood into the form that won America its independence from the literature of Europe. Texas Ranger Time Carlow is a Virginian for the 21st Century. The traditional Western will never die as long as Cotton Smith is writing.”—Loren D. Estleman, Spur Award Winner and Author of Black Powder, White Smoke
"Cotton Smith captures the look and feel of the real West."—Mike Blakley, Spur Award-winning Author
“Cotton Smith writes an action-filled story of tough times along the Rio Grande, with characters bigger than Texas.”—Elmer Kelton, Seven-time Spur Award Winner
"Cotton Smith blends a sense of the traditional western with new and believable characters, good and bad. His descripton paint a picture for the reader, and his plot lines always hold a surprise or two.”—Don Coldsmith, Spur AwardWinner and Author of The Long Journey Home and Raven Mocker
WESTWARD: A Fictional History of the American West
“Most promising writers in the genre. There is no fat in this book, only solid writing and superb storytelling.” – American Cowboy
“Packed with 28 stories written by some of today’s greatest writers. Westward is a treasures for all Western enthusiasts.” -- True West
“Cotton Smith tells the story of Leander H. McNelly, a compelling and tragic hero who served in the famed Texas Rangers.” – The Wichita Eagle
"This book has twenty-eight of some of the finest short stories that you will ever find to keep on your bedside. Some of these stories are perfect jewels."—RoundUp Magazine
"Cotton Smith is one of 28 authors honored in a special anthology of non-fiction short stories published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Western Writers of America."—Bethany Magazine
“Cotton Smith is one of 28 authors honored in a special anthology of non-fiction short stories published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Western Writers of America. His true short story, ‘Thirty Rangers,’ is about Texas Ranger L. H. McNelly crossing the Rio Grande with thirty Rangers to face an enemy numerically twenty times greater to bring back stolen cattle.”—Double D Western World
WINTER KILL
"Classic Texas western . . . most fascinating woman of recent Western fiction."
-- True West
"Critics praise Smith's historical accuracy and pschological realism. Yet fans of a genre known for action want to be entertained, Smith is happy to oblige."
-- Kansas Alumni Magazine
"Praised for historic accuracy and memorable characters." -- Salina Journal
"A complicated, emotional story about the relationship between a young rancher, his brothers and their bitter, twisted father, his best friend who may be involved with criminal activities and the revelation of a secret about his parentage. An action-packed and mature story, highly recommended Western tale." -- Amazon Review
DEATH RIDES A RED HORSE
"When it came to Literature, Middle-age had only three good things to show me: Patrick O'Brian, Larry McMurtry and Cotton Smith.”—Jay Wolpert, Screenwriter of “The Count Of Monte Cristo” And "Pirates Of The Caribbean"
“Cotton Smith is another modern writer with cinematic potential. Grand themes, moral conflicts, and courage are characteristic of his fiction.” – True West Magazine
“Hats off to Cotton Smith for keeping the spirit of the West alive in today’s fiction. His plots are as twisted as a gnarled juniper, his prose as solid as granite, and his characters ring as true as jinglebobs on a cowboy’s spurs.”—Johnny D. Boggs, Wrangler and Spur award-winning author of Camp Ford
"Part of it may be the usual attraction of a good author writing a good character, of course. But part may be that, in a genre where it's easy to fall into tried-and-true images, Ethan Kerry stands out. Quite simply, Kerry is one of the first, if not THE first blind hero to appear in a Western novel. " -- Emporia Gazette
STANDS A RANGER
“These days, the traditional Western doesn’t get much better than Cotton Smith.”—Roundup Magazine
“Cotton Smith writes an action-filled story of touch times along the Rio Grande, with characters bigger than Texas.” —Elmer Kelton, Seven-time Spur Award Winner
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“Texas Ranger Time Carlow is a Virginian for the 21st Century.”—Loren D. Estleman, Spur Award Winner and Author of Black Powder, White Smoke
“The joy comes along the trail, which is populated with plot twists and lively characters that readers are coming to expect from Cotton Smith.”—Roundup Magazine
BLOOD BROTHERS
"In just a few years on the scene, Cotton Smith has made a strong mark as a Western writer of the new breed, telling it like it was."
-- Elmer Kelton, seven time Spur Award winning author of The Day It Never Rained
"It returns to the story of former Texas Ranger John Checker and his Triple C friends -- a former outlaw, a former slave and a farm boy." -- Bethany Magazine
"Cotton Smith turns in a terrific story every time." -- Roundup
BLOOD OF BASS TILLMAN
"Author Cotton Smith knows how to draw readers in. The hard-hitting tone is sustained for the remaining 357 pages. Fans of the Western genre will find much to enjoy." --- Longmont Times-Call
"The western mystery takes place in historic 1879 Longmont and Denver, Colorado.” --Cowboy Chronicle
"The Perry Mason ending is complete with surprising confessions and a courthouse shootout. This is an entertaining story by a well-respected Westerns writer." -- True West
"Immediately, Cotton Smith lets readers know they're in for an action-filled adventure, but this is far from another predictable shoot-'em-up. That's because Smith excels at untraditional westerns." -- Roundup
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