The Short Story section begins by spotlighting the western authors who have contributed at least five short stories to the Rope and Wire website.
Click on the authors name to read the short stories for that author.
If you continue to scroll past the spotlighted authors, you will find many more great traditional and contemporary western short stories by authors who have yet to reach the Spotlight.
Cole Burgett
An established author by age 14 and speaker by age 16, Cole grew up on a healthy dose of both classic literature and cheap pulps, all of which have influenced his love of writing. Described as having a soul straight out of the Old West, two of his favorite western writers are Elmore Leonard and Louis L’Amour, both of whom he grew up reading. Having published a variety of works including speculative fiction and horror, he considers the western genre to be his niche, where he is most at home.
John Duncklee
John Duncklee is an award-winning author of sixteen books. His published work covers fiction, non-fiction, satire, short stories and poetry. Prior to his writing career, John was a university professor in both the United States and Mexico, a cattle rancher, Quarter Horse breeder, designer of mesquite wood furniture, and served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He lives in New Mexico with his wife, Penny, an illustrator and artist.
Don Emigh
I grew up in the West - Arizona and Colorado - with some early adult years spent in South Dakota at Pierre. Yes, just across the river from Casey Tibbs' Ft. Pierre--and at the same time, too (late '40's). He was a hero of mine, back in those days. Now, my wife and I live in Seattle, Washington.
James J. Griffin
While a native New Englander, Jim has been a student of the frontier West from a very young age. He has traveled extensively throughout the western United States, and has visited many of the famous Western frontier towns, such as Tombstone, Pecos, Deadwood, Cheyenne, and numerous others.
Bill Henderson
Weaned on Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour, Bill Henderson has spent most of his adult life in his beloved Arizona deserts and mountains.
A retired construction superintendent, he now has time to pursue his love of writing, prospecting, and prowling ghost towns.
Charles D. Phillips
Charles D. Phillips was raised in Abilene, Texas and is now a public health professional living and teaching in College Station, Texas.
His short fiction has appeared in Flashshot, flashquake, HeavyGlow, Long Story Short, The Angler, Smoke Box, Static Movement, Toasted Cheese, and The Vestal Review.
L. Roger Quilter
L. Roger Quilter is a retired electrician who served in the Royal Canadian Navy for twenty-two years.
Born in London, England, he and his family moved to Canada in 1954. Father, grandfather and now great grandfather, he and his wife, Kathleen, make Victoria, British Columbia their home.
Allen Russell
Allen Russell is a native Tennessean, voice actor, videographer, and a cowboy at heart. He has traveled extensively, hunting big game all over North America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. He spent more than a dozen years as a professional hunting guide in Montana and host of an outdoor adventure program.
Christopher Scott
Christopher Scott started writing short stories at age 50.
Seeing the need for an outlet by which western authors could promote their work, he started Rope and Wire.
Mary Scriver
Mary Strachan Scriver grew up in Portland, OR, took a BS in Speech (truly) at Northwestern University (61) and an MA in Religious Studies at the University of Chicago (1981). Her M. Div degree was from Meadville/Lombard Theological School. She taught high school English for a total of ten years and was a Unitarian Universalist minister for ten years.
Louis M. Serra
Louis M. Serra grew up in Chicago Il, entertained both by stories about gumshoe detectives and tales of werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and other supernatural beings. He began writing short stories at about ten years old, slowly developing a storytelling style that incorporated his favorite subjects.
Tom Sheehan
Sheehan served in the 31st Infantry Regiment, Korea 1951 and graduated from Boston College in 1956. His print/eBooks are Epic Cures; Brief Cases, Short Spans (from Press 53); A Collection of Friends; From the Quickening (from Pocol Press). He has 24 Pushcart nominations, and 375 stories on Rope and Wire Magazine.
Big Jim Williams
“I love the Old West’s history, people and tales,” said Big Jim Williams.
“What an exciting time it would have been to be in California’s ‘49 Gold Rush, ride the Oregon Trail, or explore with Lewis and Clark. That’s why I love writing westerns.”
Darren Travers
Darren is absolutely delighted to have the honour of being part of the prestigious ‘Authors Spotlight’ on the ‘Rope and Wire’ website. He has a genuine love for the Wild West and is currently trying to get his action adventure novel, “The Five Stars Of Cordrye” published. This Wild West adventure stars the heroic figure of Thomas Murphy who also stars in Darren’s short stories which are published here.
