2016 International Book Award
Literary Classics Seal of Approval
2016 Laramie Award Finalist
(Classic western) What if you returned from a journey and your family had disappeared? What if someone took up residence in your home, assumed control of your affairs-and tried to kill you? Wade Forester must stay in the shadows or be shot. His father has vanished and his sister won't speak. Beautiful Patricia Laughlin runs things now. Few people gain her approval, though powerful landowner Bridger Calhoun has high hopes. Each in his/her corner-Wade must decide whether to risk his life for Patricia, Bridger must win Patricia's heart, and Patricia must choose which killer to trust with her life.
Set in the historic Nevada silver rush, the writing comes from intimate knowledge of the territory; having lived off the land, Wilcox depended on his wit, grit, and strength (and on his animals), just as his characters do. Wilcox and Beckstrand weave authentic detail and care for the country and its creatures into an adventure that will make your heart pound and fill your lungs with the rarefied air of the old Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Get this stand-alone survival/suspense tale with bonus short story (included) or listen to it on Audible. Family friendly (ages 14 & up); 54,000 words, 200 pages, 5.25"x8" paperback with Hispanic protagonist and Native American Indian family; simultaneously published as A Sky So Big (New Adult mystery romance/YA western novel), also an ebook-soon a clean graphic novel. Written by award-winning author Ransom Wilcox (Horse & Dog Adventures in Early California) and college media instructor Karl Beckstrand (The Bridge of the Golden Wood: A Parable on How to Earn a Living-read all of Beckstrand's 60+ multicultural stories). Premio Publishing (Worldwide rights (c) 2015) PremioBooks, Audible, libraries, and all major distributors. LCCN: 2015937400, FIC002000, FIC030000, FIC033000, FIC056000, FIC059000, FIC027270, FIC022070, FIC027230, FIC027110, JUV001010, JUV002000, JUV028000, JUV029000, Audio ASIN: B07VGP9DC6, ISBN: 978-0692407974, ebook ISBN: 978-1311882387
Author Biography:
Karl Beckstrand is the bestselling and award-winning author of 18 multicultural/multilingual books and more than 50 e-book titles (reviews by Kirkus, School Library Journal, The Horn Book blog, ForeWord Reviews). Raised in San Jose, CA, he has a B.A. in journalism from BYU, an M.A. in international relations from APU, and a broadcast & film certificate from Film A. Academy. Since 2004 he has run Premio Publishing. A college media instructor, Beckstrand has presented to Taiwan's Global Leadership for Youth, city and state governments, festivals, and schools. Beckstrand's nationally lauded Y.A. stories, e-book mysteries, ESL/ELL Spanish/bilingual books, nonfiction, and wordless books feature ethnically diverse characters-and usually end with a twist. His work has appeared in: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Border's Books, Costco, Deseret Book, iBooks, The Children's Miracle Network, LDS Film Festival, the U.S. Congressional Record, Papercrafts Magazine, and various broadcasts. FB, Twitter, http: //KarlBeckstrand.com, http: //PremioBooks.com Ransom Wilcox was born in Taber, Alberta, Canada in 1907. The family moved to Vina, north of Chico, California. They farmed, tended livestock, and did a lot of hunting and fishing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Once, to escape a charging wild boar, Wilcox stuck a pole he was carrying in the ground and climbed up! Financial hardship forced them to move often. One season the family lived in a tent while the men cut hay. Another year, Wilcox joined his father and brothers in Arizona, building a school on an American Indian reservation. Many elements of Wilcox's stories come from his early experiences. In 1943 Wilcox enlisted in the army. After the war, the Great Depression, and a divorce, Wilcox finished his schooling and opened a chiropractic practice off Union Square in San Francisco. Wilcox's friends called him Ray or Doc. Besides writing, Wilcox loved to walk in the great outdoors. Near the end of his life, he joked about leaving his body to science; "I'm sure they can use my brain. It's in perfect condition-never been used." His short stories and poems are published under the title, Horse & Dog Adventures in Early California.
