THE WRITERS
BILL CRIDER has written a lot of books, though not nearly as many as Mel Odom and James Reasoner. He’s written mystery and crime novels, horror novels, and books for young readers. And he’s written a couple of dozen westerns, too. He’s even won a few awards. He’s a fan of the old pulp magazines, and he collects old paperbacks, of which he has thousands. He’s happy to be a part of the Rancho Diablo Gang and to be writing some slam-bang fiction in the pulp tradition.
A lifelong Texan, JAMES REASONER has been a professional writer for more than thirty years. In that time, he has authored several hundred novels and short stories in numerous genres. Best known for his Westerns, historical novels, and war novels, he is also the author of two mystery novels that have achieved cult classic status, TEXAS WIND and DUST DEVILS. Writing under his own name and various pseudonyms, his novels have garnered praise from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as appearing on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. He lives in a small town in Texas with his wife, award-winning fellow author Livia J. Washburn.
Raised in Oklahoma, MEL ODOM has written all his life and professionally for twenty-two years. His work includes the ROVER series, the LEFT BEHIND spin-off military action series APOCALYPSE DAWN, novels in the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series, books based on HELLGATE: LONDON, novels in the FORGOTTEN REALMS setting, and several dozen other novels in all kinds of genres. He’s been aching to write a Western, since he grew up on them, and now homesteads at Rancho Diablo where all kinds of action and adventures await.
THE ARTIST
A long-time resident of Muskogee, Oklahoma, KEITH BIRDSONG is a renowned artist. Science fiction fans remember him for his work on such properties as STAR TREK and STAR WARS, book covers as well as collector’s plates. He’s designed and drawn several stamps commissioned by the United States Post Office that commemorate the Olympics, Native Americans, and rock and roll legends. His artwork has even been sent up in a space shuttle. Of Native American blood himself, the Old West holds special interest for him.
