I’m very happy to announce that my
acclaimed western novel THE PEACEMAKER, previously published by
Sundown Press, has been re-issued as an e.book by Andride Press, as of July
2021.
The book is set in Arizona in
1871. It describes a perilous mission to end the war between the white man and
the Chiricahua Apaches under their great chief, COCHISE.
The cover design is by RICHARD
HEARN.
Although THE PEACEMAKER is a stand-alone novel, and can be read as such, it is also a follow-up to my (also critically-acclaimed) western novel COYOTE’S PEOPLE, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Coyotes-People-Andrew-McBride/dp/1432867253/ref=monarch_sidesheet
and here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coyotes-People-Andrew-McBride/dp/1432867253/ref=monarch_sidesheet
Here’s the BLURB for THE PEACEMAKER:
Eighteen-year-old scout Calvin
'Choctaw' Taylor believes he can handle whatever life throws his way. He’s been
on his own for several years, and he only wants to make his mark in the world.
When he is asked to guide peace emissary Sean Brennan and his adopted Apache
daughter, Nahlin, into a Chiricahua Apache stronghold, he agrees—but then has
second thoughts. He’s heard plenty about the many ways the Apache can kill a
man. But Mr. Brennan sways him, and they begin the long journey to find
Cochise—and to try to forge a peace and an end to the Indian Wars that have
raged for so long. During the journey, Choctaw begins to understand that there
are some things about himself he doesn’t like—but he’s not sure what to do
about it. Falling in love with Nahlin is something he never expected—and finds
hard to live with. The death and violence, love for Nahlin and respect for both
Cochise and Mr. Brennan, have a gradual effect on Choctaw that change him. But
is that change for the better? Can he live with the things he’s done to survive
in the name of peace?
REVIEWS of THE PEACEMAKER:
I’ve received 30+ reviews of THE PEACEMAKER on Amazon.com,
Amazon.co.uk. and Goodreads. I’m very humbled and flattered that they’re all
positive – a few 4 star, but the overwhelming majority 5 star, including
reviews from some of the most successful and acclaimed western authors in the
business, such as ROBERT VAUGHAN, RALPH COTTON and PETER BRANDVOLD.
To give you a flavour:
‘This was a great book… I, too, am a Western novelist, and I have a special appreciation for any writer who can produce such a fine book, for I think a project like The Peacemaker strengthens the Western Genre and helps all scribes of tales of the Old West.’
‘For pure writing style, McBride’s
gritty prose nails the time and place of his story with bold authority. …this
relatively new author has thoroughly, and rightly so, claimed his place among
the top Old West storytellers.’
‘Excellent, riveting western.’
‘A first-rate,
meticulously researched, deeply felt Western novel.’
‘Beautifully
written and vivid.’
‘Wow, what a great
book! …Simply superb stuff.’
‘The best western I
have read for a long time (and I read a lot).’
‘Gritty and action
packed.’
HERE'S SOME OF THOSE REVIEWS IN FULL:
Spur award-winning and
Pulitzer Prize-nominated author ROBERT VAUGHAN:
‘This was a great book, with a good story.
I lived in Phoenix, AZ for a few years, and while there spent a lot of
time in the desert. McBride's vivid description of the desert took me back
there, and I dare anyone to read this book, without getting thirsty, or feeling
the grit of the sand. This was a great book, with a good story, and a strong
narrative drive. I, too, am a Western novelist, and I have a special
appreciation for any writer who can produce such a fine book, for I think a
project like The Peacemaker strengthens the Western Genre and helps all scribes
of tales of the Old West. If you are perusing reviews, trying to get an idea of
what to read, I very much recommend THE PEACEMAKER.’
RALPH COTTON (also
a Pulitzer-prize nominated novelist):
‘Solid, old-style
western.
For pure writing style, McBride’s gritty prose nails the time and place
of his story with bold authority. Reminiscent of the masters of the genre
--Louise LAmour , Will James, Van Tilburg Clark, and others, This relatively
new author has thoroughly, and rightly so, claimed his place among the top Old
West storytellers. His protagonist, as a young man is conflicted by his
decision to help hunt the great Cochise. McBride’s protagonist will alternately
create, confront, and eventually accept or overcome the pathos brought on by
the stand-alone circumstances his life has wrought upon him. I will not reveal
a well-crafted story line that is intended to lend itself out, when and as needed.
But I can promise the reader much satisfaction at the end, of a kind that is
only found in an Old West story “well writ.” Five star Mr. McBride … and then
some.’
PETER BRANDVOLD (Best-selling
western author and winner of the PEACEMAKER lifetime achievement award – please
note, that’s a different ‘peacemaker’ than my book!):
‘Excellent, riveting western. I'll never look at the Apache Wars in quite the same way. McBride is a wonderfully evocative writer, and I can't recommend this one more highly.'
Arizona
And from other acclaimed authors:
LORRIE FARRELLY:
‘Gritty, deeply felt, utterly
authentic western.
Gritty, utterly authentic, and as gripping in emotion and atmosphere as
it is in action, Andrew McBride's THE PEACEMAKER is a first-rate, meticulously
researched, deeply felt Western novel. McBride's vivid, driving narrative grabs
the reader on the first page and never lets go.
Young scout Calvin Taylor, the son of an army contractor in Indian Territory
and therefore nicknamed "Choctaw," struggles desperately for life and
peace – both exceedingly unlikely to prevail – in the brutal Arizona desert of
the 1870s. Here the Chiricahua Apaches cling to their last stronghold.
Settlers, Native Americans, and US Army soldiers alike are traumatized by the
savagery, conflicting policies, and broken treaties of the Indian Wars, and
renegades of every stripe – American, Mexican, and Apache – are a vicious and
all too common scourge. Choctaw's efforts to help the Chiricahua people of the
girl he loved and of the leader, Cochise, whom he admires, lead him into
constant peril. And in this unforgiving place, the land itself may be even more
brutal than the worst of men.
This is a compelling, visceral, stirring read that is nearly impossible to put
down! Highly recommended!’
BEN BOULDEN:
‘A compelling historical western.
THE PEACEMAKER is a wonderfully written, entertaining, and
thought-provoking novel. Calvin Taylor, also known by his unwanted nickname
Choctaw, is a teenager--six weeks past his eighteenth birthday--with
experience, if not wisdom, far past his years. While moving eastward across the
Arizona Territory towards Texas, Taylor is ambushed by a small group of Apache
Indians.
Choctaw escapes with his life when he happens across a small U. S. Army troop
escorting a white man, Brennan, and his adopted Apache daughter, Nahlin, on a
peace mission from the American President, U. S. Grant, to the great Apache
chief, Cochise. Against Taylor's better judgment, sweetened with the prospect
of a $300 fee, he agrees to accompany Brennan and Nahlin to the Apache
stronghold where Brennan will present Cochise with the peace offering.
THE PEACEMAKER has the feel and pacing, and wonderfully so, of a classic
Western film. The story, as the author explains in his Author's Note, is
inspired by a 1968 screenplay written by John Starr Niendorff for the
television series "High Chaparral". The desert setting has a
technicolor vibrancy that captures the landscape's desolation and beauty, heat
and dust. The characters, including the Apaches, are believable with recognizable
strengths and flaws. Choctaw is, at times less than likable, but always understandable.
Beautifully written and vivid, THE PEACEMAKER, is a big novel with big ideas
that should please both traditional Western and historical readers alike.’
JOHN R. LINDERMUTH:
‘It's a mad proposal and the kick off for an exciting read.
Calvin Taylor, former Army scout, has had a narrow escape from an Apache war
party when he stumbles onto an offer to act as guide for Sean Brennan who
believes he can forge a peace treaty with the help of his adopted daughter,
Nahlin, who is a relative of tribal leader Cochise.
Taylor has doubts but reluctantly gives into Brennan's pleas. Those doubts
resurface again during the hard journey into the Chiricahua Apache stronghold
but are quelled by Brennan's persuasive arguments and Taylor's growing
attraction to Nahlin.
Despite years of broken promises and treachery, Cochise is swayed by Brennan's
proposal and provides an escort for the peace-team so a meeting can be arranged
with military personnel.
A renegade who had a prior claim on Nahlin has another goal in mind--killing
Taylor. This creates jeopardy for the peacemakers and takes the novel in
another direction, one destined for tragedy.
Andrew McBride has crafted a gripping adventure tale with sympathetic
characters and a secure sense of time and place. Well researched. Recommended
to all who enjoy a good tale.’
Apache Mountain Spirit Dancer
DEREK RUTHERFORD:
‘Wow, what a great book! It moves along at a fine pace, and Andrew McBride certainly knows how to keep you flipping the pages. It’s full of action, some of it very gritty indeed, and there’s a love story, and plenty of shooting, knife-fights, and fist-fights to keep the most hardened western fan happy. But what’s so special about this book is the evocation of time and place. Andrew does such a marvellous job of setting that you actually feel like you’re right there, in the mountains and canyons, the endless deserts with that relentless heat bearing down, the mirages tempting you and thick dust in your throat and eyes and scraping at your flesh. You feel the thirst and the hopelessness of ever tasting sweet cold water ever again, just the way the characters feel it. Simply superb stuff. And then, as if this wasn’t enough, Andrew also weaves in a masterclass in Apache history, customs, and clothing and food… and everything. And he does it in such a way that there’s no info-dump, no giving out information for the sake of it, or to say “look how much I know.” It’s all relevant and it’s handed out to us in just the right amounts at just the right times. So you’ll be highly entertained and you’ll learn lots, too. What more could a reader ask for? Maybe a sequel, Andrew?
DAVID LASZLO CONHAIM:
‘A genuine snap shot into a
pivotal time and place.
Crafted with sincerity and featuring hauntingly beautiful landscapes as
convincing as the historical detail that validates this respectful examination
of Cochise and his times.’
C.G. FAULKNER:
'Great western tale.
Well written, gritty and action packed. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. McBride's books about Calvin (Choctaw) Taylor.'
TELL COTTEN:
‘A great read.
I enjoyed this book very much. A great story and very good writing. The author knows how to tell a good yarn!’
CHRIS DERRICK:
‘A thoroughly enjoyable read - from beginning to end.
Set in a part of the USA I'm familiar with (South East AZ) I can appreciate the
detail of the writing.
Andrew creates three main characters, the well-being of which soon concerns the
reader. For me this is always a sign of a well-crafted story.
I like the way Andrew uses Apache words in order to add a layer of authenticity
to the unfolding dialogue.
I'd strongly recommend this to anyone with an interest in stories of the Old
West.
Well done, sir!’
Chiricahua Apache warrior 1886
OTHER REVIEWERS:
‘This book would make a great film.’
‘Andrew McBride’s latest offering, The Peacemaker, is a ‘must read’ for fans of the intelligent Western genre.
Written through the viewpoint of the historically maligned Apache Indians, this
in-depth, sophisticated novel at last gives us the sympathy, insight, and truth
into the plight and tragedy of this proud, dignified tribe. Evoking the
history, characters, geographical splendour of the time with consummate skill
and panache, McBride weaves a fine plot with seeming ease and leaves us, most
certainly, wanting more.’
‘Great historical western.
This is the best western I have read for a long time (and I read a lot). Looking forward to reading more of Andrews work.’
‘Huge on
tension on atmosphere.
Westerns are not normally my genre, but this book was recommended to me. It's fantastic on tension and atmosphere. It's obvious the author knows his stuff, and you are absorbed into a tale which draws you into the period, and a wealth of pertinent details help create the atmosphere. Extremely tense moments, strong action scenes, and twists throughout.’
I’m very grateful to everybody kind
enough to review the novel for their fantastic support.
Apache
Indians 1886 (GERONIMO extreme right)
*****
I wanted
a story that combined tough action with an interracial love affair; that dealt
with Native American culture and the struggle of people to survive in a land
that was both mercilessly cruel and astonishingly beautiful. Out of such
elements THE PEACEMAKER was born. Should
you read it, I hope you enjoy it.
No comments:
Post a Comment