Shayna Matthews tells me she’s quite proud of
her e.book THE LEGEND OF VENTURE CANYON,
which she describes as a cross-genre of western with a flavour of romance and a
bit of the paranormal. Marah is a dancer in a sideshow (rather like Beverly
Garland in THE SAGA OF HEMP BROWN) travelling across Utah in 1872.
Travelling
side-shows, medicine shows and troupes of nomadic actors have featured in many
westerns of course, from WAGONMASTER to HELLER IN PINK TIGHTS.
But Shayna
brings in some unusual elements, from adding Halloween mystery to the appearance
of people who, strangely enough, don’t know how to die…
Shayna
says: ‘I love to look for those who are overshadowed in the history of the
west, in the case of Venture Canyon, it was sideshow entertainers, not to be
confused with circus performers.’ She adds: ‘I don't write romance, I write old
west lifestyles. I love raw grit.’ Which has obviously worked as 83% of the
reviews are 5 star!
Reviewers:
‘Shayna
Matthews casts a spell on the reader in this paranormal short. So well written,
you would never suspect this to be her first book.’
‘The
writing was creative and smart and the story sucked me right in.’
‘Five stars for a great storyline
and a fascinating and intriguing twist for the western genre!’
