Greetings and Solicitations!! This is written on Memorial Day, and we are ever cognizant of the debt we owe our military veterans and those currently in the armed forces.
Everything we do, all that we accomplish, is possible because of the men and women who risked their lives and too often paid the ultimate price to protect this country and its institutions. A military veteran from the Vietnam war altered Michael’s life back in his university days. Captain Dan Smith had returned from two tours of duty flying helicopters in the war and was pursuing his education. Not all Vietnam vets were treated with respect let alone appreciation in those days. Over coffee one day, Michael noted that while he wasn’t headed to the military, he was very much aware of the sacrifices our troops were making for the country, and what should he do? Dan lifted his coffee, sipped, and said, “You’re doing what the guys are fighting for. Finish your degree, go out and live your life. Just be sure that you live it in a way that makes a contribution.”
That became a guiding principle. To this day, we ask ourselves, have we met the expectations that those who laid down their lives would have asked of us? Have we worked to make the world a better place? Have we contributed? Have we been the kind of people our soldiers would find it worth fighting and dying for? For those of us who take the question seriously, it’s an awesome responsibility. We lost track of Dan over the years. But Dan, if you read this, I hope we’ve lived up to your expectations.
What We’ve Been Up To
A lot has happened since we last wrote. For Michael’s birthday we flew off for three weeks in South Australia. Just us, a rental car, and a map. We found enchantment. First off, the city of Adelaide is a charmer. The entire downtown is surrounded by green parks, botanical gardens, and walking trails. The place doesn’t have the feel of “city.” Even the traffic isn’t stressful or frantic. And the Adelaide City Market is a wonderland of food experiences from fresh fish to food stands to bakeries and drinks. Might be our favorite city in the whole world. Note we said might. Santa Fe is still right up there.
From there we ventured north on the left side of the road. It takes real concentration for the first week. The turn signal lever, too, is switched, so Michael kept flicking on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal. (Now that we’re back in the US, you guessed it, he’s now using his right hand to turn on the wipers instead of the turn signals. Good thing it’s Cody where it’s mostly non-stress driving.)
We did too much to outline here, saw wondrous things, ate great food, dodged kangaroos, and found true wilderness and remarkable wines. Better yet, the people were fabulous, happy, and authentic. They still value science, civility, and education, and were so remarkably polite and considerate. The takeaway is that we may have had the best vacation of our lifetimes in the run up to Michael’s birthday. Wow.
Buffalo Justice
That said, we’re home and diving headfirst into the promotion for BUFFALO JUSTICE, our new mystery/thriller steeped in the conflict over the American buffalo, also known as bison. Loved writing this book. After raising bison at Red Canyon Ranch for 30 years, we’ve been aching to tell this story. To set it up, Ryman Banks is an attorney for the International Council on Habitat Restoration, a conservation group in southern Montana. They make their money by suing the federal government over violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for which, under the Equal Access to Justice act, they get reimbursed by the government. Of course, they also hook the public for donations based on media portraying the desperate state of endangered wildlife. And, yes, there’s a lot of money involved. Millions. All’s well until Ryman Banks heads home after a crummy day with his girlfriend Charlotte, business partner Carley Joyner, geneticist Tim Little, and his soon-to-be ex-wife Jenn. Turns out that someone has taped a shotgun to a chair, and when Ryman throws the door open, he gets both barrels.
Ryman was a good friend of the Montana governor. Rookie Agent Jillian Masterson is headed home from a meeting at the Montana Department of Justice when she’s asked by her boss to check out the situation. Tagged as the liaison between the governor and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Jillian is thrown headlong into the investigation. And the prime suspect? Wyoming buffalo rancher John B. Cody who has crossed swords with ICoHR for years. Should the lawsuit to list Yellowstone bison as a “distinct population” under the ESA succeed, Cody will lose his ranch. All the clues point his way. Even his hat is found at the scene.
As Jillian investigates, the case triggers dark memories she’s struggled to suppress. Unaware that she’s in the crosshairs of a psychopathic assassin, she finds layer after layer of deceit and danger. Because, after all, when millions of dollars are at stake, what’s a nosy field agent’s life worth? Will the demons from Jillian’s past destroy her first, or will it be an assassin’s bullet?
Authors aren’t to be trusted when it comes to discussing the strengths of their books, but BUFFALO JUSTICE is powered by some of the best characters we’ve ever written. Jillian is flawed, driven, and competent. Ryman Banks? Yeah, he’s a scuzzy weasel from the start. And John B. Cody is just a delight. You never know what’s going to come out of the guy’s mouth. In addition, dear reader, you’re going to get an inside look at what raising and living with bison is all about. That life is filled with challenges, excitement, and danger, since no matter what the propaganda from the conservationists want you to believe, the 400,000 bison living on American and Canadian ranches remain wild animals. Yes, they might be habituated to a ranch, but it’s a very thin veneer. And no, Yellowstone bison are neither “pure” nor “endangered.” Hope you enjoy your look behind the curtain.
BUFFALO JUSTICE is available in print and digital from Wolfpack Publishing on Amazon or through your favorite bookseller.
Awards
Also in the news! Months ago we entered This Scorched Earth in the American Legacy Book Awards as a long shot. We were just informed that it won in 3 categories! Best Fiction. Best Historical Fiction. And finally, Best Literary Fiction. Took all three. We are honored, humbled, and more than a little stunned. Those of you who have read This Scorched Earth, however, may not be as surprised as we are.
Haven’t read it? Order your copy in trade paperback today, ISBN 978-1-250-39324-1 from Forge Books. You can also read it in digital format or Alex Hyde-White’s marvelous audio version available on Audible. (Note: This Scorched Earth was published under William Gear rather than W. Michael Gear. There’s a story there…)
Coming Up
What’s on the calendar for June?
We are in New York the week of June 16 to 22nd for ThrillerFest XX! Michael will be presenting on a panel on Friday the 20th at 10:00 on the use of POV in storytelling. The rest of the time will be spent with friends, colleagues, authors, and publishing professionals as we celebrate twenty years of the finest writing conference on the planet. Should be a great time.
Until next month, thank you for reading, and we hope this finds you in good health, happy spirits, and looking forward to summer reading!