William H. Bonney

 

 Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, is an iconic figure in American history, renowned for his life as an outlaw during the Wild West era of the late1800s. Born in 1859,his early life was shrouded in mystery and often obscured by conflicting accounts. He gained notoriety as a teenage outlaw, participating in a string of criminal activities, including cattle rustling and gunfights, which propelled him into the annals of Western folklore

One of the most significant chapters in Billy the Kid's life was his involvement in the Lincoln County War, a feud between rival factions vying for economic and political control in New Mexico during the 1870s. Amid this conflict, Billy became associated with the Regulators, a group seeking to oppose the oppressive practices of the established authority.His charismatic demeanor and skill with firearms solidified his reputation as both a feared gunslinger and a symbol of resistance against injustice. The Kid's exploits reach a climax when he allegedly killed several men, both lawmen and adversaries, earning him a reputation as a ruthless and cunning outlaw. 

Ultimately, Billy the Kid's life was cut short at the age of twenty-one when he was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881. Despite his relatively short existence, his legend persists through dime store novels, folk songs, and later, in popular culture through movies and books. The Kid's complex character, mixing elements of heroism and lawlessness, continues to captivate historians and enthusiasts,  reflecting the enduring allure of the Wild West and its enigmatic characters. 

Sandra

 https://www.sandracoxwriter.com

 

The Outlaws by Jane Toombs

The Outlaws Blurb: One decent man, an attractive young woman, and a teen-aged boy obsessed with a legendary bad man--all caught in the crossfire of the West’s bloodiest range war.   

This book is available and offered by a new publisher, Books We Love.  You an find it bargain-priced on Amazon.

Billy the Kid, The Lincoln County War in the New Mexico

Territory and a man with a past he doesn't care to share, an attractive young woman and a teenager fascinated by Billy....

I had a lot of fun writing this Western.  It's one of the many Westens I wrote years ago for Packagers. 

What were Packagers?  Guys who set up concepts and solicited authors to write the books for them to present to publishers.  In this case, their concept was The Making Of America. Since the west played a large part in expanding the United States, many of the books were  Westerns--like The Outlaws.

 The Packagers wanted good research, of course, but packed into a rip-roaring story featuring danger, a lot of shooting, women in peril and sex.  I did my best to match their expectations.  

But because I'm an author, I did this my way, with characters I created to mingle and interact with those legendary ones from the past. And it was fun to write these stories.  I did quite a few Westerns, which I'll be talking about in future posts.

Who am I?

Jane Toombs is my real name, but these stories always used the same pseudonym  for all the books--Lee Davis Willoughby.

Ginger's Note of explanation:  A series of books written by different authors by all under the name pen name...Lee Davis Willoughby is a pseudonym used by William L DeAndrea, Richard Deming, Richard Laymonis, George Ryan, Michael Avallone, and Jane Toombs.  You can Google the name and find the list of books offered on Amazon and see that there are a variety written under the same name all written in the early 1980s.  The Outlaws is the new version of an old book, released by Books We Love, a publisher who gives old books a new life.  Jane has more in the works, so look forward to some more great reads.