Louis LâAmour was one of the most famous Western storytellers of the twentieth century. The author of 89 novels, 14 collections of short stories, and 2 works of nonfiction, he was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and North Dakotaâs Roughrider Award, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan. By the time he passed away in 1988, his books had sold more than 200 million copies.
Elmer Kelton was an American author and journalist known for his Western novels. The winner of eight Spur Awards, three Western Heritage Awards, and the Owen Wister Award for lifetime achievement, he was called the greatest Western writer of all time by some of his peers in the Western Writers of America. He passed away in 2009. A life-size statue of Kelton can be seen at the Stevens Central Library in San Angelo, Texas, and in 2014 an annual award in his name was established by the Academy of Western Artists.
William W. Johnstone is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of over 300 books, including Preacher, The Last Mountain Man, Luke Jensen Bounty Hunter, Flintlock, Savage Texas, Matt Jensen, The Last Mountain Man; The Family Jensen, Sidewinders, and Shawn O'Brien Town Tamer . His thrillers include Phoenix Rising, Home Invasion, The Blood of Patriots, The Bleeding Edge, and Suicide Mission. Visit his website at www.williamjohnstone.net or by email at dogcia2006@aol.com.
Being the all-around assistant, typist, researcher, and fact checker to one of the most popular western authors of all time, J.A. Johnstone learned from the master, Uncle William W. Johnstone. Â
He began tutoring J.A. at an early age. After-school hours were often spent retyping manuscripts or researching his massive American Western history library as well as the more modern wars and conflicts. J.A. worked hardâand learned.
"Every day with Bill was an adventure story in itself. Bill taught me all he could about the art of storytelling. âKeep the historical facts accurate,' he would say. âRemember the readers, and as your grandfather once told me, I am telling you now: be the best J.A. Johnstone you can be.'"