Wyoming writers, people featured in new books

by Holly Strother
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 11:39 AM MDT

Several Wyoming writers have worked to capture the state, its people and wildlife through short stories and essays in three new releases.

"The Great Mormon Cricket Fly-Fishing Festival and Other Western Stories," by Tom Bishop

Bishop evokes the charm of the West, the mystery of its indigenous people and the deep emotions of people trying to survive in this rugged country. The action takes place during prehistory and the 20th century in his collection of short stories.

He starts with the tale of American Indians desperate for food in the dead of winter.

Cetan hupahu is on the hunt for elk. The lone Lakota hunter must survive the weather, predators and extreme fatigue if he is to save his tribe.

Bishop uses detailed descriptions, as well as an understanding of the Lakota language, to bring Cetan hupahu to life.

Another short in this book is the story of Beth, a young girl with an abusive stepfather.

All is well for Beth, her sister and her mother when Bill first arrives. It isn't until Beth begins to grow up that Bill changes from the loving stepfather to a mean and violent dictator.

Bishop lays out in detail the final battle between Beth and Bill in "The Fragile Commandment."

Beth is working in the barn when she catches a fist from out of nowhere. Sure that the beatings will never end, Beth takes Bill's life in an act of self-defense.

Bishop is the author of "Real West: Wyoming at Century." He makes his home in Atlantic City, Wyo.

"The Great Mormon Cricket Fly-Fishing Festival" is published through the University of New Mexico Press.

"Jukeboxes & Jackalopes: A Wyoming Bar Journey," written by Julianne Couch, photographs by Ronald K. Hansen

Couch and Hansen visited 30 of Wyoming's "little beer joints" where the locals go to hang out and find someone to talk to.

"And they talked to (Couch), among them mountain lion hunters, over-the-road- truck drivers, antique-doll collecting bartenders, gas field workers, outfitters, ditch riders, school teachers and joke-a-minute airline pilots," according to a release.

"The result is a collection of two dozen essays and photographs that offer glimpses into some of Wyoming's most interesting characters and locations, along with explorations of the impulses that prompted the author to adopt Wyoming as home and the challenges that have resulted," the release added.

Couch is a lecturer with the University of Wyoming English Department. Her stories have been published in "High Country News," "Heritage of the Great Plains," "Hard Ground: Writing the Rockies," "Owen Wister Review" and "The

Gleaners: Essays on Re-cycling: Re-use, and Living Lightly on the Land."

"Juke Boxes & Jackalopes" is published through Pronghorn Press of Greybull.

"Internal Landscapes, External Reality: Hunting, Fishing, Life in Essay and Story" by Richard Reitz

Reitz shares what it is to be an outdoorsman in this collection of stories and essays.

He describes and reflects on a life in the outdoors, hunting, fishing and "why we do what we do in the pursuit of game and fish."

"He questions tradition, with logic and a wry humor at times, and pokes fun at fads, rationalization and sometimes, himself," according to a release.

"Overall, the outdoors is treated as a special place, full of wonderful creatures, fine scenery and the potential for modest adventures, alone or shared with companions, both human or animal," the release added.

Also, let's not forget the varied tackle and equipment needed to fish and hunt.

Reitz grew up in Nebraska. He served time in the Navy where he worked as a journalist. He was a college instructor and a National Park Service ranger historian and has since retired from teaching.

He and his wife now divide their time between Wyoming and Arizona.

"Internal Lanscapes, External Reality" is published through iUniverse.

"The Cowboy Girl, the life of Caroline Lockhart" by John Clayton

The Wyoming legend, Caroline Lockhart, is immortalized in the new biography by Clayton.

Lockhart was a bestselling author, journalist, business woman, rodeo founder and homesteader, according to a release.

"Lockhart, 1871-1962, an outstanding horsewoman, was partially raised on a Kansas ranch. After achieving fame as a Nellie Bly-style 'stunt girl,' journalist in Boston and Philadelphia during the 1890s, she moved to Cody, Wyoming, in 1904," the release said.

"She wanted a western setting for her journalism and fiction - but also for her personal life," it added.

In 1910, Lockhart began writing cowboy and western novels and competed for a while with author Zane Grey. Her career wrapped up about 15 years later.

Her accomplishments did not stop with novels. She was publisher of the Cody Enterprise, founder of the Cody Stampede rodeo and homesteaded her own ranch in 1954.

"The Cowboy Girl" is published through Bison Press, an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press.

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