Benton's Books

As my grandpa used to say, “It’s been hotter than a cathouse on nickel night.” I go to bed when it’s hot, get up when it’s hot and write when it’s hot.  Not good, even with the air conditioner working overtime the heat is still felt.  Then, of course, I have to make small runs to the store to pick up milk, cola’s, ice cream, and other needed items.  Well, maybe not needed, but for sure enjoyed in this heat.

Ya know, looking back I don’t see how I grew up.  We didn’t even have electrical power (no television, no fridge, no lights, and as you might guess, no air conditioner) but we survived.  I can remember sleeping out under the trees a lot during the summer and my only “corn-cern” was copperhead snakes.  Our usual dinner was beans and cornbread, and when the dog days of summer hit, the plastic on the old table chairs would stick to the sweat on my back.

That just reminded me of the sweat bees we had outside.  I’m not sure what the real name for them is, and I can’t write on here what I usually called them, but they were always out in force.

We had no ice cold cola’s, no ice cream and our milk was fresh and warm.  Still, we survived and all grew (as my brother would say) into adultery.  No, ya don’t need an air conditioner to survive, but if for sure makes life easier (personally, I like the ice cream more).

Take care,

WR Benton

My latest work, not assigned a publishing date yet, has been completed and being edited and proofed.  Mike Lanier has given me permission to use his painting titled, "Lakota Brave" for the cover.  I love Mikes work and think he's one of the better Native American/Western artists on the market today.  Here is the credit for Mike that will be in the book,

The cover might vary some at the time of printing, once the art department finishes.  I usually send a layout, as shown, and the art people change what needs changed.

War Paint, a novel of 106,363 words, tells of the experiences of a spoiled and rich young man who heads west to become a mountain man in 1825.  Taken under wing by two experienced old mountain men, George Alwood the third becomes Bear Killer the mountain man.  After a short visit with Shoshoni Indians, Bear Killer finds himself with an unwanted wife and though he resist’s, he learns to love her.  A cold and hard winter in the mountains brings him closer to his bride, as he learns to live as a mountain man, and just before spring she informs him of the child to come.  Content now, with a canvas shelter, campfire, jerked meat, and soon to be family, Bear Killer reflects on his rich and pampered background.  After his wife and unborn child are killed by white men, the young mountain man makes a promise to avenge their deaths. However, it’s only after one of the old mountain men is killed that the action becomes almost nonstop.

Filled with months of research on mountain man illnesses and medications, as well as the difficult lifestyle, this book is historically accurate in most aspects.  Even the various Indian tribes (physical characteristics and cultures) and methods of placing a beaver trap have been explored.  Essentially, the manuscript explains how mountain men lived, their deep sense of personal honor, and their total dedication to those they loved.

Our apartment is small, so we use a window air conditioner.  It works well and keeps the whole place nice and cool.  Usually it's simple to install and within a few minutes I have the job done. But, not always.

This last weekend, I installed the blamed thing and within ten minutes the whole house was being rearranged--to make the air conditioner look more "natural."  The sofa was moved, two bedrooms exchanged furniture (the lighter oak looks better with the light gray color of the a/c, I was told).  The only two rooms in the whole apartment not changed happened to be the bathroom and my office.

I know when it comes to decorating a living place I'm not very good, nor remotely interested.  I've even been called interior design illiterate, but it doesn't bother me in the least.  If I had the say, things would go one place and stay there until the day I died, or it falls apart.  I see no need to change the whole house because of a new plant, coffee table, or air conditioner.  Oh, I'd keep the place clean and dusted, but centering a table under a ceiling fan, picture, or around a bunch of plants make no sense to me.

I suspect its a woman thingy, and hey, don't jump me here ladies, my momma and my wife are women and I love 'em both.  I just don't see eye to eye with them on furnishings and design.  I'm sure MOST guys are the same way.  I fear only one sentence more than, "I need to move some stuff.".....and that's "You need to pull a few things out of the store room for me to use."  Our storeroom looks like, "Pack Rats are Us."  And, yep, little of it's mine...most of it is, you guessed it, old pieces of furniture, rugs, or ugly lamps.

 Take care and stay safe,

WR Benton