Benton's Books

If you are a writer (any genre), publisher, agent, provide services to writers, artist, or have a western site (cowboy, cowgirl, Native American, ranch or related site) go to http://www.wrbenton.com and join my top sites listing. Once on the site, click on this image on the home page and you can join.

However, any site not related to the above theme will be deleted without notice. I get an email of everyone who joins, so don't waste your time.

Fof those of you that are interested, I am attempting to generate a lot of links the will help the new writer or assist others in getting more hits on their sites.

Take care,

WR Benton

Now, I'll be the first to admit, I am guilty of not paying attention to the position of a toilet seat. And, the truth be known, I don't think it matters a hill of beans. Up, down, cover down or up, what difference does it make?

I'll admit also, when I grew up we had an outhouse and it had a couple of wooden toilet seats nailed on 'er and it worked pretty good, so perhaps I am toilet "un-refined." I had more important things to worry about in the outhouse, like what was crawling across my buns...so the seat position meant little to me back then. But, my goodness, just having a toilet seat is a symbol of being a successful person, or so I think.

The way I see it, if ya gotta go bad enough the position of the seat will be taken care of immediately, maybe with a loud bang. While it might cause a woman some distress to "assume" the seat is down in the middle of the night, I doubt it would scar one for life (We all need to remember that life is full of hazards). But, you let a man assume "the seat is up" and as soon as he finishes taking care of business I assure you, he'll hear something about it.

With the world situation the way it is today and the hight cost of living, the stress of just being alive is high enough for me not worry much about the toilet seat. If I want it up I raise it, if I want it lowered, I lower it. But, I suspect it's a man thingy, and of course I'm guilty of being that as well. Sometimes a feller jess cain't win.

2005 Silver Medal Awards

Given to books that are excellent examples of their genres.

Presented by the Militaray Writers Society of America

Simple Survival: A Family Outdoors Guide

by Gary L. Benton

I am honored to announce that my book, Simple Survival a Family Outdoors Guide, has won the Military Writers Society of America's Silver Award for excellence in the reference and guide category! I feel especially honored because as a retired military Noncommissioned Officer, I know the evaluation board is made up of prior active duty personnel and some retired with very high ranks. It is a honor to be selected from what I know is a tough group of men and women who have selected my book based on its merit and nothing else. If I learned anything in the military it was the our members were very rarely ever recognized or awarded for things that were undeserving, so I know the board looked at my book long and hard before making a decision. It is this knowledge that adds a lot of meaning to the award.

For most authors it is deeply satisfying just seeing the finished product in print. It is a great feeling to pick up a book, see your name on the cover, and know the information inside was written by you. Most folks don't realize the simple act of writing a book is at times very difficult task and to keep it organized can be a real headache. The finding of a publisher, editing, proofing, cover design, and many other aspects of the job can become very frustrating at times for an experienced author and real nightmare for the beginner. Most authors, I suspect, are like me, they'd prefer to write and leave the rest for someone else to do.  But, it is the awards or recognition by others, that mean the most to me and keep we writing. 

If you'd like to look Simple Survival over, visit my survival site by clicking here. Or, you can visit my publisher here.

Y'all have a great day and take care.

Gary Benton, a.k.a., "WR Benton"

Books By W.R. Benton

* In the Shadow of the Mountain (ISBN 1-4137-7056-8) had been released in hard back by Publish America (July 2005). Price is $16.95 Jeb and Mule are trading whiskey to the Indians for beaver pews when they are asked by the US army to attempt to stop a possible war with the Sioux by returning two women captives to them. Unknown to the two moutain men, the women are the wife and daughter of the Sioux war chief, Buffalo Bull, a man known to hate all white eyes. Click here to read an excerpt. Purchase my book online at click here to order the book.  Click here to visit the publisher.

* Ty Fisher and the Blood of the Mountain Men, (ISBN 1-59682-023-3) the story of a Missouri man who heads to the mountains to forget the horrible deaths of his whole family. He soon discovers no release from horror as a fellow trapper (Bull) turns killer and goes on a spree of not only killing trappers, but women as well. Ty, along with Crazy Wayne, trail Bull to avenge the deaths and to see justice done. Price is $17.95 Click here to read an excerpt, or click here to order the book.

Death On the Mountain (ISBN ISBN 1-894936-44-2) has just been assigned to a publisher (Saga Books) and will be released the second week in November 2005. Price: $16.95

Jarel Wade is hired by an old miner to help bring six mules loaded with gold ore out of the high mountain country. As the old man lies dieing following an Indian attack, Jarel gives his word to the miner that he will see both the gold and the miner's beautiful daughter to safety. Unknown to the young trapper, a large group of vicious white men want all of the gold for themselves and the Sioux have threatened to kill Jarel on sight for violating their sacred mountains. Since Jarel had given his word to the old miner he knows he has no alternative but to bring both the girl and the gold out, or die in the attempt. Enlisting help from two of his mountain friends, along with the assistance of an ancient runaway slave, and an old Mexican sheepherder, Jarel finally turns to face the group of vicious thieves and murderers on his back trail. It was time to start the dance. Click here to order the book.

Missouri in Flames, I Rode with Jess James, has just been assigned to a publisher (Saga Books) and it is expected to be published in 2006.  Price: $16.95

Jim Light joins Quantrill's Raiders just two weeks before they destroy the town of Lawrence , Kansas . Shocked by the horror of the raid, as well as other battles fought under the black flag, Jim leaves the group after less than a year. He returns to his native Missouri Ozark Mountains in an effort to live the life of a simple farmer, only that is not to be. The farm is visited one day shortly after the close of the war by Federal troops looking for men who once rode with Quantrill and Jim's best friend is murdered. It is the death of his friend, the burning of his farm, and the loss of a woman, that causes Jim Light to join Jesse James in an effort to seek revenge on the Yankees. Riding with the James Gang, Jim sees action in Northfield , Minnesota , and even participates in the first train robbery in history. It all ends at a small white house on a hill in Saint Joseph , Missouri , when Jesse James is killed by Bob and Robert Ford. Click here to read an excerpt

Survival

* Simple Survival, A Family Outdoors Guide, is finished with the editing and should be available with in 30 days. Over 250 pages of Wilderness Survival Information for you and your family. Visit the publishers Site now, click here. Price will be $14.95

Southern (Redneck) Humor

* Bubba's Dawg Might be a Redneck has been published in book format (ISBN 1-59682-045-4 ) with 316 Pages of Redneck Humor and over 60 cartoons! Visit the Southern Humor Site Now click here. Click here to read an excerpt or click here to order the book. Price is $21.99

 Silently Beats the Drum is in the final stages of proofing and I'll be searching for a publisher soon.  I enjoyed writing this book and had a lot of fun with it.  Over 320 pages of real western adventure.

Jeb Patton leaves his childhood sweetheart Nancy behind and joins the Confederate Army at the start of the Civil War.  Near the end of the bloody confict he is severely wounded and loses his right leg at the knee.  After months of living in a leaking hospital tent he is released from the army and told to go back home to Missouri.  The only way back is to walk.

During his long and difficult walk home he meets and befriends two runaway slaves, one an old man (Moses) and the other a young girl of sixteen (Faye).  Taking them under his wing as he heads north the three of them have a hell of a time due to their colors and harassment by Southern troops.

At the same time the book explains what is going on in Nancy's life as both her father and mother are killed by Union troops and she heads north to Missiouri to live with her uncle.  Falling in love with the man (Caleb) who is taking her north and giving herself to him, Nancy is soon shocked to learn she might be pregnant.  Torn between the words of love and promises she has given Jeb and the real love she has discovered with Caleb, Nancy must decide which man she wants.

Soon after returning home Jeb becomes angry with Nancy and heads west for the shinning mountains with Faye and Moses at his side.  Then the real adventure begins.

Simple Survival has been released to general retailers!  I just got my copy of the book in the mail and it looks great.

We found an error, photo overlap on the text on page 146, but it has been fixed.  The photo was overlapping the section of text that explains how to make a survival vest and it could not be read.  I contacted Chris and fixed the problem.

If you are not a retailer you'll have to wait until Feb 06 to get the book at book stores or other sources, unless you go to http://www.emeraldink.com/survivalguide.htm 

The book can be bought at that link now.  The price is $14.95.

My new western fiction site is up and running.  I you have a chance and like western fiction, pay me a visit by clicking here.  This is my official writing site, so you'll see some of my western novels, as well as some of my other work.   I write a wide variety of things and I have had both fiction and non-fiction published.

People often asked my what the hardest part of being a writer is and I have to laugh.  I suspect, perhaps, the hardest part is breaking into the business.  That first book is a real bear to get a publisher to even consider, muchless look at.  I have found, after four published books, that having a history of published books DOES make a big difference when it comes to publishers considering your work.  It took me over a year to find a publisher WILLING to consider my first book, but only a day to find a publisher for my last book..."Missouri in Flames, I Rode with Jesse james."  Granted, it was the same publisher that will print "Death on the Mountain", but if you think getting published is easy....try it.  I can offer one serious word of advice to a new writer, NEVER GIVE UP!  Keep at it and write each and every day.

Then once you have a publisher the diffificult part comes...editing and proofing your work.  Also, if you're a small time writer you'll usually have to assist in the cover design, but for me (I am a professional graphics man) that is not super difficult, but the image sizing can be a real pain depending on the size of your book cover.  If you run into problems most publishers have a cover artist they can contact.  Additionally, I've got some free art for my newest novels by promising to send the artist an autographed copy of my books.  I also thank each artist in the book, mention their web site, copyright the artwork, and give them some publicity when I am printed.

Well, my spellin' and typin' ain't goin' good tonight, so I'll call it a night and hit the hay.  If you write, continue to write.  If you want to get published, keep contacting those publishers and take what they tell you to heart.  Often, a manuscript is sent in without proofing or checking and it looks poor to the publisher.   Keep in mind, the better your submission is, well, the less work the publisher will have to do and the more likely you work (if it's good stuff) is to be accepted.  Even a rejection can tell you a great deal about what you need to polish up.

Take care, stay safe, and keep a pen in hand,

W.R. Benton