E. Joe Brown

Jun 04, 2024 by E. Joe Brown

     Every person desiring to communicate a thought, story, or idea must understand and determine his or her audience. I've been wrestling with this for a while. This effort has included conversations with fellow writers, people who share my love for our Western heritage, and friends from all walks of life. So far, I've learned that every writer/author is dealing with this same question. We all hope we are reaching folks who love what we write about, but we know all too well that we need to include a lot of potential readers and wonder how we can correct this. I've created a plan to give me some answers while I know I will be around people I love.

     Starting this summer, I will add rodeo and cowboy music/poetry gatherings to my book tours. Because of who raised me and where it happened, I've attended and loved rodeos and "cowboy" music. And I'm 100% sure Charlie and Susan Kelly would be among the folks I would have seen at these events in the 1920s (if I had been there).

     I've contacted the folks putting on the Working Cowboy Rodeo Association (WRCA) rodeos. That's what Charlie Kelly would have entered and who he would have supported. I have many family members who are working cowboys. I've also reached out to several music/poetry gatherings that I've either attended or known about over my years as a member of the International Western Music Association (IWMA).

     I do not doubt that at least some of the folks I'll see at these events, whether I'm behind a table signing a book, in a concert hall listening to music, or sitting in the stands sharing the excitement of a cowboy riding a bucking bronc, I'll be around kindred spirits. They might like Ole Charlie, too. So, below, you'll see a complete list of where I've already committed, and before I'm done making contacts, there will likely be more events. I also have the opportunity to add six more gatherings and four more rodeos to the list for August through November. Some of these are already listed under appearances on my website. As you probably already know, you can always go there to keep up with the latest news.

June 14th - 15th: WRCA Rodeo in Fort Sumner, NM
June 18th: Best of Books in Edmond, OK
June 19th - 22nd: Western Writers of America Conference in Tulsa, OK
July 19th - 20th: WRCA Rodeo in Santa Fe, NM
July 27th: Day of the Cowboy – Chisolm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, OK
August 31st: Fort Sumner Library in Fort Sumner, NM
September 13th - 14th: San Angelo Cowboy Gathering in San Angelo, TX
November 13th - 16th: IWMA Convention in Albuquerque, NM

If you're in the neighborhood or can plan to be there, please see me at any of these wonderful events.

Happy Trails,
Joe

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