E. Joe Brown

I haven’t hit the trail yet this year, but don’t worry—that’s about to change. 2026 is already shaping up to be a busy and exciting one, and I’ll soon be back out on the road visiting with readers and talking books.

My first stops this month will be down in Arizona. I’ll be in Tombstone on March 13th, and then heading over to Tucson for the big Tucson Festival of Books on March 14th and 15th. If you’ve never been to that festival, it’s quite a gathering—plenty of great authors, great stories, and plenty of folks who love books as much as we do.

And here’s another good reason to come on down: Anne Hillerman will be in Tombstone as well. Now, if you enjoy her books as much as I do, that alone makes the trip worthwhile. So if you’re nearby, saddle up and come join us. It ought to be a mighty fine time.

After this round of travel, I’ll be hanging close to home for a while—most of March, all of April, and the first part of May. There’s a good reason for that. I’ve promised my publisher the first draft of book four in the Kelly Can Saga by mid-May.

The working title is A Cowboy’s Venture, and this time, Charlie and Susan will be heading west toward California. I’ll be sharing bits and pieces of that adventure with you in upcoming blogs.

Now, I’d like to tell you the manuscript is nearly finished. Truth is, I’ve probably got about 75% written… give or take a little optimism. Either way, I’ll be putting in the time between now and May to make it as good as I can. About ten days ago, I spent the morning visiting with my publisher, and he was mighty pleased with the storyline I laid out. That was encouraging, to say the least. More on that soon.

Once summer rolls around, I’ll be back on the road again. In June, I’ll be in St. Louis for the Western Writers Conference, and in July, I’ll return to Duncan, Oklahoma, for the Day of the Cowboy celebration at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. In September, I’ll head up to Cody, Wyoming, for the Ersfield Symposium, and in October, I’ll be in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for the Creative Writers Conference. My final stop for 2026 will be the International Western Music Association Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this November, with a few book signings along the way if the trail leads that direction.

Now for a little personal news.

Back in January, I became the proud owner of a custom steel-string guitar built by Rick Pimentel. The Pimentel family has been crafting one-of-a-kind guitars for over 75 years, and I’m honored to own one. That makes two Pimentel guitars for me now—one nylon-string and one steel-string.

Many of you know that I like to sing a few songs at my book signings. For years, I’ve accompanied myself on a trusty Martin guitar, and don’t worry—I still have it and always will.

But I’ve long admired guitarists who play in the classical fingerstyle, so I’ve started taking lessons from Hector Pimentel, who just happens to be a world-class guitarist. Hector has performed for American presidents and in concert halls all over the world.

Now, just because Hector can play like that doesn’t mean I’ll ever get anywhere close—but I can tell you this: I’m having a great time learning.

That about brings you up to date. Over the next few months, while I’m writing and staying close to home, I’ll be sharing a few glimpses into what’s happening next in Charlie and Susan’s lives.

Stay tuned.