E. Joe Brown

I thought I’d share a few things about A Cowboy’s Venture, which is Book Four in the Kelly Can Saga Series, with you folks.

As I mentioned last time, I’m planning to stay off the road through all of April and into early May. My publisher is expecting the first draft of Venture by mid-May, and I aim to give him something worth the wait.

I’ve got the bones of the story in place, but there’s still plenty of life left to breathe into it.

In Venture, Charlie and Susan head west, drawn into the oil boom unfolding in Southern California. It’s a time of big risks, big money, and even bigger personalities, and you can bet they won’t be sitting on the sidelines.

If you’ve enjoyed how real people and real places have found their way into Charlie and Susan’s story so far, that thread continues here. Take a moment and think about who and what were making waves in California in the early 1920s… there’s a good chance some familiar names might ride into this story.

You may recall that by the end of A Cowboy's Dilemma, J. Paul Getty and Hank Thomas had already made their way to California. I won’t say much more about that—but I will say this: the twists and turns in Venture won’t come from the oil business alone. As we move from 1920 into 1921 and 1922, things are going to get interesting.

I’m especially enjoying this part of the journey. My wife and I lived in Southern California for thirty-one years, and I’ve walked the streets, driven the roads, and visited the towns where Charlie and Susan are about to find themselves. Some of the businesses I mention are still standing—and yes, I’ve been in them. There’s something special about placing these characters in spaces that feel real enough to step into.

And I’ve done the same across Oklahoma.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “Joe, things seem to go pretty smoothly for Charlie and Susan.” Well… they are risk-takers. They are successful. And they are meant to come out on top — they are my protagonists, after all.

And yes, I’ve heard the other one too — “They sure do enjoy each other’s company… and a good glass of wine.” Guilty as charged. My publisher calls this a western romance, and I’d say that fits just fine. There’s no shortage of love between Charlie and Susan, and Southern California is going to give them plenty of sunshine for swimming, relaxing on the patio, sipping wine, and yes… enjoying each other’s company a little more than most.

For those of you who’ve come to appreciate the role of the 101 Ranch, you’ll be glad to know Joe and George Miller aren’t going anywhere. They’ll continue to play a major part in Venture. So that gives you a little something to chew on… while I get back to putting the rest of this story together.

As they say in the news business, "Film at 11."

Happy Trails,
Joe