Boundaries: An Old West Tale

Thank you, centex. You are very kind to say such things. I love writing westerns, and I try to be as authentic as I can. I'm so stoked I was able to get you to care about these characters right from the start. If we don't connect with the characters, there is no story. I found myself wanting to write a much longer tale once I started this, but was able to use my hard-fought-for discipline to rein myself in. In the end, I am pleased with what these four chapters achieved. Thanks for such an encouraging review, buddy. I hope it will entice other readers to check this one out. Cheers! 

Wow! Thank you, Gary! I think this is a universal tale as well, but I am biased.  I put a lot of care into my work, and I have to say this one satisfies me greatly. Would I like to have explored it further? Absolutely, but there is a lot to be said for a conveniently shorter tale. I appreciate your glowing review and your kind words very much. Cheers!  

Damn, Terry. You're making me blush.   I agree, though, that this is a good story with which to ease into my writing, and particularly if you like westerns. I have written a lot of longer stories, but I am just as focused when writing shorter ones. I love when readers comment on my dialogue... it is immensely satisfying. There is a mystery in this little tale, but there is so much more, and your kinds words will help readers decide if they want to read it. I thank you for that. Cheers!

And I'd love to write a follow up. We'll see where my muse takes me. Even though this is written in a different time period, the fact is the people aren't so different from modern times. Unfortunately, hate and prejudice comes easily to humans, but it doesn't mean we don't fight the good fight. They needed people like Virgil back then, and we need them still. Thanks for your awesome support and wonderful review, my friend. Cheers!

Thank you so much, doc! That war had an effect on the attitudes of the people in the bordering towns, as this story shows. They weren't always good effects, and those are what Virgil meets dead on. Appreciate your kind and ringing endorsement of this little tale. Hopefully, readers will take note.   Cheers!

Thanks, W-L! I've really enjoyed your comments and support of this little western, and I hope new readers will take this review to heart. Virgil is a man to be noticed, and Wyatt is one of the downtrodden. Their chance meeting fuels excitement, both personal, and within the terrorized town. Yes, it is a western, but give it a chance. I reckon you'll like it fine.   Cheers! 

Thanks, Mrsgnomie. I appreciate that coming from such a fine writer as yourself. I do love writing about this time period. There is something about a cowboy...

You describe the main characters well. Vigil is one of the good ones, and I hope readers will heed your words of recommendation. Again, thanks for your support and kind words. Cheers!

Sorry I missed this, Dan. Love at first fight. I love it, and I thank you for recommending my westerns. I never expected to become 'that western writer' but I am truly enjoying exploring the genre. Thank you so much for this! Cheers!

I think I need you to handle all my press releases, Albert!   I appreciate your kind words of recommendation for this story, and I never tire of this thing you call 'Gary magic'. Thank you, my dear friend. Cheers! 

Thanks, Doha, for the wonderful testament to this story. "Boundaries" delves into prejudice and bigotry, but it is also a story of conviction and hope. I appreciate your recommendation and your kind words. Folks, listen to Doha, and I promise you won't be disappointed.   Cheers!

Thank you for clapping, PBax, and for leaving such a wonderful review of "Boundaries". I admit it wasn't easy to keep this story to four chapters, but I agree it accomplishes much of what a longer story might. As a reader, I confess to avoiding short stories, thinking they wouldn't deliver what I most enjoyed... immersing myself in a story and it's characters. I've since learned, as a writer, I was wrong. There are some challenges to condensing a story, but I have learned a lot since I wrote my first one. And yes, I seemed to have carved a niche for myself with writing westerns. In all honesty it was accidental, and I owe some of that to the pandemic and a loss of passion, but whatever the cause, I truly enjoy writing in the western genre. I believe I will continue down that dusty dirt road.  Thanks for recommending this to others. Sincerely, I appreciate you taking that time. Cheers! Gary.

Thank you so much, Pascal! And by all means give "Sidewinder" and "Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale" a reread. I go back to those two books all the time and read a couple of chapters at bedtime.   Appreciate you reading this little western ( I enjoyed connecting it to Larkspur) and leaving such a great review. Recommending stories really helps new readers find stories they might not otherwise read, so thanks again, my friend. Cheers! 

Such an awesome review! Thank you, spikey. I love this story, and I hope others will heed your words and give it a shot. Cheers!

So glad you listened to me, buddy. I loved tying this one into those other westerns, and yes there is potential to tell a further story with these characters. That will be up to my muse, but I sure do appreciate your enthusiasm. Virgil and Wyatt are really interesting characters, so it could well happen that they get more story.   Thanks so much for this. Any interest it stirs up is appreciated. Cheers! G. 

Some men stand taller than others, and Virgil is one of those. Glad you found it beautifully written, Tim, and I appreciate you urging readers to plunge into the story. I am really pleased with the reaction from those who have given it a chance. Thanks for leaving such a good review. Cheers! 

This is a story that wasn't really meant to happen. I already had a couple of entries for the anthology, but a comment from another author had me starting this one.   It turned out to be quite popular, and ranks as a favorite of mine. Yes, there is a Larkspur connection... and I hope new readers will take it upon themselves to find out what that is. Thank you, Stefano! This review made my morning. Reviews are magical things, encouraging new interest in stories that are less visible with time. Cheers!