“What if I said I’m not going anywhere? Maybe I’ll be a Sheriff just like you?” Jem said.
“Just like me?” Sam said.
Claire’s home was in sight now. Jem tucked the badge into his left shirt pocket and felt it bounce against his chest as he rode. He put his hand over it and pressed it to his heart and said, “That’s right.”
From the Author
Before I was born, my old man and Uncle Billy conspired against my mother to name me "Wyatt." True story. Sure, my dad tried to get the name approved in the conventional way by asking mom, but she’d turned him down flat. So, a deal was struck. They’d get all my aunts and uncles together and hold a drawing. Whatever name got pulled from the hat would be the one yours truly got stuck with for all his days.
Everybody sat down in the living room and wrote their selection on a slip of paper and dropped it into the hat. The hat was then passed around the room, until it came to my Uncle Billy. Now, all Billy was supposed to do was stick his vote in and pass it to my mom so she could pull out the winning entry, but little did they know, some Schaffer boy mischief was afoot.
My dad distracted the group while Billy changed out the other entries and replaced them all with a bunch of slips that read Wyatt. He passed the hat to my mom and she stuck her hand in to pull out the winning name and from what I hear, shrieked out loud when she saw what it was.
Picture my dad and his brother dancing around, cheering and celebrating, while my mom and all her sisters looked on in dumbstruck horror.
My mom’s no dummy though, and it wasn’t long before she grabbed the hat and checked the rest of the slips. My dad’s plan soon unraveled and the rest is history. In truth, it would’ve taken me a long time to grow into the name Wyatt. There weren’t many kids growing up in Horsham Township, Pennsylvania, with that name. Come to think of it, Bernard was no walk in the park either. At least with Wyatt, I’d be able to tell you I was born to write books like Guns of Seneca 6. With a name like Bernard, I had to take the long way around and earn the right.
Scorned women, fixed elections and scandals.
I’m sure Wyatt Earp would have been amused.
In 2010 I visited Earp’s grave out in Colma, California. Took a little bit of dirt from it that I still keep in a small box on my desk. Right after I got back from that trip is when I first decided I wanted to write a book about the Old West on a distant planet. Kept that dirt nearby me the whole time.
Acknowledgements
GUNS OF SENECA 6 was inspired by the real life events and lives of the men and women who lived in the American West in the late 1800’s. My love for the stories of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Jesse James, Sitting Bull, the members of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, and everything else associated with those times resulted in this book.
I owe a debt of gratitude to author Ron Hansen for his books THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES and DESPERADOES. Ron’s work brought a level of sophistication to the Old West that I had never seen before, and I would never have conceived this project without his influence.
To Little Bear, Bear, and Cisco. My dream of Seneca began that day in the teepee when we shared a pipe. When I see myself riding through its dusty canyons, I see you all there with me.
To Karen “The Angry Hatchet” for all of her hard work editing the original version of this book. You have been a stunningly generous friend and I am lucky to know you. Thank you for everything.
To Glendon Haddix of Streelight Graphics. I still can’t get over the design of the guns that you came up with based on my humble descriptions.
To Sandie for reviewing the manuscript and catching my mistakes.
To the Kindle All-Stars, and most specifically, Laurie. This is the first book in what promises to be a long line of books from our organization. It is my constant privilege to be at your side. Laurie, I know I lay a lot of responsibility at your door for the KAS. It’s only because I trust you.
To Harlan Ellison. What can I say? You inspired me as a boy to become a writer, then challenged me as an adult to become a better one. Getting to know you has been one of the great pleasures of my professional career.
To Heather Marie. I know you see us in this book. I hope we can do better.
To Brandon and Julia Rose. No matter how far daddy rides out into the wasteland, I’m always coming home.
To Izdehar, who listened to my idea for a new short story, and as I began talking about the planet and the natives and the gang of intergalactic criminals coming to destroy the town, said, “That’s not a short story. It’s a book.”
To my family, friends, and everyone who supports my work and the work of other independent authors. Remember, the kindest thing you can do if you enjoyed a book is to tell other people about it. Your reviews, mentions on Twitter, and suggestions to other readers are invaluable. Thank you for everything.
About the Author
Bernard Schaffer is the father of two children. Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Schaffer’s writing career has resulted in a Kindle Top 100 book, multiple international best-sellers, and invitations to lecture on independent writing and publishing.
Schaffer is the founder of the Kindle All-Stars, a group that dedicates its profits to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Schaffer is also associated with WorldReaders.Org, a group that provides free books to schools and libraries in Africa, and former participant in Operation Ebook Drop, providing free books to troops deployed overseas, before it was discontinued.
A decorated police officer, Schaffer has served as a patrolman, detective and narcotics officer and is an expert witness in possession with intent to distribute controlled substances cases.
Readers are invited to contact him via any of the listed means. He will respond.
For More Information about Bernard Schaffer
The Bernard Schaffer Author Facebook Fan Page
Emaiclass="underline" ApiarySociety@gmail.com
Twitter: @ApiarySociety
Access the Dropbox
Fans can now access the Bernard Schaffer Dropbox to download free stories, essays, poems, and much more. Be sure to check out the author’s Star Trek Return Fire series, which includes files for all available eReader devices.
Bernard Schaffer is a proud participant in the Authorgraph program, which allows readers to request a personalized note for any of the listed books. Simply click the above link and be sure to mention a few things about yourself. You will receive a response shortly thereafter!
Looking for your Next Great Read?
Many authors write consistently in one genre, (or even, it must be said, one series) but tend to never veer outside of their category (or, it also must be said, challenge themselves or their audience).
Not so with someone as prolific as Bernard Schaffer.
His work includes classic literature, crime novels, science fiction, westerns, and most recently, a series of children’s stories about dragons just because his six-year old daughter challenged him to. And that’s not all. By far, the most consistent question we receive from readers is "What should I read next?"