Updates at The Western Online

We published a new short story today by Kenneth Mark Hoover called "Three Wise Men." Its a great story any fan of Westerns will enjoy. It's another Haxan story told from the perspective of Marshal John T. Marwood.

I've created a website banner for the site that I've got on several of the pages, feel free to use the image as a link to The Western Online if you wish. I created the banner myself and I'm not as artistically inclined as others, (I prefer to paint my pictures with words).

Not much has been happening on our Forum page, so I added a few topics for discussion. Using our forum is simple, there is nothing to sign up for. The topics I added are Gunfighters, Western Movies, and Western Writers. Visitors can discuss any of those topics or start their thread for discussion, all we ask is that it deals with Westerns or the Old West.

We've also added a new "Add This" bookmarking tool on every page of the site so now visitors can easily add The Western Online to their bookmarks or send a link to the site to their friends on their favorite social network.

Stop by and check out our latest updates at www.thewesternonline.com

Weekly Update and NASCAR article

I've been pretty busy lately, working on the new novel that I just started. I spent most of the day yesterday working on the synopsis/plot summary that I use sort of as a road map, so that I'm writing toward a goal. A lot of times after I write the opening scene and plot summary, I'll write the climax/final scene too.

I'm glad to be working on a novel, I always find that I'm happier and in a better mood when I'm working on something, rather than bouncing from project to project, like I've been doing recently. I've cranked out a lot of short stories lately and its good to be working on a novel, because for me, the two different forms of fiction are completely different processes. Now while I'm working on my next novel, I'm going to spend some time to submitting as many short stories as possible. I've already got several markets lined out for submitting.

My NASCAR column for the week was published yesterday at Insider Racing News. This weeks article is: Earnhardt Looks Ahead to Next Season... Again. Check it out and let me know what you think. I always enjoy the feedback I get, regardless of whether my readers agree with my opinions or not.

New Story Published Today at The Western Online

Another great story by Kenneth Mark Hoover, he really cranks up the tension with this one. It is another Marshal John T. Marwood story that takes place in Hoover's fictional town of Haxan, New Mexico. The story is a suspenseful thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the end. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Here is the link: "In the Image of Our Maker" by Kenneth Mark Hoover.

NASCAR column online

My NASCAR column for the week went online today at Insider Racing News. This week I wrote about Juan Pablo Montoya. Not a lot of NASCAR fans know much about him, but I saw him in person at a CART race in Houston in the late '90s. This week my column is titled Is Montoya's Recent Success a Surprise?

Check it out and let me know what you think. I always enjoy getting feedback.

The Western Online - New Story Published

We have published a new short story today at The Western Online.

"Till Death Do Us Part" by Kenneth Mark Hoover. It is an excellent story and a very good read. Be sure to stop by and check it out.

My Writing Updates

My weekly NASCAR column is online today. Here is the link:
Kyle Busch: NASCAR's Official "First Loser"

I always enjoy the feedback I get from my column whether it's positive or negative, so be sure to let me know what you think about it.

I'm still working on a few short stories and I've got the makings of a novel bouncing around in my head. I'll probably start working on it today.

The Western Online Listed at Ralan.com

The Western Online has been listed at Ralan.com. Ralan only lists speculative fiction and humor markets. How did The Western Online get listed on such a site? Well, I recently decided to start publishing Westerns with supernatural elements, such as ghost stories.

The Western Online is still exclusively dedicated to Westerns, but the listing at Ralan.com exposes us to a wider audience, which means more quality submissions and more readers.

The Western Online is dedicated to everything Western. The type of story most likely to be published here is the traditional post-Civil War Western. However, we will consider any story that is connected with the early settling of America that takes place during the 1700s and early 1800s, from swashbuckling pirates to mountain men and the early pioneers. Since people who lived in the Old West tended to be somewhat superstitious and tales of ghosts often ran rampart, we will consider stories with supernatural elements (ghost stories, or stories dealing with regional folklore; some horror elements may even be okay, query first) as long as the story is clearly Western.

We won't publish stories with spaceships or aliens, no space westerns. If unsure of what type of story we publish, be sure to query: editor*at*thewesternonline*dot*com.

Be sure to read our complete guidelines before you submit.