Monday, November 29, 2010

Updates at The Western Online

We published a very good short story today by Daniel W. Davis - Trial in Coldwater.

It is a story featuring a pair of characters you may be familiar with, Horace and Wilcox, who appeared in Davis' story, A Cold Morning in Cooper's Fall, that was published at The Western Online back in March.

Stop by his blog for links to other stories featuring these fascinating characters, as well as some of his other work: dumpsterchickenmusic.blogspot.com


We also have some new art by Michael T. Pizzolato - Western Artwork


Stop by the site and leave us a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

New Short Story at The Western Online


Alter's Choice By Lauren Hendrix

Stop by the site to check it out and don't forget to leave a comment. You won't be disappointed.

Monday, October 18, 2010

New Short Story at The Western Online

We published a new short story today at The Western Online:

Hemp Party by T. A. Moore

An excellent story that you will enjoy. Stop by the site and check it out.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Updates at The Western Online

We have two new excellent short stories at The Western Online.

  • A Deceitful Game by J. R. Lindermuth

  • When the Pin Hits the Shell by Joseph D. Williams


  • We have three new fantastic pieces of Western artwork.

    "The Bad Man" , "Cowboy Gets the Girl", and "Called Out Into The Street" - all by Michael T. Pizzolato

    Friday, September 24, 2010

    New Content at The Western Online

    We have two new excellent short stories.

    Kenneth Mark Hoover has returned to The Western Online with another of his great Haxan stories: "Tombstone."

    We also have "Wind Song" by Connley Landers. A very good shorter piece.

    Our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato has graced us with some more of his fine Western Artwork. "Native American Rider" and "Rider of the Mountains."

    Stop by today and check out all of our updates. Be sure to leave a comment somewhere on the site; we'd love to hear from you.

    Sunday, September 12, 2010

    My Short Story Was Published Today!

    My short story, The Wanted Man, is the featured story this week at Beat to a Pulp Ezine! I'm extremely proud of this story and I am honored to have my work appear at BTAP.

    Be sure to check it out and leave a comment.Publish Post

    New Content at The Western Online

    We published an excellent short story today:
    Kid Eddie by Edward A. Grainger


    Our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato has designed some fantastic artwork featuring Cash Laramie, Edward A. Grainger's character who appears in our current story, Kid Eddie.

    We've dedicated an entire page of the site to the art:
    Cash Laramie Artwork


    Thursday, September 9, 2010

    Cash Laramie Rides to The Western Online



    Cash Laramie Rides to The Western Online


    on Sunday September 12, 2010


    Appearing in Kid Eddie by Edward A. Grainger




    Artwork by Michael T. Pizzolato







    Sunday, September 5, 2010

    New Artwork at The Western Online


    We published some new artwork today at The Western Online.

    A Cowboy's Girlfriend and a Burning Steer Skull by Michael T. Pizzolato.



    Saturday, September 4, 2010

    Happy Birthday to The Western Online

    On September 4, 2009, Mike and I launched The Western Online. The site has grown tremendously beyond what I first envisioned and I hope its around for a very long time. The site would not be what it is today without the hard work and dedication of our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato. In addition to providing the graphic designer for The Western Online, Mike has contributed an amazing amount of artwork to the site, helps read story submissions, and even contributes articles for our editorial section, The Roundup. Without his encouragement and support, I probably wouldn't have launched the site at all.


    A special thanks to all of those who have contributed their fine works to The Western Online. Without our writers, we wouldn't exist at all.

    Happy Birthday to The Western Online!

    Friday, August 20, 2010

    New Short Story at The Western Online

    We published a new short story. Stop by the site and check it out.

    "Druthers" by Elmer Fralick Jr.



    Thursday, July 22, 2010

    New Short Story at The Western Online


    My Colt's Last Song by Nathan Wellman is a very good story. Stop by the site and check it out, you won't be disappointed.


    Monday, July 19, 2010

    Another Western Online YouTube Video

    The first video promoted the site. This new one promotes the writers featured at The Western Online. Check it out and let us know what you think.


    Tuesday, July 13, 2010

    A New Interview at The Western Online




    Writer John M. Whalen granted an interview to The Western Online. His recently released book, Jack Brand is available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.



    An Interview with John M. Whalen

    Monday, July 12, 2010

    The Western Online on YouTube

    Our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato designed a YouTube video for The Western Online. It's pretty neat. Check it out and feel free to repost.

    Friday, July 9, 2010

    Louis L'Amour's Influences

    L'Amour has always been one of my favorite writers. I was a voracious reader when I was in school and read everything he published. It was this love of reading that translated into a love of writing. I realized that if I couldn't read any more of his stories, I would have to create my own stories.

    Not only has he influenced my writing, but reading his work shaped me into the man that I am today. His stories are full of tidbits of wisdom for a hungry young mind and preach things like self discipline, loyalty to family and responsibility.

    On of his lines that I has stuck with me over the years is: "The difference between a man and a boy is the willingness to accept responsibility," though I couldn't tell you what story it came from. It became a mantra that I repeated to myself over the years because I wanted to become a man just like the characters he described.

    Some people grow up with sports stars and celebrities as their heroes; my heroes were William Tell Sackett, Milo Talon and Borden Chantry, and of course Louis L'Amour.

    Wednesday, July 7, 2010

    New Edition of The Roundup

    A new edition of The Roundup went online today:

    Stop by the site and leave us a comment. We'd love to hear your opinion on the topic.


    We also published some new Western Artwork by Michael T. Pizzolato.




    Thursday, July 1, 2010

    The Westerns of Robert. B. Parker

    I was browsing through the shelves of my local library the other day, searching for a book that I haven't read yet when I stumbled across Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker. I read the first few pages and was hooked. I'd heard of Parker before and knew he wrote detective fiction but I'd never read any of his work. And I was totally unaware that he wrote Westerns.

    Appaloosa was made into a movie a few years ago starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortenson, but I never got the chance to see it. It's just as well though because it would have spoiled the novel for me. Needless to say, when I finished Appaloosa, I quickly read the following books in the series, Resolution and Brimstone. The fourth book is Blue Eyed Devil. I plan on reading it as soon as I can get my hands on it.

    He also wrote a Western featuring Wyatt Earp titled Gunman's Rhapsody. Generally, I don't like fictionalized accounts of the lives of real historical figures, but Parker does it very well.


    His writing is sharp and to the point with no wasted words. Most of his chapters are rarely more than a scene long, but each scene advances the plot and deepens characterization. If you like Westerns, you can't go wrong with Parker. I highly recommend picking up his work.

    A New Story and Article at The Western Online

    Today we published a new story story by Richard Prosch, "Regina's War." It's a sequel to Prosch's short, "Last Day at Red Horizon," a story that we published back in March, featuring the Peregrin, John Coburn.

    We also published a new non-fiction article about a key historical figure in Western history, Charles Goodnight: Legendary Cattleman.

    We try to update the site once a week, so stop by often.

    Wednesday, June 23, 2010

    Sunday, June 13, 2010

    New Content at The Western Online

    Horror writer Eric S. Brown granted an interview to The Western Online. His recently released book, How the West Went to Hell is available on amazon.com.

    You can find his interview with The Western Online here: An Interview with Eric S. Brown.

    Due to the sheer volume of artwork our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato has contributed to the site, we've divided his art into five categories:

    Action / Adventure | Animals | Portraits | Landscapes | Western Online Art

    Thursday, June 3, 2010

    Three New Short Stories at The Western Online

    We have a fresh line up of new stories for your reading pleasure. Three very good stories that I am sure you will enjoy. We also have recently published some new Western artwork, so stop by the site and check out all of our updates.






    Tuesday, June 1, 2010

    My Short Story Published

    My short story, Vengeance is Mine, was published today at Frontier Tales Magazine. Here is the link:


    Vengeance is Mine - By Matthew Pizzolato




    Monday, May 10, 2010

    New Story at The Western Online

    We published an excellent story today, The Indecent Alcove by C. R. Joolsberg.

    We also have some new Western Artwork that was published recently, as well as a new edition of The Roundup written by our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato, titled "To The Banner Born," where he details that art making process behind the design of our new website banner.

    Friday, April 23, 2010

    Update at The Western Online

    We published more new Western Artwork today on Mike's Art Page.


    Many thanks to our Associate Editor, Michael T. Pizzolato, for his many contributions to the site. Without his artwork, The Western Online wouldn't have an artwork section.

    Monday, April 12, 2010

    New Stuff at The Western Online

    "An Interrupted Journey" by K.G. McAbee is a sequel to "Strength in Numbers" that we published last month. It is a great follow up to her previous story. If you haven't read "Strength in Numbers," be sure to check it out first.

    We have also added more Western Art on Mike's Art Page. Leave him a comment at the bottom of the page, he'd love to hear from you.

    Also, we recently designed a Website Banners page for the site so that users can download their favorite image and link back to the site. The banners were designed by Michael T. Pizzolato, our Associate Editor who also doubles as the graphic designer for the site and are based on some of his western art. Many thanks to Michael for his hard work.

    Sunday, March 14, 2010

    New Short Stories Published at The Western Online

    We published two new very good short stories today at The Western Online.

    "Last Day at Red Horizon" by Richard Prosch

    "Strength in Numbers" by K.G. McAbee

    Stop by the site and check 'em out, you won't be disappointed.

    Thursday, March 4, 2010

    The Western Online gets a very nice review!

    Nothing makes you more excited than receiving good news, especially when its totally unexpected. There were some very kind words written about The Western Online and some very good reviews of some of our stories. Needless to say, I am extremely flattered. And of course, without the fine work submitted by our contributors, all of this would not be possible.

    There was also some nice things said about Frontier Tales Magazine, where one of my stories was recently published. And Kenneth Mark Hoover and his Haxan stories received some compliments as well. All in all, it was a good day for Westerns. :)

    Here is the link: Meridian Bridge

    Monday, March 1, 2010

    Dead West: 13 Tales of Murder and Mayhem by Bandersnatch Books

    My short story was accepted to appear in the Dead West Anthology. I am extremely thrilled and honored to be included in this anthology!





    Dead West - Cover and Full ToC

    Jerrod Balzer - A Show of Rage

    Steve Vernon - Border Crossing

    Hunter Lambright - Things Worse Than Ghosts

    Daniel I. Russell - Rainchild and the Trickster

    Rick Hautala - Screaming Head

    Steve Rasnic Tem - Sleeping Ute

    Lisa Morton - St. Thomas of El Paso

    Harry Shannon - The Reckoning

    Martel Sardina - The Turtle's Only Friend

    Michael Knost - Thinning the Herd

    Maurice Broaddus - Trails End

    Steven Shrewsbury - Boston Corbet:: Castro Gunfighter

    Matthew Pizzolato - Windigo

    Updates at The Western Online


    New Short Stories:
    We published two new very good short stories today at The Western Online. "The Upamona Pig Squabble" by Oscar Case and "A Cold Morning in Cooper's Fall" by Daniel W. Davis. Both are excellent stories and for the first time at The Western Online, we have enabled reader comments for both stories.

    New Site Feature for the month of March:
    Since Louis L'Amour was born on March 22, 1908, we are celebrating his birthday the entire month of March by posting a new quote from him every day. You can find the quote on the main page of the site.


    Western Cartoon:

    We have our very own Western cartoon that was designed by our Associate Editor Michael T. Pizzolato, who doubles as the graphic designer for the site. Feel free to use this image to link to the site.

    Thursday, February 11, 2010

    The Roundup

    We are pleased to announce that we have started an editorial column at The Western Online, called The Roundup. Mike and I will be alternately writing a column on different Western related issues.

    The first issue of The Roundup is a column by Matthew Pizzolato titled, A Tribute to Louis L'Amour.

    Wednesday, February 10, 2010

    Western Artwork Published

    Since we haven't received any Western Art submissions, our Art Director, Michael T. Pizzolato, was kind enough to supply us with some of his own Western Art.

    Leave him a comment at the bottom of the page.

    Sunday, February 7, 2010

    storySouth Million Writers Award

    The Western Online has nominated Till Death Do Us Part by Kenneth Mark Hoover for this year's storySouth Million Writers Award. Many thanks to Mr. Hoover for sending us such an outstanding story.

    Friday, February 5, 2010

    The Western Online gets a compliment

    The Western Online and its contributors received a very nice compliment. Many thanks to Scott Colbert for his kind words. You'll have to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see it.

    http://www.cafedoom.com/forum/index.php?topic=3010.30;topicseen

    Wednesday, February 3, 2010

    Two New Short Stories at The Western Online

    We published two new short stories today, both by K.S. Riggin. The first, "Saloon Sally" is a very fine story that grabs the readers attention from the very first line. "Devil John" is another very good story. Stop by the site for some fine Western fiction.

    Tuesday, February 2, 2010

    Reader Comments on Short Stories and Artwork

    I've been considering allowing reader comments on stories and artwork published at The Western Online, and I keep going back on forth on the issue.

    On one hand, I think it would be good because it would promote return visits from both readers and the writers who contribute to the site as they keep up with comments. Not to mention that every writer loves to hear from readers who enjoyed their work.

    The downside to this is that some people can be overly and unnecessarily critical when commenting. Negative criticism, as long as it is constructive is not necessarily bad. However, I know from personal experience that a negative comment or review can totally destroy the writers thrill of having their work published, especially if that writer is relatively new, and especially if the comment is just absolutely absurd.

    I've been writing NASCAR articles for Insider Racing News for about a year and a half, and at first, I was blown away at how passionate NASCAR fans can be. For just having a different opinion about a particular driver, I've been called just about every name under the sun, my editor was insulted, the site was insulted, even my mother was insulted. That's not necessarily criticism about my writing, but its shocking, none the less and its hardened me to the point that I don't care what other people say about my work. As long as the editor who published my work liked it, that's all that matters to me.

    I've found several comment box applications that I'm considering, all of which allow me to delete comments that I don't like. However, I can't watch the site 24/7 and I don't want to take the chance of one of my contributors reading an uncalled for comment about their work.

    Perhaps I'm being overly concerned about something that may never happen, but that's the way I feel about it. What are your thoughts on the issue?

    What I'm looking for is a comment box system that would allow me to approve a message before it is posted to the site, but so far I've been unable to find anything that does that.

    Wednesday, January 20, 2010

    New Story and Newsletter

    We published some new fiction today. Off to War by Charles D. Phillips. It's a very well told story that is a good read as well. Stop by the site, you'll enjoy it.

    I have found a new newsletter provider that allows me to send HTML formatted emails that includes images. It looks much more professional and is a lot easier to use. The only drawback is that with the service being free, it includes advertising. However, the ads are tastefully placed and don't take away from the newsletter at all.

    Therefore, I will not be sending the current newsletter for very much longer and if currently receive it, you will need to re-subscribe in order to keep getting your updates. I will be sending out invites from the new provider in the near future, in the meantime you are welcome to re-subscribe on your own. There is a subscription box on the left hand side of the main page of the site for you to sign up. If don't subscribe to our current newsletter, sign up for our new one today.

    Sunday, January 10, 2010

    My short story published today

    My new Western short story, Marked for Death, was published today at Frontier Tales Magazine. I hope you like it.

    Monday, January 4, 2010

    Interview

    Mike and I were recently interviewed by T.J. McIntyre. We answered a series of thought provoking questions dealing with the Western genre in general as well as our reasons for starting The Western Online. You can find our answers in the Western Writers community or on T. J. McIntyre's personal blog.

    Friday, January 1, 2010

    New Story at The Western Online

    We published a new short story today at The Western Online. "Standing Up" by Gary Addis. Its a very good story that features an appearance by a famous gunfighter. Stop by the site and check it out, you won't be disappointed.

    I've also added a new poll to the website that can be found in the menu column of the main page. The question I ask is: Would allowing reader comments on stories and artwork published at The Western Online be a good idea? Be sure to vote and let me know what you think.