Bio

Robert Lee Murphy writes historical fiction and historical magazine articles about the American western frontier. He grew up in Hobbs, New Mexico, before graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1960. Following college, he served in the U. S. Army for seven years, departing active duty with the rank of captain. For the next thirty-six years he pursued a business career that involved working with national and international institutions on all seven continents, including Antarctica, where Murphy Peak bears his name in recognition of his contributions in supporting polar science.

Robert sold his first magazine article, illustrated with his own photographs, to Backpacker Magazine many years ago. Throughout his business career, he published various technical articles in trade journals, such as Military Engineer. In July 2011, The Gettysburg Magazine published his annotated Civil War cavalry article about the “boy generals.” In April 2017 Roundup Magazine published his article entitled “Union Pacific’s Wild West Show.” The April 2019 issue of Roundup Magazine published two of his articles: “Races Within a Race, The Building of the First Transcontinental Railroad” and “Henry Morton Stanley and the West.” The “Races Within a Race” article was selected as a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s Stirrup Award for 2020. The December 2023 issue of Roundup Magazine published his article entitled “Train Time: Facts to Know When Writing About Railroads.” Robert has also written a dozen book reviews for Roundup Magazine.

He has been an avid outdoors-man, railroad aficionado, and history buff his entire life. In conducting research for his trilogy, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Robert traveled the route of the railroad, from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sacramento, California, visited the museums and historical sites along the way, and walked the ground where the characters’ actions take place.

He is a member of Western Writers of America, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Historical Novel Society, and Sun City Anthem Authors.  Robert writes from Henderson, Nevada, where he resides with his wife, Barbara.