Colorado State Historical Society sign photographed by Robert Lee Murphy
In Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One, Jenny McNabb buries her mother behind the Virginia Dale stagecoach station in northern Colorado. Virginia Dale served as one of the “home stations” on the Overland Trail. When Jenny passed through in 1867, the station was operated by Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia Dale was the last station in Colorado before the trail crossed into what then was part of the Dakota Territory. A year later, Wyoming Territory would be carved out of the southwestern portion of Dakota Territory.
Colorado State Historical Society Photo
Notorious Jack Slade built Virginia Dale Station for Ben Holladay’s Overland Stage Company in 1862. Slade gave the station his wife’s first name coupled to the dale (or glade) through which ran a mountain stream. Some reports also suggest that Virginia’s last name was Dale. Today, Virginia Dale is the only complete stagecoach station along the Overland Trail which extends 575 miles from Julesburg, Colorado, to Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Virginia Dale Station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Although mean tempered, Slade’s organizational abilities were appreciated by Holladay. Slade had been one of the organizers and managers of the Pony Express. Slade built several stagecoach stations along the Overland Trail. Jules Beni managed the station in his namesake town of Julesburg. The Overland Stage Company sent Jack Slade to investigate rumors that Beni was tampering with the U.S. Mail. The two men got into a fight, and Beni shot Slade five times. Slade survived and later ambushed Beni, tied him to a fence post, shot off his fingers, then cut off his ears and nailed them to the post before shooting Beni dead. Supposedly, Slade wore one of the ears as a watch fob thereafter. Mark Twain wrote about meeting Jack Slade in Roughing It. Vigilantes lynched Slade after a drunken brawl in Virginia City, Montana, in 1864.
I describe Virginia Dale Station and the surrounding countryside in Eagle Talons. This photo, taken from the current highway, shows the old trail (now a dirt road) passing through the rocky, hilly terrain of northern Colorado at an elevation of over 7,000 feet. Standing at this spot, one gets a feeling that Jenny McNabb’s wagon, pulled by its team of oxen, might lumber along at any moment.
As part of the 2016 Arts & Crafts Fair at Sun City Anthem, Henderson, Nevada, members of Anthem Authors conducted a book signing event on Saturday, April 2. The fair took place in the Sun City Anthem Recreation Center, where shoppers could not only purchase books, but also jewelry, ceramics, dolls, clothing, paintings, photographs, and dozens of other arts and crafts created by the residents.
Ten members of Anthem Authors sold their books to the crowd of visitors at the popular annual event. I had hardcover and large print editions available of both Eagle Talons and Bear Claws, the first two books in The Iron Horse Chronicles. Several folks who had purchased Eagle Talons during last year’s event returned this year to pick up an autographed copy of Bear Claws. I fielded many questions about when Golden Spike, the final book in the trilogy will be available.
The hotels and casinos lining the Strip are visible in the distance over the roofs of the nearby residences. Our book signing tables were next to the huge bank of picture windows providing us this view of the most populace place in Nevada. The Las Vegas Valley is home to about two million of the nearly three million people who now inhabit the state.
My guess is that few readers of this blog will know what SCBWI PAL is. Let me introduce you. The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators recognizes certain members as Published and Listed–thus, SCBWI PAL. SCBWI states on its website that: “PAL stands for Published and Listed. These are books published by traditional publishing houses that do not charge money to authors or illustrators. Only PAL books are eligible for the Crystal Kite Awards and may be sold at SCBWI events.”
While you are on my SCBWI Public Profile page note that you can read a short bio about me and my writing. You can also click on links under my photograph in the left-hand sidebar to send me an email, visit my website/blog, or view my posting on Twitter. In the right-hand sidebar you will find my published books. By clicking on the title next to the cover illustration, you will be taken to a page for that particular book. There, you can read a synopsis, see pertinent reviews, and follow a tab to view my other book (which will become books once the third book in my trilogy is published). A “Buy the Book” box contains direct links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble where you can order the book.
Recently, Donna Mabry, whom I introduced in a previous blog posting, showed this picture of her nine-year-old nephew, Kaedyn, to the members of Sun City Anthem Authors and told the story about his obvious love of Eagle Talons. Donna said Eagle Talons was the first book fourth-grader Kaedyn read that had not been a school assignment.
Neil and Nora Bross had purchased Eagle Talons during my book signing at Barnes & Noble last year, and they returned this year to pick up a copy of Bear Claws. A most rewarding experience for a writer.
The book signing event officially ran from 1 PM until 4 PM, but I got started a little early and stayed a bit late. The entire experience was enjoyable. I was able to talk with many customers about how and why I wrote The Iron Horse Chronicles. Readers were duly impressed that Eagle Talons had won the Bronze Will Rogers Medallion Award for 2015 for younger readers.
I look forward to returning to my local Barnes & Noble store next year to sign copies of all three books in The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy.
This is the second year that Barnes & Noble has hosted my book signing. I welcome this opportunity to talk with you about The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy. While you are in Barnes & Noble, browse B&N’s large selection of books, music, and games. Take time to enjoy a cup of coffee or lunch in their Café. But, most importantly, come and say hello even if you already own copies of both of my books!
Colonel John D. Stevenson, commander of the Thirtieth U. S. Infantry Regiment, brought his soldiers to Cheyenne to build and man the fort that was created to protect Union Pacific workers who were constructing the first transcontinental railroad. The fort took its name from Civil War Brigadier General David Allen Russell who was killed in September 1864 at the Battle of Opequon (sometimes called the Third Battle of Winchester), in the Shenandoah Valley.
The fort is now called Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. Many famous soldiers and airmen have served here, including Carl Spaatz, Black Jack Pershing, Billy Mitchell, Walter Reed, and Mark Clark. A museum and several historical buildings can be visited on the air base. For more information visit: 
Two fellow members of Anthem Authors have books reviewed in the February 2016 issue of Roundup Magazine, the official publication of Western Writers of America.
Donna Mabry’s novel Kimimela is reviewed by Sandy Whiting on page 28 of Roundup Magazine in the Fiction category of the “Book Reviews” section. This book is available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions and from Barnes & Noble in paperback. In addition to her historical romances with a western orientation, of which Kimimela is one, Donna writes mysteries and thrillers. She is also the author of the acclaimed memoir Maude.
R. Michael Wilson’s Train Robbery in North America is reviewed by Monty McCord on page 30 of the magazine in the Nonfiction category of the “Book Reviews” section. His latest book is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback. Bob, as he is known to fellow Anthem Authors’ members, has written over twenty books, authored five articles in Wild West Magazine, and has been featured on the History Channel’s “Wild West Tech” television series.
On page 37 of the magazine you will find the announcement that my novel Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, will be released in a large print edition by Wheeler Publishing in February, 2016. This large print edition is available for preorder now in paperback from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Rod Miller reviewed Bear Claws in the December 2015 issue of Roundup Magazine.
I had the privilege of serving on two occasions as the manager of contract support services provided to the scientific research efforts conducted on and around the southern-most continent. The government agency charged with overseeing the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) is the National Science Foundation’s Division of Polar Programs. You can learn about their responsibilities, including how to apply for employment, at this website: 
My first term as manager occurred in the last half of the 1970s when Holmes & Narver (H&N) held the contract with what was then called the United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP). This hero shot shows me during my first trip to Antarctica standing on Observation Hill above McMurdo Station with Mount Erebus (an active volcano) in the background. My second term as manager took place in the early part of the 1990s when Antarctic Support Associates (ASA), a joint venture of H&N and EG&G, provided contractual services to USAP.
I am proud to display my framed Antarctic Service Medal of the United States of America and its accompanying certificate of award “For Service in Antarctica.”
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