Lodgepole Creek features prominently in Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One. The creek rises in the Laramie Range of the Rocky Mountains in southeastern Wyoming, flows eastward across the southwestern corner of Nebraska, and joins the South Platte River near Julesburg in the northeastern corner of Colorado. This map, contained in Eagle Talons, shows this important watershed which was chosen by the Union Pacific as its route westward during the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.
Lodgepole pines at base of Laramie Range.
The creek takes its name from the large stands of Lodgepole pines that grew on the slopes of the Laramie Range. This species of pine tree is common in the western United States. The Indians prized the tall, straight trunks for poles to support their teepees, and they purposely came to this area to cut the trees. Will Braddock, Jenny McNabb, and Paddy O’Hannigan all encounter Lone Eagle in a Cheyenne village that I located on the north bank of Lodgepole Creek near the base of the Laramie Range.
Modern day Lodgepole Creek.
Lodgepole Creek is not impressive where it crosses the current north-south highway, and there is no road that easily parallels the creek to allow access to its origin in the mountains to the west. A few miles north flows Horse Creek, a virtual clone of Lodgepole Creek. I followed Horse Creek on a gravel road back into the Laramie Range, and it was scenes along the route that inspired my vision of where to locate the Cheyenne village in Eagle Talons.
Imagined location of Cheyenne village.
I found no historical record to indicate that in July 1867 a village actually existed along Lodgepole Creek, but it is almost certain that such villages appeared here frequently when Indians roamed the area in search of buffalo and came to cut Lodgepole pines.
The Historical Novel Society recently reviewed Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two. Quote: “The author’s descriptions of this early chapter of the transcontinental railroad are engaging and well researched. The young characters in his novel are believable for the historical era.” Please read the entire review at their website: 
Last year the Historical Novel Society reviewed Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One. Quote: “He has mixed fictional and historical characters with great success by adding depth to their character descriptions. The novel is rich in historical detail about the early transcontinental railroad and the Hell on Wheels, a temporary community that would follow the construction of the railroad.” The link to that review: 
As the author of The Iron Horse Chronicles, I wish all of my readers a Happy New Year. 2015 was a successful year for me as a writer. Eagle Talons, the first book in my trilogy about the quest of a young man who heads west at the time of the building of the first transcontinental railroad, won the 2015 Bronze Will Rogers Medallion Award for western fiction for younger readers. It was a thrill to join all of the first-class authors of books in many western genres at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas, in October to receive the award.
In November 2015, Bear Claws, the second book, was released by Five Star Publishing. It has received many excellent reviews. Most importantly, numerous readers have personally expressed their pleasure in being able to continue to follow the adventures of Will Braddock in his quest to determine his own destiny. I will be submitting Bear Claws for consideration for a 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Keep your fingers crossed.
Following double rib lamb chops for me and petite filet mignon for Barbara, plus assorted other courses, we finished the evening with Michael’s marvelous Cherries Jubilee.
Merry Christmas from the Robert Lee Murphy family. This photograph captures us shortly before we left home to go to the South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 12, 2015, for the book signing during the last day of the National Finals Rodeo. Daughter Beth is in costume as Jenny McNabb, one of the principal characters in The Iron Horse Chronicles. Daughter Stacy and my wife, Barbara, are sporting their western outfits. We all fit right in with the cowboys and cowgirls we encountered during the book signing event.
On Saturday, December 12, 2015, the Robert Lee Murphy family held a book signing at South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. My wife, Barbara, assisted in manning the table where I autographed copies of Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One, and Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two. We offered hardcover copies of both books plus a paperback, large print copy of Eagle Talons.
Daughter Beth came from California to reprise her role from last year as Jenny McNabb, a leading character in The Iron Horse Chronicles. Daughter Stacy joined us from Kentucky to make her appearance outfitted as a cowgirl. They encouraged passing guests attending the National Finals Rodeo activities at South Point to stop at the book signing table to meet the author and buy an autographed copy of a book or two. Originally scheduled to run from noon until 4 pm, we continued to visit with book lovers until 5 pm. Then, we all went home exhausted after a successful event. We extend our appreciation to the staff at the South Point Casino for their help in making the afternoon a successful one.
South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, will host a book signing for Robert Lee Murphy on Saturday, December 12, 2015, from noon until 4 pm. Please stop by the Silverado Lounge and say hello. I will be there to autograph both Eagle Talons and Bear Claws, the first and second books in The Iron Horse Chronicles. My daughters, Beth and Stacy, and my wife, Barbara, will be there to assist.
RSS - Posts