Tag Archives: Westward Expansion (1866-1869)

Julesburg—A Tale of Four Cities

Julesburg, Colorado, has the unusual distinction of existing in four different locations. The current and fourth Town of Julesburg, advertising itself as the “Gateway to Colorado,” is a pleasant community of about 1,200 persons. It is located on the South … Continue reading

Posted in Army, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Stagecoaches, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Trails, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Upper California Crossing, Julesburg, Colorado

[media-credit name=”William H. Jackson” align=”aligncenter” width=”900″][/media-credit] The Upper California Crossing, where Lodgepole Creek joins the South Platte River near Julesburg, Colorado, served wagon train travelers as the principal place to cross from the south to the north side of the wide … Continue reading

Posted in Army, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Trails, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Wagon Trains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bear Claws at Western Fiction Review

Western Fiction Review posted a review of Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, on September 3, 2015. Steve M. (that’s all the name he goes by) regularly reviews new western novels for his blog, which originates in the UK. … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Book Review, Eagle Talons - Book One, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Covered Wagon

Jenny McNabb and her family travel west in a covered wagon in 1867 in Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One. Will Braddock first encounters Jenny when the family’s Conestoga wagon breaks a wheel when crossing a swollen creek near Julesburg, Colorado. … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Museums and Parks, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Trails, Wagon Trains | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bear Claws Reviewed by Readers’ Favorite

Readers’ Favorite has awarded its Five Star seal to Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, and has provided the following review by Jack Magnus: “Bear Claws: The Iron Horse Chronicles, Book Two is a historical coming of age novel … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Book Awards, Central Pacific, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sod Houses

Will Braddock, in Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One, encountered sod houses on the Nebraska prairie during his first train ride on the Union Pacific. I described what Will saw from the open doorway of the boxcar in which … Continue reading

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Golden Spike Anniversary

May 10, 2015, is the one hundred forty-sixth anniversary of the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah, commemorating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. This event signified the joining of the west coast to the east coast of the United … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Central Pacific, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Golden Spike - Book Three, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Beauty of 4-4-0 Locomotives

The 4-4-0 locomotive was a thing of beauty that is hard to appreciate from photography of the mid-nineteenth century. Color photography did not exist during the heyday of the locomotive that “built” the first transcontinental railroad. One of the most famous … Continue reading

Posted in Eagle Talons - Book One, Golden Spike - Book Three, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Museums and Parks, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paseo Verde Library Book Signing Successful

The Paseo Verde Library’s book signing event in Henderson, Nevada, on Saturday, March 28, 2015, was successful. Because of the large number of local authors, and the relatively small size of the library, it was necessary to divide the signings into … Continue reading

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Bear Claws Cover Released

[media-credit name=”ENC Graphic Services” align=”alignleft” width=”194″][/media-credit] The cover art for Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, has been released by ENC Graphic Services and Five Star Publishing. The cover conveys the power and intensity of the adventures facing fifteen-year-old Will Braddock as the … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Bear Claws - Book Two, Geography, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Stagecoaches, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment