Friday, October 19, 2012

Wolf Creek Characters #5 Derrick McCain

Wolf Creek is probably the most unique Western series ever produced. It is published by Western Fictioneers and written by Ford Fargo- who is actually about twenty different Western authors. Each one has created a unique character, and in each installment six authors collaborate to tell a story from the points of view of their particular creations.


amazon           B & N


It may sound complicated. but the result is anything but: each volume holds together remarkably well, and the series has been creating quite a bit of buzz.

I am the series editor, and one of my two characters appears in each book to help tie things together. Other than me we have a wonderful mix of genre veterans and best selling authors and up-and-coming newer writers who are making their mark.

This blog is the fifth in a five-part series highlighting the six main characters / writers of Wolf Creek Book I: Bloody Trail. The sixth installment will appear on Tuesday, Oct. 23, and the previous ones can be found here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

GIVEAWAY: One of our authors, Chery Pierson (who is being highlighted today) has upped the ante- she has offered to give away a trade paperback copy of Bloody Trail to one of our visitors. Anyone who leaves a comment on this or any of the other five blogs and leaves a contact email address will be eligible to win (you can also send said addy to me, at troy_d_smith@hotmail.com, if you prefer it not be public- but you still have to leave a comment!)

A winner will be chosen at random at 9am Central Time Friday morning, October 26, and will be emailed with the good news- it will also be announced in a comment on Blog 6, "Logan Munro." You can multiply your chances to win- by commenting on more than one of the six blogs. For every installment of the blog series you comment on, you will get one additional entry in the contest (alas, only one more per blog, so a possibility of six in all.)

That said, let's take a look at Cheryl's character.

DERRICK MCCAIN
farmer


Derrick is 18 when the War Between the States begins. His two older brothers leave immediately, refusing to take him with them. A few days after they leave, Derrick strikes out on his own, determined to make his own way. He joins up with the regular Confederate Army, with the hope that one day he will return to Wolf Creek and marry his sweetheart, Jolene. Things don't work out as he'd thought. His brothers are killed at Shiloh, and not long after, he receives word that his father, Andrew, has been murdered for his outspoken politics by a band of Jayhawkers. At this news, Derrick deserts to join up with Jim Danby's guerrilla band, who ride with Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson,  to seek revenge on the Jayhawkers who murdered his father. 
The day comes when Danby intends to do something so heinous that Derrick rebels, refusing to obey direct orders from the gang leader. Derrick tells him that he will not torture and murder their captives,  a small band of black Union soldiers who were sent to attack Bloody Bill Anderson during the Centralia Massacre. Danby has Derrick beaten and left for dead, giving orders for the others in his band to shoot the Union soldiers. But one of the black men, Charley Blackfeather, manages to get away, never knowing that Derrick stood up for them.
Derrick is found by a farmer who lives nearby and taken to the man's house, where he's cared for. The end of the war comes as Derrick heals enough to ride once more. He returns to Wolf Creek, not sure of his place in the world--Jolene has married a Yankee, and he finds himself the only male survivor of the McCain family. He steps into the unwanted role of settling into the life of a farmer, his younger sister less than welcoming since she has married due to necessity because of his absence. Derrick's world is turned upside down a few  years down the road when the Danby gang comes to pay the citizens of Wolf Creek a call. Derrick is sure of only one thing this time around: in order to make peace with himself, he has to ride with the posse to avenge what Danby's gang has done to his town. He swears to kill or be killed, on the BLOODY TRAIL.




With each installment, I have also been including info on one of the supporting characters that the writers share. This one was also created by Cheryl Pierson:

CARSON RIDGE:  A full-blood Cherokee and Derrick McCain's childhood best friend. Raised in the eastern part of Indian Territory in the Cherokee Nation, he's well-educated having attended the Indian school where Derrick's father was headmaster for several years. When Derrick's family moves to Wolf Creek, Kansas, Carson hopes that once Derrick learns the reason for the move, he will someday return to Indian Territory and the heritage that belongs to him. Carson's past is something he doesn't talk about much. He has become a Lighthorse officer for the Cherokee Nation. As the years pass, he believes he will never see his friend again...until fate brings them together under the most unlikely circumstance.



And here is some background on Cheryl Pierson:
Cheryl was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, and grew up in Seminole, Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and holds a B.A. in English. She has taught numerous writing classes and workshops over the past years and also works on an individual basis with many of her students, and other authors, locally and nationwide.

Cheryl's most recent publications include the first two novellas of her YA historical western serires, "KANE'S REDEMPTION" and "KANE'S PROMISE," with WESTERN TRAIL BLAZER publishing. Her debut novel, "FIRE EYES," was released in May, 2009, and was an EPIC AWARD FINALIST in 2010. With a brand new cover and a complete re-edit, "FIRE EYES" was re-released in 2012 through WESTERN TRAIL BLAZERS. Her second novel, "TIME PLAINS DRIFTER," was re-released through WESTERN TRAIL BLAZERS in July, 2011. Switching from the historical genre to contemporary romantic suspense, her third novel, "SWEET DANGER" was released through THE WILD ROSE PRESS in 2010.
Cheryl lives with her husband in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she has been for the past 27 years. She has two grown children, ages 23 and 26.
You can e-mail her at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
















32 comments:

  1. Troy, thanks so much for featuring Derrick and Carson this week here on your blog! I have to say once again how much fun I had working on this book with you, Larry, James, Jim, and Clay. I enjoyed this project so much, and look forward to future Wolf Creek writings!
    Cheryl

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  2. Both you and Cheryl are terrific writers, Troy. I'm sure this is a gripping novel. Please enter me for the giveaway.
    caroline@carolineclemmons.com

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    1. Thanks, Caroline! Did you know that if you go back to the other parts of this series (see the links above) and comment on each of them it will enter you four more times for the drawing? And don't miss Clay More's character, Doctor Logan Munro, coming up on Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by today.
      Cheryl

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  3. I was sold when I saw that Cheryl and Troy both have a story in this collection! You can't go wrong with one of Cheryl's tales. You'll fall love with her heroes and I've read Troy's "The Windigo" -- a chilling good story!!

    I wish you all the very best success!!

    kmnbooks at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks, Karen! I must read The Windigo--Troy writes some fantastic paranormal stuff along with the westerns, doesn't he?
      Cheryl

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  4. I'm in awe of both of you. Cheryl writing has always been very good, but this description of part of the plot enhances her standing as one of the best--one day, Cheryl, you will rival....oh, Troy Smith, or someone like him..and have a long list of Western novels, too.
    But please don't forego romance...please.

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    1. Celia, you crack me up, woman! Troy and I have just had a blast figuring out how our characters were going to interact with one another, since his character, Charley, is the one my character, Derrick, was supposed to torture and kill. They have kind of a love/hate relationship as these books go on, and will have a chance to interact again in book 5. I'm soooo looking forward to it! I won't ever forego romance--I love writing all of it. Thanks for coming by, Celia--I'm entering you in the drawing!
      Cheryl

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  5. I must say how proud I am to know Cheryl, though only through yahoo groups, she is one truly gifted lady. I have one of her books and enjoyed it throughly. I don't know how she does it, but she does. Bravo to all these wonderful writers.

    Marilyn

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    1. Marilyn, thanks so much for coming by! See, your comment worked after all! LOL I hate those captcha things too. Glad you got through! Thanks for your very kind words, my friend.
      Cheryl

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  6. Thank y'all so much for coming by- and yes, Cheryl is an awesome writer! You'll like the other folks, too!

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    1. Aw, thanks, Troy. That means a lot coming from you, my friend.
      Cheryl

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  7. Also- Celia, I like the way you think ;-)

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  8. I'm impressed by the series concept and execution. In the past, I've had enough challenges working with one collaborator. Six at a time boggles my mind! Keep up the great work!

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  9. As usual, you have created a character filled with pain and on a quest to right the wrongs. Derrick really has his work cut out for him and I love his best friend, the Cherokee named Carson. Will Carson move up from a secondary character to a main character at some point? This book is going to be magnificent. I'm so interested in how the entire series is going to fit together. It sounds like a massive undertaking. You've really peaked my interest.

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    1. Sarah, Derrick has done a lot of things in his life he's sorry for, but during that war, I know a lot of men did. He's been "lost" his whold life. Carson seems to ground him again once they find each other. And I really love the interplay between Derrick and Charley (Troy's character) too. This book has been so much fun from start to finish. Thanks for coming by! Gotcha entered in the drawing!
      Cheryl

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  10. Michael, if it hadn't been for Troy guiding us all through this, I know it would not have come out like it should and did.
    Cheryl

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  11. Great blog Troy. I've just been catching up. It has been fun living and working in Wolf Creek and getting to know so many interesting characters.

    Keith

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  12. Michael- I was a little worried that such an undertaking would be like herding cats, but everyone has cooperated wonderfully. And I am having the most fun I think I've ever had writing.

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  13. Keith- glad you're catching up, because on Tuesday it's your turn :-)

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  14. Cheryl and Troy, This is one of the best Westerns I've read in a long time! It's amazing how all your distinct voices blended so well into one.

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    1. Kirsten, we had so much fun writing this. I can't wait for book 5, when Carson and Derrick will return once again, along with Derrick's sister, Kathleen. I know Charley Blackfeather, Troy's character, will make an appearance, and not sure who else. I'm looking forward to books 2 and 3 that will be out very soon, too. I really am enjoying getting to know the citizens of Wolf Creek! Thanks for coming by!
      Cheryl

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  15. Kirsten, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Books two and three will be out in time for Christmas, and in my opinion they're just as good!

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  16. I think this is a fabulous idea. The characters are so conflicted and deep that the stories they tell couldn't help but be compelling. Please keep up the great work and ideas.

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    1. This was Troy's brainchild. He did a great job on laying everything out and guiding us along to make it all come out right. But I have to say, I love each and every one of the characters of Wolf Creek--they are all very compelling and different, and it's there stories that all add up together to make one great big "Wolf Creek world" for us to work with! Thanks for stopping by!
      Cheryl

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    2. It was my pleasure. I get excited just thinking about other adventures in 'Wolf Creek'

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  17. I've been looking forward to reading these stories for a long time! Congrats on bringing this project to fruition.

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    1. Jacquie, thanks so much for stopping by and braving the "capchas" to leave your answer. LOL This was a different kind of experience, but it went smoothly and I think we all really enjoyed it. Troy did a great job heading it all up.
      Cheryl

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  18. Glad you enjoy it, hgh- it's only 8:30 and you already made my day.

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  19. And the winner of our giveaway- Renaissance Women! Cheryl will be in contact with you, and congrats.

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  20. Also- While Book 1 is available right now, we're working to get Book 2 out by mid-Nov and Book 3 by Dec. 1, for the Christmas season!

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