WeWriWa: An Untarnished Hero

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Sunday, January 10, 2021

WeWriWa: An Untarnished Hero


I grew up watching Westerns with my dad (who was MY hero!). I adored those strong, silent types who stood for good and demolished evil (by the end of each episode!) to rescue the girl, the dog, and the town before riding off into the sunset. Sigh . . . I often wondered what would become of that modern day hero if he stayed put, married the girl, and established roots beside her. How would he adapt to a life so different from the way he’d made his living? Jimmy Redbone, the stoic hero in my new WIP is that guy who, as a U.S. Marshal, dedicates his every waking hour to the service of his badge. Until he meets Willamina Sayers, a rancher’s daughter who’s determined to be that girl who won’t be left behind. Here’s a continued look at our hero’s rather single-dimensional life up until that fateful meeting . . .

During his years of lonely and more than a little dangerous duty, he’d had work associates, not friends. In four days, Jimmy felt closer to ranch foreman, Matteo Ramos than the agents he’d stood beside - some for better than a decade.

He’d lived detail to detail and didn’t own anything permanent except July. With no expensive habits to speak of, everything he made went into the bank. He woke up, showered, picked up his badge and gun and went to work. When on protective duty, he lived from cheap hotel room to rathole motel room on the road with folks who tried to bribe him, seduce him, or escape him while he did his best to keep them alive. He was a shield for the scum of the earth, a babysitter for drug addicts, money launderers and mobsters. Helluva good way for someone like him to make a living. But no way to build a life.

Willamina Sayers had been the exception, he admitted to himself, drawing in a deep, cleansing breath.

I’m so loving this story, having just reached the end of the first draft. What fun I’m having taking some of the shine off that unblemished surface! After angsting over a suitable title since Chapter Four so I can start thinking about promo (I know it’s a way down the road, but it’s never too early to start!), I finally found one that doesn’t show up a dozen times in an Amazon search. What do you think of AN UNTARNISHED HERO

While I take a short breather before starting the first round of revising, I look forward to seeing what you’re up to in your creative endeavors and how the new year is treating you so far.

Happy Not 2020 and Happy Writing, fellow Warriors!!


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

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29 comments

  1. I like the untarnished hero already. This was a great glimpse into what makes him tick--and a nice bit of info about Willamina.

    Recently I went down the rabbit hole with Longmire, bingeing way too many episodes. I am so ready for a good western!

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    1. Thanks, Teresa!! My Longmire binge was EPIC!! It followed Yellowstone down that path to wanting to write about the west again.

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  2. I watched all those TV shows and movies with my dad too. Also, he read Zane Grey. Loads of memories. Nice snippet. I kinda like your 'untarnished' hero.

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    1. Thanks, Sue! I read my dad's pulp westerns as well as ZG.

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  3. Love the title. Great description for the man. Longmire is a show that both Hubs & I enjoy. That's so exciting you finished the 1st draft. WTG, girl.

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    1. I'm waiting for you to catch up . . . so get writing!!

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  4. That definitely sounds like a very lonely life. I hope he can hang on to Willamina!

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    1. I think the odds are in his favor - but he'll have to work for it.

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  5. I like your descriptions as you show us his life. For the title, I would probably drop the "An" and just go with "Untarnished Hero". I'm terrible at titles though, so...

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  6. I like it! I grew up reading my uncle's second hand Louis L'amour books, so I've got a soft spot for those steely eyed, squared jawed heroes. I look forward to how you'll torture the poor guy ;)

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  7. You do a great job of showing the hero's pain. Definitely someone I want to get to know better.

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    1. The getting to know you phase has certainly been fun and surprising!

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  8. Isn't it a lot more fun to write a story when you LOVE it.
    A lot of the hero came through in this little snippet.
    Tweeted.

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    1. Nothing worse than sitting down to the computer, opening the file and thinking of it the way you do that bothersome neighbor that you hide from to avoid a conversation.

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  9. Enjoyed the snippet and the title seems fine...he's certainly an intriguing hero.

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  10. I think this is my favorite snippet so far from this book. It gives such vivid insight into his devotion to duty and the cost that entails. Thumbs up!

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  11. He's lived a lonely life, but it seems as though there have been a few bright spots in it.

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  12. You give us an excellent picture of him and his life--and the importance Willamina has for him. Great character and great title!

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  13. I'm intrigued with what you revealed so far about this guy and want to know more.

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  14. Poor Willamina. It must be pretty tough for him to change his ways after so long alone.

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  15. Intriguing character. Probably will be hard for him to ride off into the sunset with her behind.

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