Author: charlesray45

I've been writing fiction since I was 12, and long before that, I was making up stories in my mind and to entertain my younger brothers and sisters.
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Fan mail

Writers write to be read, especially those who write in the western genre. The one thing western writers don’t think of, because they don’t get it, is fan mail. I do get the occasional email, one or two a year, from someone who got it off my blog or my Amazon author page–half of them complaining about something–but an actual fan letter . . . well, I’d say never–until now.

A reader in North Carolina, who is reading Hell Fury, a western I co-authored with Harvey Woods, sent me a nice fan letter along with two posters he’d made of characters in the story. One poster he wanted me to autograph and send back and the other was a thank-you gift. Now, that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, and my thanks and heart go out to him.

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Charles Ray Pens New Guidebook to Help Would-Be Western Authors

Charles Ray Pens New Guidebook To Help Would-Be Western Authors

April 11, 2024|Authors, DSP Articles

After years of the asking—Charles Ray has finally done it. He has penned his first writing guide for would-be Western authors with all the hints, tips and tricks a top selling Western author can come up with to help new writers on their writing journey.

With the Western going through something of a rebirth, it seemed to be just the right time for an author to put together a guide to writing Westerns for the modern audience. The guide is certainly not definitive and doesn’t promote itself as such—it is a starting place for those who are interested in riding down a trail that will lead them in front of a growing and vibrant new audience.

With more readers tuning back into the Western genre each and every day, it was inevitable that a guide such as ““How To Write Westerns For The Modern Reader” would be released—and we are proud that the first writing guide of its kind will be released by DSP and was penned by Charles Ray, a mainstay in the top one hundred bestseller list with his popular series, including “Jacob Blade: Vigilante,” “Caleb Johnson: Mountain Man” and “Rusty Rhodes.”

“This is a book we will be giving to all of our new signings,” DSP Chief Publicist Nick Wale explained when asked about the writing guide. “‘How To Write Westerns For The Modern Reader’ should help all authors get off on the right foot and write books that will connect almost immediately with our readership.”

“How To Write Westerns For The Modern Reader” will be released next week and will be available as a Kindle e-Book from Amazon.

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New series coming to DSP

DSP is always coming up with something new for readers. The next great project is one that I’m honored to be working on, an epic saga of Texas from the viewpoint of a family that settles there shortly after it becomes a republic.

Life of a Texan: A Family Story will follow a family thar moves from Missouri from generation to generation and is sure to please veteran western fans and newcomers alike.  The first books will be published in April 2024. Copies of the covers are shown below.

 

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AIA Publishing Name Change

On the 25th of April 2024, the hybrid publisher AIA Publishing (AIAP) is changing its name to Alkira Publishing because an American business is using the name AIA Publishing and has not stopped despite several requests to do so. Unfortunately, the other business using the name lacks integrity to the point that some are calling them a scam, and that’s not good for a business if people can’t differentiate them. Many emails from their clients and even a poor review on Google Business from someone AIAP never worked with indicate that there is confusion and that it’s beginning to affect AIAP’s reputation.

Added to that, the AI in AIA Publishing could be seen as being related to Artificial Intelligence, and that’s not at all relevant to a brand that prides itself on their real human care for their authors.

The word Alkira in the new name, Alkira Publishing, is an Australian Aboriginal word that means bright, sunny or happy place, and that describes Alkira Publishing well. The managing editor, Tahlia Newland, says that she thinks of their business as a happy refuge for authors trying to navigate the sometimes shark-infested waters of independent publishing.

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An honor from DSP

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award goes to one of our oldest and most successful authors, Charles Ray. Charles was one of the first signings with DSP, and we are proud to give him this award in recognition of all the work he has done with our company, all of the books he has written for the company, and for all of his many achievements with DSP.

Thank you so much, Charles Ray! From Dusty Saddle Publishing.

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DSP Lifetime Achievement Award

We have some breaking news to bring you this evening, and cause for celebration for one of our fan-favorite authors!
Can you join us in congratulating Charles Ray who will be the first recipient of the DSP Lifetime Achievement Award in May.
It’s easy to see why when he’s one of our most prolific authors. A consistent number-one bestseller—a feat he’s managed in multiple genres, too. There’s more to him than a Western, he’s found success with Science Fiction and Horror titles as well.
Ray has been at the heart of some of our most prestigious titles and co-writes. He’s been part of the DSP family for a long time, and throughout he’s been nothing short of a highly talented and versatile storyteller.
It’s an honor for us to bestow the first DSP Lifetime Achievement Award upon him, and we wish him continued success.
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