The Outlaws of Devil's Den

The Outlaws of Devil's Den is the 3rd book in the Westward Series by Harry Simpson. Introduction I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, with no television, and way before the advent of personal computers and cell phones. I was blessed to live with two loving parents, both of whom enjoyed reading and also encouraged me to read. My paternal grandfather introduced me to the wonderful world of the west. He had lived in a world that I could only dream about, but I was hooked, not only to a lifetime of reading, but with a lean towards the Western genre. He also introduced me to the children's card game, Authors, so it was not a surprise that I fell in love with stories by James Fennimore Cooper, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and a host of the other great authors. Throughout my life, I have read many fictional books and grew to appreciate the storytelling skills of many authors, across many genres. I found my real interest was the storytellers of Westerns, but especially Louis L'Amour. My list of favorite authors is actually quite long, because a lifetime of reading has exposed me to so many who intrigue with their imagination and storytelling. What a wonderful pastime reading has provided me! Reading not only provides freedom from life's realities, but also allows me to see the world through an author's mind and to appreciate their individual skill of using the English language. I am concerned that many in the younger generations will never experience what I have, because their world revolves around their cell phones and Facebook, etc. What a loss to society it would be if the tradition of storytellers ever comes to an end. My wish is that my stories are enjoyed by others and maybe the spark for a future storyteller is ignited. Following is a Louis L'Amour quote that probably is what all authors strive to achieve: "I think of myself in the oral tradition-as a troubadour, a village taleteller, the man in the shadows of the campfire. That's the way I want to be remembered-as a storyteller. A good storyteller." Another great western author, William W. Johnstone, answered as follows when asked why Westerns are as popular now as they were a century ago: "The Western is one of the few true art forms that is one hundred percent American. I liken the Western as America's version of England's Arthurian legends like the Knights of the Round Table, or Robin Hood and his Merry Men. The Western has helped to shape the cultural landscape of America. The Western is honest. In this great country, which is suffering under the yoke of political correctness, the Western harks back to an era when justice was sure and swift. ... one size fits all." Our current high-tech world provides us with virtually real-time information, but without taking the time to verify it accuracy. This lack of verification results in either partial truths or outright lies. The simple right versus wrong conflict depicted in a Western is the underflow current of America exemplified by the rush of men and women to sacrifice for their country during World War I and World War II. This is the example of patriotism that is the common thread for our country's greatness. To me, keeping the Western alive is a way to remember the world that made America so unique.
About the Author: Harry Simpson is a storyteller, blending experiences from his own childhood with his love of the wild west. He was born in 1942 and grew up in eastern Colorado during the unique 1950's. One of Harry's fondest childhood memories was sitting on his grandfather's knee with his brother and listening to tales of the Wild West from books as well as from their grandfather's own cowboy experiences. Seeds had been planted to form not only a life long hobby to read, but also a secret desire to join the vanguard of storytellers.