![Lee Martin](https://cdn.magzter.com/1442267826/1654630458/articles/6S0zrRrGL1656419607484/Lee-Martin.jpg)
When Western novelist and screen writer Lee Martin visited the set of Shadow on the Mesa, the first film based on one of her books, the cast and crew were astonished to meet the author. "When my sweetheart and I went to the location, they all thought he was Lee Martin. One of those crusty old guys almost swallowed his cigarette. But [leading man] Kevin Sorbo didn't bat an eye when he saw that I was female; he was very gracious. I've always wanted him to be in my Westerns; he's attached to Hang Town right now, when we get the funds."
For the author of 28 Western novels, with three Western movies made, the romance and mystery of the West was a perfect fit. "My father came to California on horseback. He was part Cherokee and French and German. He worked on different cattle ranches. And he had a cattle ranch at the end. We lost him when we were young, so my brothers became my heroes, and they are probably in some of my novels. My sister and I followed them around the rodeos."
Martin hasn't been influenced by any particular Western authors. "Actually, I was influenced by movies, all the Westerns, and John Wayne especially. In third grade I started writing stories in spiral notebooks. I didn't decide to be a writer: I never had a choice. I just began writing stories because they were in me and had to come out. When I write, even now, it's spontaneous, without planning; and sometimes the hero demands it."
Denne historien er fra July - August 2022-utgaven av True West.
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Denne historien er fra July - August 2022-utgaven av True West.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Hero of Horsepower - Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/lWmYBlKzF1720076777256/crp_Hammel-Martin-Aguirre-LA-County-History-police-history-William-Hammel-cars-patrol-history-West-Wild-West-road-vehicles-first-patrol-cars-Los-Angeles-Billy-Hammel.jpg)
Hero of Horsepower - Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
![From the Basin to the Plains](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/5dfn8eJi11720079052924/FROM-THE-BASIN-TO-THE-PLAINS.jpg)
From the Basin to the Plains
Discover Wyoming on a road trip to Cody, Casper and Cheyenne.
![COLLECTING AMERICAN OUTLAWS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/fsqS_fxNC1720078905439/COLLECTING-AMERICAN-OUTLAWS.jpg)
COLLECTING AMERICAN OUTLAWS
Wilbur Zink has preserved the Younger Gang's history in more ways than one.
![Spencer's West](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/_gsbUH-vM1720078662546/SPENCERS-WEST.jpg)
Spencer's West
After the Civil War, savvy frontiersmen chose the Spencer repeating carbine.
![Firearms With a Storied Past](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/WTZwGkPPG1720078507684/FIREARMS-WITH-A-STORIED-PAST.jpg)
Firearms With a Storied Past
Rock Island gavels off high profits from historic firearms.
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She Means Business!
An energetic and ambitious woman has come to Lincoln, New Mexico, to restore the town's legendary Ellis Store.
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Where Did the Loot Go?
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist?
![Ride that Train!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/fSwXIHk2j1720077702685/RIDE-THAT-TRAIN.jpg)
Ride that Train!
HERITAGE RAILROADS KEEP THE OLD WEST ALIVE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
![Saddle Up with a Western](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/CuHNSIebs1720077108988/SADDLE-UP-WITH-A-WESTERN.jpg)
Saddle Up with a Western
Old West fiction and nonfiction are the perfect genres to fill your summer reading list.
![RENEGADES OF THE RAILS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/ml5ITwFz71720076503732/RENEGADES-OF-THE-RAILS.jpg)
RENEGADES OF THE RAILS
RAILROADS WERE OPEN SEASON FOR OKLAHOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORY OUTLAW GANGS.