Banjo Ortega, an old Mexican bandit who hates white people, and Rodney Slugger, a down on his luck white cowboy from Montana, are both men who know they are living relics of the old West. But they must hang onto what they are no matter the hardships. Banjo Ortega is 85 years old and scratches out a living on 80 acres of land in New Mexico that has been in his family for generations. William Cook, the new owner of the 167,000 acre Last Day in Paradise Ranch, wants Banjo's land for a subdivision and fences off a tiny trickle of water that Banjo and his ancestors used to water their few sheep. But Banjo will not sell. They must kill him. Rodney Slugger becomes the foreman of the Last Day in Paradise Ranch and meets Banjo when he has to fix the fence that Banjo keeps cutting so his sheep can drink. What first starts out as hatred slowly turns into a deep friendship. Together they fight the efforts of Mr. Cook and his gangsters to buy Banjo's land. This moving novel about the shrinking west, greed, love, devotion, and murder makes a statement that all mankind should have the right to live the way they choose and can work through their differences.
"How Far The Mountain" is the story of a man, a woman, and a mountain. The woman, from the city, must go to the mountain to discover who she is after her husband's death from cancer. The man, a cowboy, must force himself to go to the mountain and make a shrine from the bones of 'Texas Lady,' the horse his wife was riding when she was killed by lightning. The mountain is only a mountain but, in itself, is the creator of stories more profound than any two peoples' needs. The woman, after her husband's death, is thrown into a world she does not understand. She forces herself to go alone to the mountain in an attempt to chase away the loneliness that tugs at the corners of her heart. The man has spent his life guiding people into the mountains. Now lost, after the mountain has killed his wife, and accompanied by his dog, Gypsy, he returns to the mountain to try and rid himself of the demons that control his every moment. The man and woman both have needs and desires, but life has destroyed their dreams. They both are desperately seeking love but they are afraid to reach out, fearing if they find love it will only end in another tragedy. The man and woman, unknown to each other, start from opposite sides of the mountain toward the same meadow. It is only by chance they see each other in the distance–one waves but one ignores it, afraid of the warmth from a wave. During the man and woman's exodus the mountain spins its history: stories of its beginning, tales of miners, trees so large they touch the heavens, Indians, outlaws, gamblers, dreamers, great bears, thundering storms, bones and circling ravens. «How Far The Mountain» is a quest for the human spirit and a tribute to the earth's healing magic. A novel that will leave you warm and knowing that no matter what tragedy life brings, there is always hope. ROBERT K. SWISHER JR. has been a ranch foreman and a mountain guide. He knows the outdoors and western history, and has successfully combined these interests in stories, poems and novels. He is also the author of «The Land,» «Fatal Destiny,» «Only Magic,» «The Last Narrow Gauge Train Robbery,» «Last Day In Paradise» and «Love Lies Bleeding,» all from Sunstone Press. Of «The Land,» «Publishers Weekly» said: «If there were a category of historical romances written for men, this moving novel would fit the bill.»
They could be your next-door neighbors–Bill Masterson, Ronnie Wild, Riley Page and Frank Cummings–ex-hippies now living outwardly responsible and respectable lives. But these model citizens still yearn for the old days of freedom. Finally they find a way to break out of the mold and do something daring and different: robbing the tourist-crowded narrow gauge train. This completely modern western is filled with humor and sly glances at today’s society. ROBERT K. SWISHER JR. has been a ranch foreman and a mountain guide. An individual who knows the outdoors and western history, he has successfully combined these interests in stories, poems and novels. He is also the author of “The Land,” “Fatal Destiny,” “Only Magic,” “Last Day In Paradise” and “Love Lies Bleeding,” all from Sunstone Press. Of “The Land,” “Publishers Weekly” said: “If there were a category of historical romances written for men, this moving novel would fit the bill.”
Crumbling Indian and Spanish ruins, lost gold and a modern ranch are all part of The Land where centuries of men and women have lived, loved, fought and died. It is a novel of their hopes, dreams of wealth and power, their lust and greed. Symbolic of what this piece of earth means is the spear point made by Silver Moon and cast aside to be found by each successive generation. The spear point fills each possessor with the vision of the past and these ghostly visions have a determining effect on the fate of those who hold it in their hands. In the end, it is this ancient spear point that saves the ranch and its owner from disaster. ROBERT K. SWISHER JR. has been a ranch foreman and a mountain guide. An individual who knows the outdoors and western history, he has successfully combined these interests in stories, poems and novels. He is also the author of “The Last Narrow Gauge Train Robbery,” “Fatal Destiny,” “Only Magic,” “Love Lies Bleeding,” “How Far The Mountain” and “Last Day In Paradise,” all from Sunstone Press.