Charles G. West, author of historical/westerns, arrived on the western literary scene in March, 1998 with a novel entitled STONE HAND. Since then West has written forty-one western novels, published by The Penguin Group under their Signet imprint. STONE HAND was not the author's first published book, however. That distinction goes to a medical thriller entitled THE TENANT.West's love affair with the Big Sky Country began when he was a child, reading the works of authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher. When finally given the opportunity to write his own version of the Great American Western, he strived to write with honesty about the hardships and dangers faced by the men and women who forged our western frontier. To remain true to this resolve, a great deal of time must be invested in research of people, places, and events. Protagonists are often called upon to perform heroically, but the author insists they must be believable. His next book will be on the shelves in December 2012.West currently lives in Ocala, FL with his wife, portrait artist, Ronda West, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.