Picture an American storyteller who roped the wild spirit of the West into gripping novels—meet Dusty Richards! With over 150 Western books, this cowboy-turned-author spun tales as rugged and real as the Arizona plains he called home. From dusty trails to Spur Awards, Richards lived the life he wrote about, blending grit, heart, and history into every page.
Born in Chicago but raised on the ranches of Arizona, Richards wasn’t just a writer—he was a rodeo rider, rancher, and mentor who left a lasso-sized mark on Western literature. Let’s saddle up and explore his journey!
The Making of Dusty Richards
Born Ronald Lee Richards on November 11, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, Dusty got his nickname early and it stuck like burrs on a saddle. At 13, his family moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he found his paradise: horses, ranches, and rodeos. By seven, he was watching calves branded at Washington’s Peterson Ranch, dreaming of cowboy life. Despite his mother’s fears he’d become an “old cowboy bum,” Richards soaked up Western novels, even sitting on Zane Grey’s cabin stoop, vowing to join his idol on bookshelves. After earning a B.S. from Arizona State University in 1960, he worked as a rancher, auctioneer, rodeo announcer, and TV anchor before his first novel, Noble’s Way, hit shelves in 1992.
Dusty Richards’s Unforgettable Stories
Richards’s novels are like a campfire tale—raw, vivid, and steeped in the American West. His stories weave history with hard-riding heroes, drawing from diaries and primary sources for authenticity. The Horse Creek Incident (2006), a tale of a Montana rancher battling a ruthless cattle baron, won a Spur Award for its gripping stakes. Comanche Moon (2007), a short story of frontier survival, nabbed another Spur that same year—a rare double win. The Byrnes Family Ranch series, starting with Texas Blood Feud (2009), follows Chet Byrnes taming Arizona’s wilds, blending family drama and gunfights. The Mustanger and the Lady (2015), his 150th book, became the film Painted Woman, showcasing his cinematic flair.
His style? Think Elmer Kelton’s grit with Jodi Thomas’s heart. Richards’s West feels alive— Whether it’s a cattle drive or a showdown, his prose gallops, grounded in his own ranching and rodeo days. History drives his plots—telegraph lines, Mexican revolutionaries, or post-Civil War tensions—making every tale a time machine to the frontier.
Why Dusty Richards Matters
Dusty Richards didn’t just write Westerns; he lived them, and his legacy ropes in readers and writers alike. His 150+ novels preserved the West’s spirit, earning him the 2010 Will Rogers Medallion and a 2009 National Cowboy Hall of Fame honor. As a mentor, he shaped countless authors through the Arkansas Writers’ Conference and Northwest Arkansas Writers, sharing wisdom with a grin. His death in 2018, following a car accident that also claimed his wife, Pat, left a void, but his stories endure, as timeless as a desert sunset.
About Dusty Richards
- Born: November 11, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois
- Key Works: The Horse Creek Incident, Texas Blood Feud, The Mustanger and the Lady
- Awards: Two Spur Awards (2007), Will Rogers Medallion (2010)
- Fun Fact: He once promised Zane Grey’s ghost he’d make it as a Western author!
Ready to ride into the sunset? Snag The Horse Creek Incident and gallop through Dusty Richards’s rugged, heartfelt West!