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The Old West
Blessed Are the Peacemakers follows an outlaw turned preacher who heads to a gold camp in Alaska to start a church. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In 1972, our family moved to Alaska to do missionary work. One day in Church, I realized one of the Beatitudes, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’, would be a great title for a Western. I wrote it down in my journal. Finally, last year in 2023, I sat down and started writing it.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
In all the Western movies I’ve seen while growing up, the town preachers turned out to be either a Caspar Milquetoast or a bad guy. Someone who was timid and didn’t believe in deadly force to protect his family or the town, or someone who was out to take all they could get. The scriptures say a man who doesn’t provide for his own is worse than an infidel. That includes protection. Why can’t a preacher who is good with a gun be a good guy?
What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a thrilling period piece?
I have always been interested in the history of the Old West and the Mountain Man era. I grew up in Fairbanks Alaska, an old gold rush town turned modern. I became interested in Fairbanks’s history.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
More exploits of Coy Tucker, in Blessed Are the Peacemakers. Hopefully out by the summer of 2004.
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Bob Duelin and his rag-tag gang of thieves and cut-throats have other plans, and Coy must walk through hell on earth.
Will the preacher outlive the haunting memories of his past? And more importantly, survive long enough to establish the church that God has called him to do?
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
In Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Russell M. Chace delivers an engaging tale that intertwines redemption, courage, and the intricacies of life on the American frontier. Set against the raw backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, the novel brings to life an era marked by steamboats and gold rushes, populated by characters as rugged as the landscape itself.
Chace employs an evocative writing style that effectively transports readers to the harsh yet vibrant world of lawless territories. The book opens with heart-pounding action and eases into the reflective challenges Coy Tucker, the protagonist, faces. Throughout the story, Tucker, a former gunslinger haunted by his past, evolves into a preacher determined to establish a church and foster peace within a chaotic mining camp. The characters in the story are meticulously crafted, each embodying their unique desires, imperfections, and dreams. Tucker’s journey is particularly compelling, reflecting a significant transformation influenced by his interactions with other characters, such as the enigmatic Colorado Kid. These relationships enrich the narrative, adding complexity and intrigue. The depiction of the Alaskan frontier is both vivid and atmospheric, capturing the brutal beauty of the environment. Chace’s descriptions create a palpable sense of place, drawing readers into a setting where survival hinges on both physical and mental fortitude. This book stands out for its thoughtful exploration of themes such as justice, redemption, and community. Through Tucker’s personal evolution, the novel probes the moral dilemmas that accompany a change in life’s direction.
This novel is a well-crafted addition to the Western genre, offering a story that resonates with anyone interested in historical fiction marked by rich storytelling and immersive settings. Russell M. Chace’s Blessed Are the Peacemakers is not just a journey through the American frontier; it is an exploration of the human spirit.
Pages: 153 | ASIN : B0C4K2ZLZL
LITERARY TITAN 