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It Was a Wild Time
Ethan Tucker’s Job follows an ex-soldier turned reluctant lawman who is tasked with tracking down a dangerous outlaw and his mission is complicated by old friends, new enemies, and his own inner demons. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in central and south Florida and I often heard stories from long ago about lawless towns like Pine Level or wild cattle towns. When I decided to write a western style story, I thought 1850s Florida would be a great setting. It may not be as romanticized as the Old West, but I liked it and it helped serve the main theme of the story. It was a wild time and I couldn’t think of a better place for Ethan to get into trouble while fighting his past.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
It depends. Ethan Tucker’s Job explores temptation and whether people can really change. I used the wild south Florida frontier as a test for Ethan. It was his opportunity to prove to himself and others that he could change, if he desired. It’s that inner struggle that the character deals with that makes for great fiction.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I think one of the biggest themes explored in this story is the fact that everyone can change if they are willing to do so. Take Ethan Tucker for example. He spent a good portion of his younger years in the wilds of south Florida. He enjoyed his lifestyle where he was fighting Indians, gambling and drinking in cattle towns where there was little to no law, and he often proved how tough he was through duels. Sometime after the Second Seminole War, Ethan returned to Tallahassee and tried to settle down, but his past continued to catch up with him in the years leading up to the Third Seminole War. When he again returns to south Florida to pursue Alaster Conley, Ethan has the opportunity to prove to himself, and others, that he has changed when he is tempted to revert to his old ways throughout the story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I venture far out of 1850s Florida in my next book, A Struggle Between Two Worlds. It takes place in the near future and it has been a lot of fun planning. I would like to have it out some time in July or August. I will keep everyone updated on my socials.
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Ethan Tucker’s Job
Ethan Tucker’s Job is a gripping historical novel that plunges readers into the heart of 19th-century Florida. The book follows Ethan Tucker, a rugged ex-soldier turned reluctant lawman, as he is strong-armed into tracking down a dangerous outlaw, Alaster Conley. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, Ethan’s journey is more than just a manhunt—it’s a deeply personal struggle between duty, morality, and the ghosts of his past. As he ventures deeper into the Florida frontier, his mission to bring Conley to justice is complicated by old friends, new enemies, and his own inner demons.
What really stood out to me about Ethan Tucker’s Job is the way Hayes writes action. The book opens with a cinematic, tension-filled scene at a saloon that immediately sets the tone. The shootouts are quick and brutal, the betrayals sting, and the quiet moments carry the weight of a life hard-lived. Hayes does a great job making the world feel real without bogging it down with unnecessary descriptions. The dialogue, especially between Ethan and his former militia buddy, Aiden Sage, crackles with life and keeps the pacing tight. It’s also refreshing to see historical fiction set in Florida’s wild frontier, a setting that isn’t as overdone as the classic Western landscapes of Texas or Arizona.
Some of the book’s emotional beats hit harder than others. Ethan’s struggle with his wife, Faith, is one of the more compelling aspects of the novel. The tension between them is palpable—her disappointment, his regret, and the deep frustration that they can’t seem to bridge the gap between them. The scene where Faith shoves his old pepperbox pistol back into his hands, basically telling him that he’s never going to change, hit me hard. It’s raw, and it’s one of the moments that make Ethan more than just a tough-guy soldier.
Ethan Tucker’s Job is a great read for fans of historical fiction, Westerns, and action-packed storytelling. If you love morally complex protagonists, intense gunfights, and a setting that feels alive with history, this book is definitely worth picking up. It’s gritty, well-paced, and carries just the right amount of heart to make it stick with you after you’ve turned the last page.
Page: 96 | ASIN : B0DYGDKP7Q
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