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Stuck In My Brain
Pistol Jake follows a legendary bounty hunter with a questionable past who faces off against hardened criminals and corrupt deacons. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
There’s never a simple answer to this type of question, but I’ll give it a try. I became fixated on a single line that popped into my head. “I’m in love with you, and I don’t know what to do about it.” Just that line was stuck in my brain. Then I saw a cowboy standing in a doorway with his back turned to the viewer/reader. I had to craft a reason for him to say those words, and to be standing in a doorway with his back turned to someone he felt this way about.
From there, it essentially became a Lego set of putting pieces together for me to bring this scene to life. There’s always more to the story, but there’s the crux of its beginnings.
What draws you to the western genre?
My grandfather was my hero. He was a hero for all of my siblings and cousins. He watched John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and many classic Westerns with great fervor. He read the works of Louis L’Amour, Zane Grey, and other Western novelists. I grew up surrounded by Westerns, and nostalgia plays a significant role in my affection for the genre.
Also, there’s something mythological about humanity versus the untamed world, or the world as it transitions into being tamed. A world without instant information, where hyper-masculinity and hyper-femininity collide at the edges of law and order, is such a fertile playground for storytelling.
On top of that, they no longer make those John Ford-style Westerns, and I wanted to see a new one enter the conversation. So, I humbly entered Pistol Jake into the chat.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I’ve always been interested in the consequences of revenge. Sometimes, revenge is justified. Other times, grace and forgiveness are what’s needed, and we must forego the quest for vengeance. I wanted to see a world where the primal need for vengeance clashed with the Christian concept of grace, and what kind of messy things would happen when they collided.
Christianity versus Primal was at the center of it all, and not just in the question of revenge. There’s also the primal drive of lust versus Christian sexual reserve, and what does one do when the primal is too hungry to ignore?
In short, I wanted to see those two concepts clashing on multiple fronts and see what responses these characters would have to them. Not to justify or judge, but rather to observe.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Maybe. And I don’t use “maybe” to be evasive or coy. It’s a real “maybe.” I intentionally set it up to allow for more stories to be told, but I can’t promise you I have one fully formulated today. If I get obsessed with another line that I need to build a story around, Pistol Jake 2 will be on the way.
Having said that, I have the beginnings of the story in mind. Without giving away the ending of this book, there are certain alliances made that could prove to be quite entertaining in the future.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Jacob Roy spends his life catching bad guys for a living, yet the public can’t seem to get around his reputation as a killer. Though he prefers to bring in his bounties standing on two feet, many are ignorant enough to test his prowess and end up six feet under. All it takes is an innocent telegram to send him on a quest to test his mettle, right a wrong, and protect something he loves beyond life itself.
Jessie North, a tough, god-fearing widow, has one main goal in life. Keep her ranch healthy, closely watch her untrustworthy son, and make it to a new day. Who knew finding an unfamiliar mound of dirt, breaking up a brawl by the bunkhouse, and a trip into town would lead to the unbelievable?
Deacon is…well, just Deacon. He sports a black hat, carries a razor blade, and the only thing quicker than his draw is his wits. You’ll see.
Come watch the sparks fly in this Wild West adventure where the guns are fast, love comes faster, and no one knows who they can trust.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Finding Manhood in Scotland by Victor Atyas
Viper Island by Cameron K. Moore
The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Survive an Ancient Sorrow by Michael Greenwald
Native Arcana by C.J. Caughman
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
THE MYTHOLOGIES OF THE AMERICAS – A BOOK TRILOGY by Roberto Jimenez
Fleeting Moments, Eternal Memories by Manmohan Sadana
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Chronicles of Iron: Thunder Road
Chronicles of Iron: Thunder Road is a gritty coming-of-age tale set against the harsh backdrop of the American frontier, told through the eyes of young Ian, whose life is upended by the sudden suicide of his father. Thrust into adulthood far too early, Ian’s journey begins with trauma and spirals into a rugged path of survival, heartbreak, and ultimately, redemption. From the rural fields of his childhood to the dust-covered roads of salesman caravans and the unrelenting reality of a cowboy’s life, this book weaves together themes of grief, betrayal, hard-earned wisdom, and the search for belonging. Chilson gives us a western that’s as psychological as it is physical, and that’s where its power lies.
As someone who grew up devouring westerns, I didn’t expect this one to hit me the way it did. The tone is raw and visceral. The pain is real, and the opening chapter sets the foundation for everything that follows. And it ain’t just about survival or gunslinging—this story digs into what it means to grow up hard and fast when the world ain’t offering you a single lifeline. Ian’s descent into guilt and self-blame, followed by his attempts to find work, his failures, and the heartbreak of losing Bess, the horse he cared for, made the story feel more like a psychological duel than a shootout. Yet somehow, it still holds onto that cowboy code of grit and quiet honor.
What really got me was the switch in the second half—from broken boy to sharp-tongued hustler under the wing of Silas. That arc reminded me of the classic western trope of the young buck learning the ropes, except here it’s twisted. Instead of becoming a hero, Ian learns how to manipulate, lie, and cheat—and then pays the price. I wanted to shake him when he betrayed Silas, a man who genuinely gave him a shot. Chilson’s writing is sharp in those parts—not flowery, not dressed up—just bare-boned truth. There’s a beauty in that kind of honesty, the kind of storytelling where every misstep matters.
By the time the story shifts to Henry, a more grounded version of Ian trying to find peace and purpose on a struggling farm, you start to feel the tide turn. The relationship between Henry and Lucas brought it all home. It’s the kind of mentorship that defines a man, built not on words but actions. From fixing busted irrigation systems to fighting off rabid wolves with nothing but grit and a stick, these chapters scream classic western, but with soul. Lucas’s line, “There’s a code… a cowboy code,” resonated with me. It wasn’t just about riding tall or shooting straight. It was about keeping your word, being decent when it costs something, and doing right by others even when no one’s watching.
If you’re a fan of traditional westerns packed with dust, blood, moral gray areas, and characters that stick with you long after the fire’s out, Chronicles of Iron: Thunder Road deserves a place on your shelf. But it’s more than a western—it’s a story about being lost and clawing your way back, about learning that being strong doesn’t mean being cruel. This one’s for readers who appreciate depth in their cowboys, who want a story that punches first and comforts second. Kelly Chilson wrote something real here.
Pages: 87 | ASIN : B0F3V99JWV
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
