Richards, Dusty 1937-

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RICHARDS, Dusty 1937-

PERSONAL: Born November 11, 1937, in Chicago, IL; son of John C. Richards (a stationary engineer); married Patricia A. Donahoe (a registered nurse), June 5, 1961; children: Rhonda Richards Albrecht, Anna Richards Barnes. Ethnicity: "Dutch-Irish." Education: Arizona State University, B.S., 1960. Politics: "Voter." Religion: "Cows for Christ." Hobbies and other interests: Trout fishing.

ADDRESSES: Home—21319 Perry Rd., Springdale, AR 72762; P.O. Box 8460, Springdale, AR 72766. E-mail—dust@ipa.net.

CAREER: Teacher at public schools in Huntsville, AR, 1960-61; farmer, 1961-63; Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR, member of management staff, 1963-96; fiction writer, 1996—. KFAY-TV, farm director, 1977-96, television anchor, 1990-96. Ozark Electric Cooperative, member of board of directors, 1985—; Rodeo of the Ozarks, director; Ozark Creative Writers Conference, director; auctioneer licensed by the state of Arkansas. Military service: U.S. Air Force Reserve, 1961-68; became sergeant.

MEMBER: International Professional Rodeo Association, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Western Writers of America (member of board of directors), Ozark Writers League, Arkansas Cattlemen.

AWARDS, HONORS: Book of the year award, Oklahoma Writers Federation, 2003, for The Natural.

WRITINGS:

Noble's Way (western novel), M. Evans (New York, NY), 1991.

Hell to Breakfast (western novel), Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1992.

The Cut of Your Clothes (western novel), Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1993.

The Lawless Land (western novel), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2000.

Servant of the Law (western novel), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2001.

The Natural (rodeo novel), Signet (New York, NY), 2002.

Deuces Wild, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Aces High, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Abinene Trail, Signet (New York, NY), 2004.

(Co-author) Ralph Compton, The Ogallala Trail, Signet (New York, NY), 2005.

Author of quarterly column for Storyteller. Also author of several dozen short stories.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Queen High, for Pocket Books; Trail to Fort Smith, for Signet (New York, NY); research for a short story to be included in a collection about the Texas Rangers.

SIDELIGHTS: Dusty Richards told CA: "I have read about the west for years. I read western history and have a great library, including diaries and self-published books by real folks. I consider myself a storyteller, but to write fiction is an all-new process. You must become a wordsmith: learn all you can about words and how to use them. Prose can be demanding, but if you have the tenacity, seek good advice, and never give up, you can reach acceptance. The road to publication is paved with quitters, so don't ever give up on the dream."