Westerns for women

[Divia]

As we all know Louis L' Amour is the master of westerns. Well, I want something a bit more...feminine. I read and LOVED the Personal history of Rachel Dupree and was wondering if there was anything along those lines. Hell, I'd even read about a female outlaw(that would be fun).

I dont want westerns that are written for men by men. So please don't suggest them.

[MLE]

You would like These is My Words: the Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine
by Nancy turner. 256 five star reviews out of 297 total, so apparently others liked it as much as I did. To my surprise, I saw the writeup from School Library Journal was calling it YA. I seem to remember rather more sex in it--or maybe some of the content from Ride the Wind has come unattached from one book (in my malleable memory) and gone to another. That one is more Native American than Western but you would probably like it as well.

[LoveHistory]

I'll let you know when I finish my western version of Pride & Prejudice. ;)

[Misfit]

Are you looking for "true" westerns, or books with western settings?

[Ariadne]

Nancy Turner's novels are outstanding. Another western writer whose works I'd recommend is Jane Candia Coleman.

[Divia]

Are you looking for "true" westerns, or books with western settings?
Fiction only please.

[Misfit]

Fiction only please.

I was thinking *true* westerns as opposed to HF novels set in the West. So if I out of line feel free to slap me ;):p

I believe Lucia Claire Robinson has written some with western settings, but I've not tried them yet. Her website: http://www.luciastclairrobson.com/Books.htm

I liked the Proud Breed by Celeste de Blasis a lot, but set in old California.

There's also Paint the Wind by Cathy Cash Spellman. A bit romancey but still a lot of fun. Mostly set in Colorado.

[EC2]

There's also Paint the Wind by Cathy Cash Spellman. A bit romancey but still a lot of fun. Mostly set in Colorado.

Oh, seconded Paint the Wind. I really enjoyed that one.

Edited to say that I enjoy westerns, but am happy with blokey ones too.

If you can get them through inter-library loans, take a look at Jeanne Williams. A Lady Bought with Rifles, and A Woman Clothed in Sun, or Home Mountain.

[MLE]

Thanks for the brain-jump, Misfit. Lucia St. Clair Robinson is the lady who wrote Ride the Wind. Not to be confused with Paint the Wind. Wind seems to be a popular word in western titles.

[Elizabeth]

There's Gwen Bristow (Calico Palace, Jubilee Trail, Celia Garth)... these have been brought out in new editions recently by Chicago Review Press. I treasure my tatty old paperback copies.

Penelope Williamson is very good on the romance side. Ann Parker's Silver Rush mysteries (Silver Lies, Iron Ties, Leaden Skies) are set in Leadville, Colorado in the 1870s, if you'd like a taste of mystery with your wild west.

And don't forget the wonderful The Ballad of Cat Ballou by Roy Chanslor. NOTHING like the movie, and definitely your female outlaw. :)

[Misfit]

There's Gwen Bristow (Calico Palace, Jubilee Trail, Celia Garth)... these have been brought out in new editions recently by Chicago Review Press. I treasure my tatty old paperback copies.

Penelope Williamson is very good on the romance side. Ann Parker's Silver Rush mysteries (Silver Lies, Iron Ties, Leaden Skies) are set in Leadville, Colorado in the 1870s, if you'd like a taste of mystery with your wild west.

And don't forget the wonderful The Ballad of Cat Ballou by Roy Chanslor. NOTHING like the movie, and definitely your female outlaw. :)

I adore Bristow, but I'm fairly sure she won't appeal to Divia.

I did track down a copy of Cat Ballou. Very different from the movie, I'll agree with you there.

[Ariadne]

If you can get them through inter-library loans, take a look at Jeanne Williams. A Lady Bought with Rifles, and A Woman Clothed in Sun, or Home Mountain.

I'm pleased you've also read Jeanne Williams! She was a favorite author of mine growing up. Many of hers were marketed as romances in the '80s but really aren't. My pick among her books is the Arizona Saga, beginning with The Valiant Women.

[fljustice]

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende has significant portions set in Gold Rush California. Not sure that qualifies as "Western," but I always thought so. I quite enjoyed it.

[chuck]

Few months ago I read a great book by Gil Adamson's "The Outlander".....Excellent story about a young Widow on the run through the Western Canadian Rockies and another one called "Ashland" which I have not read..... Check out her reviews......

[annis]

You might like Larry McMurtry's Buffalo Girls (http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Girls-Novel-Larry-McMurtry/dp/0743216296)- the central character is Calamity Jane.

I was very taken with Outlander, too, Chuck. It's a haunting novel.
I started a thread about it somewhere- here it is:
http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=808&highlight=ADAMSON

I think Ashworth is a collection of poetry rather than a novel. It took Adamson 10 years to complete Outlander, so goodness knows when we can next expect another novel from her!

[Ludmilla]

I read Karen Fisher's A Sudden Country a few weeks ago. It's about the 1840s migration to Oregon. The writing style tends toward the literary, with some stream of consciousness and such (not sure if you hate that or not).

I know you don't like male authors, but Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose is so very, very good, I'll recommend it anyway. (there's a very memorable female protagonist in this one).

Have you read any Willa Cather? Some of her novels might appeal.

Love History said: I'll let you know when I finish my western version of Pride & Prejudice.

Sounds fun!

[Elizabeth]

Another possibility is Elizabeth Crook. THE RAVEN'S BRIDE and PROMISED LANDS are straight historicals; THE NIGHT JOURNAL is a dual-time story.