A myth-busting novel about America’s most infamous and beloved outlaw, Billy the Kid, from a critically acclaimed historical novelist According to legend, Billy the Kid killed twenty-one men, one for every year of his short life; stole from wealthy cattle barons to give to the po∨ and wooed just about every senorita in the American Southwest. In Lucky Billy, John Vernon digs deeply into the historical record to find a truth more remarkable than the legend, and draws a fresh, nuanced portrait of this outlaw’s dramatic and violent life. Billy the Kid met his celebrated end at the hands of Pat Garrett, his one-time carousing partner turned sheriff, who tracked Billy down after the jail break that made him famous. In Vernon’s telling, the crucial event of Billy’s life was the Lincoln County War, a conflict between a ring of Irishmen in control of Lincoln, New Mexico, and a newcomer from England, John Tunstall, who wanted to break their grip on the town. Billy signed on with Tunstall. The conflict spun out of control with Tunstall’s murder, and in a series of revenge killings, an obscure hired gunman called Kid Antrim became Billy the Kid. Besides a full complement of gunfights, jail breaks, and bawdy behavior, Lucky Billy is a provocative picture of the West at a critical juncture between old and new. It is also a portrait of an American icon made human, caught in the middle, more lost than brave, more nadve than principled, more of an accidental survivor than simply the cold-blooded killer of American myth.

A myth-busting novel about America’s most infamous and beloved outlaw, Billy the Kid, from a critically acclaimed historical novelist According to legend, Billy the Kid killed twenty-one men, one for every year of his short life; stole from wealthy cattle barons to give to the poor; and wooed just about every senorita in the American Southwest. In Lucky Billy, John Vernon digs deeply into the historical record to find a truth more remarkable than the legend, and draws a fresh, nuanced portrait of this outlaw’s dramatic and violent life. Billy the Kid met his celebrated end at the hands of Pat Garrett, his one-time carousing partner turned sheriff, who tracked Billy down after the jail break that made him famous. In Vernon’s telling, the crucial event of Billy’s life was the Lincoln County War, a conflict between a ring of Irishmen in control of Lincoln, New Mexico, and a newcomer from England, John Tunstall, who wanted to break their grip on the town. Billy signed on with Tunstall. The conflict spun out of control with Tunstall’s murder, and in a series of revenge killings, an obscure hired gunman called Kid Antrim became Billy the Kid. Besides a full complement of gunfights, jail breaks, and bawdy behavior, Lucky Billy is a provocative picture of the West at a critical juncture between old and new. It is also a portrait of an American icon made human, caught in the middle, more lost than brave, more nadve than principled, more of an accidental survivor than simply the cold-blooded killer of American myth.

Was It Luck or Destiny? The Incredible, True Story of Billy Earl Beaty by Billy Earl Beaty Nine broken bones, six confirmed concussions, and several close brushes with death have left Billy Earl Beaty wondering how he’s still alive. He truly believes God’s angels have protected him, and he’s kept them busy — whether from stupid things he did or stupid things done to him. Come along with Beaty as he retells the adventures of his life, including an attack from ground hornets, leaping from a speeding boat, falling thirty feet from a roof, and several scary close calls while driving. At the end of his story, you might come to believe as the author does — that God loves everyone, whether saint or sinner.

How many people have coveted their neighbour’s big premium bond win? How many have thought how lucky someone is for winning big on the National Lottery? How many, do you think, have just wished that they had more good luck in their lives? Eight people have had all these thoughts. What these eight people don’t realise is that the quicker they use up their good luck, the nearer they are to having a shed load of bad luck. What they also don’t realise is that once they have maxed out on good luck, their ultimate outlook is not what they expect… In more ways than they care to imagine! Playing an on-line game, the eight finalists don’t know that if they lose the game, they die. Something else they don’t know is that if they win the game, they die. Either way, they’re dead... Born in Sheffield in 1950, Bill is now retired and lives with Sheila, his wife of over fifty-three years. In 1966, at the age of 15½, he joined the army and enjoyed many overseas postings, with tours in Northern Ireland, France, Cyprus, Kenya, Iran, Bermuda and the USA. He culminated his Army career in 1977 as an instructor at his regiment’s depot. Since leaving the army, Bill has been a television and film extra and has been employed as a surveyor, lecturer, technical adviser to an insurer and, just prior to retirement, as a self employed health and safety consultant. Bill is a published author and is also a published music composer and arranger.