Riding into the sunset: Laurie's Wild West

Following up on my intention to feature blogs of interest and a little off the beaten path this week, we're turning now to Laurie Powers' blog: Laurie's Wild West.

Okay, full-disclosure time: Laurie is a buddy of mine. We met years ago when we were both science writers/editors in identical cubicles separated by about 20 feet (of other cubicles, of course). Now, as to why I like Laurie's blog: I enjoy its overall focus (mostly on various aspects of pulp fiction, particularly western pulp fiction, and western history) and the variety of its posts (lost film with Charlie Chaplin; recipe on shrimp and pasta with garlic sauce; a series of posts on the Santa Clarita Valley, home to many movies filmed in the 1910s and 1920s).

Laurie's grandfather, Paul Powers, was a pulp fiction writer from the 1920s - 40s. Laurie discovered his unpublished memoir in a box many years ago (doesn't this just sound like the plot of a movie??) ... The memoir is now published, with a prologue and epilogue written by her. Title: Pulp Writer: Twenty Years in the American Grub Street. I've got my very own copy, and I'm here to say it's a fascinating read and hugely deserves its starred review from Booklist, enthusiastic review from the Los Angeles Times, and other accolades.

If you're interested in pulps, dime novels, the West, and western fiction and film in general (not to mention the occasional yummy recipe), you should mosey on over and take a gander at Laurie's blog.