The day I told Matt Cunningham I was writing a few stories about a mountain man by the name of Zebadiah Creed, I had no idea that six years later I would publish my first book of a series to a national audience. That day, Matt told me that his grandfather wrote westerns (along with many other kind of books) and had been making a living writing most of his life right here in San Diego. Matt casually mentioned that he might want to read my stories. Six months later, I got up the nerve and sent Chet Cunningham two stories. He promptly got back to me and said the first one, “The Hanging” was really good but the second one I tentatively titled, “Zeb goes to New Orleans” fell one too many characters long and way short on action. He also asked if I would like to have a few writers read my writing and give their critique. Little did I know that by showing up to his house that first Monday evening nearly five years ago, I would become a core member of one of the longest running professional writers groups in San Diego.
The Hanging has remained a short story at a little over six hundred words. The second story however, the one that Chet didn’t like so much, yet saw potential if only I “Start way upriver where the story begins . . .” is now the book An Eye for a Eye: The Tales of Zebadiah Creed, Book One published by Five Star publishing.
I will be forever grateful to Chet for seeing, then fostering the writer that I am today. I was proud to sign and present a copy of my book to him to sit alongside the many, many books of his.
Thanks, Chet!
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