Spotlight Author Mike Torreano

Please welcome Author Mike Torreano to my blog.

Mike is a multi-published author and who I met through the Wild Rose Press. I was so pleased when he agreed to visit me on my blog. So please welcome Mike to my blog!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Torreano has a military background and is a student of American history and the Old West.

His debut western mystery, The Reckoning, set in South Park, Colorado in 1868, was released in 2016 by The Wild Rose Press. The sequel, The Renewal, also in South Park, 1872, was released in 2018. His third western, A Score To Settle, was released October 2020, also from The Wild Rose Press. White Sands Gold is his latest western mystery, and was just released by Wild Rose. He has a coming-of-age novel, Fireflies At Dusk, set during the Civil War, and his short story, The Trade, a tale of the Yukon Gold Rush, was his first published work in 2014.

Mike’s written for magazines and newspapers for many years. An experienced editor, he’s taught University-level English and Journalism. He’s a member of the Historical Novel Society, Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Western Writers of America and several other writing groups. He brings his readers back in time with him as he recreates life in mid-to-late nineteenth century America. He and his wife, Anne, live in Colorado Springs.

Mike’s new release White Sands Gold is out now and here is an excerpt to tickle your tastebuds:

Excerpt from White Sands Gold

Lottie lowered to the damp ground, which brought the deputy down as well. She fought the urge to look his way. She was alone in the desert wrapped in a semi-bear hug with a man she met yesterday. She eased a hand to her holster and picked the leather loop off her hammer. Probably didn’t need a gun to protect against someone who’d already saved her life, but…in case he tried something.

The deputy snugged his hat lower and shut his eyes.

“Hold on, cowboy. We can’t be sittin’ here just sleepin’. I mean…you oughta be talkin’ to me, reassurin’ me. How about it?”

He two-fingered his hat up a touch. “You seem to be able to take care of yourself fair, you should probably be reassurin’ me.” He glanced sideways at her, his face not more than a few inches away.

That same half-smile that had been so irritating somehow didn’t look so annoying anymore.

LG: I love this excerpt Mike, I felt I was there straight away.

LG: I asked Mike if he would mind doing an interview with one of his characters from White Sands Gold and he came up trumps with Ma Richards:

New Mexico Territory, 1890

With the Las Cruces Courier

LCC: “Thank you for sitting with me for a few minutes, Ma. May I call you Ma?”

Ma sat in the rocking chair on her weathered front porch next to her visitor and looked up from her knitting. “Of course, dearie, everyone does, but for the life of me I can’t think why anyone would be interested in me? An old lady who doesn’t do much more than sit here and rock these days.”

LCC: “You’re selling yourself short, Ma. Everyone knows you have a way of keeping things under control around town. Have for years.”

Ma: “Me? Not sure what you mean. I just run this little boarding house here at the end of the street. Not much to look at, is it? Could use a coat of paint.”

LCC: “Yes, about that. We don’t see many people come and go here, how ever do you keep the place open?”

Ma: “Oh, I get by. The Good Lord provides.” She returned to her clacking needles.

LCC: The reporter scooched his chair closer and leaned forward. “There’s rumors that you lead a group of men called guardians. That they—”

Ma: “Oh, Pshaw. Do I look like I would be up to doing something like that?” A slight pause. “And what are these ‘guardians’ supposed to do?”

LCC: “Some think there’s a treasure trove of gold bars hidden under Victorio Peak north of here. Maybe thousands of them. Legend says the guardians were formed to protect some sort of religious relic hidden next to the gold. That they kill anyone who searches for it.”

Ma: “My, my. Sounds very scary. People do have some imaginations, don’t they?”

LCC: “The story goes that guardians have been doing this for centuries.”

Ma: “Centuries? Why, that’d make them quite old by now.” She smiled, then rested her hand on the reporter’s. “Excuse my manners, can I get you some tea?”

LCC: “Thank you, but do you have coffee?”

Ma: “Oh, coffee’s too strong for me. I find that it upsets my delicate constitution.” She flashed her big smile at the reporter.

LCC: “You must have boarders right now. I can hear kitchen sounds coming through the open front door.”

Ma: “Why, yes I just happen to. I give them free rein of the kitchen. Maybe I shouldn’t, though. Never can tell what they’ll get in to.” Just then, a young man pushed the front screen door open and stood near the reporter, staring down. He reached out a hand to Ma. “It’s all right, Twill, no need to worry. I think that’s all this young person wanted to ask, anyway. Isn’t it?” She looked at the reporter with another big smile.

LCC: “Yes, I guess it is.”

Ma rose with help from Twill as the reporter hurried away down the street.