Naked Came the Stranger set the format, but not always the tone 
or subject matter, for a whole string of books that appeared in the 
1970s. Called collaborative or serial novels, the multi-author works 
were set in the suburbs, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Florida, the 
American West, but never in Texas. Now a dozen Texas authors 
have gotten together to create a good old-fashioned western novel. 
Each contributing author will write a chapter that builds on the work 
that precedes his or her chapter.

    The plot features Noah, a plantation slave who escapes and makes 
his way to the Union forces and, finally, Texas, where he establishes 
a small ranch, runs a few cattle, and, with wife Nelly, begins to raise 
a family. But Noah, who has taken the name Freeman and named his 
ranch Free Land, cannot leave his past behind. The slave catcher 
Quint Carpenter is the local sheriff, and he's out for blood—
specifically Noah's blood—after Noah's sister kills Quint's younger 
son. And carpetbagger Bear Coltrain, who once wanted to kidnap 
Noah and sell him back into slavery, now wants Noah's land. And 
then John Malone comes along—Noah once saved the former 
cavalry officer's life, and he wants to repay his debt. Can he help 
when someone kidnaps Noah's baby girl? Can he help save the 
ranch—and, finally, save Noah's life? 

    At press time for this catalog, half the chapters remain yet to be 
written, so the plot may change some—but that's the magic of a 
project such as this one.

    In cooperation with TCU Press, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram 
announced a contest in which the winner became one of the 
contributing authors. Entries were posted on the Star-Telegram 
web page, where the best three entries were chosen by popular 
vote. The staff of TCU Press chose the winner from among those 
entries. She is Mary Dittoe Kelly, and this will be her first published 
writing. A celebration at Fort Worth's Bass Hall will bring all the 
authors together onstage to talk about the work, and the joys and 
problems of working in collaboration. Former Star-Telegram book 
editor Jeff Guinn will moderate.

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS:

Phyllis Allen—Fort Worth short story writer and essayist, whose 
work was recently featured on NPR's All Things Considered

Judy Alter—novelist and recipient of the 2005 Owen Wister Award 
for Lifetime Achievement from Western Writers of America

Mike Blackman—retired editorial director of the Star-Telegram 
and currently jounrlist-in-residence at Sam Houston State 
University

Mike Cochran—award-winning reporter for the Associated Press 
whose books include Texas vs. Davis

Jeff Guinn—former book editor of the Star-Telegram and author 
of ten books, including the Autobiography of Santa Claus and 
Our Land Before We Die, winner of the 2003 TCU Texas Book 
Award

Mary Dittoe Kelly—winner of the Star-Telegram "You Be the 
Author" competition and Religious Education Coordinator at Good 
Shepherd Catholic Community

Elmer Kelton—currently America's best-selling author of western 
fiction

James Ward Lee—author of Texas, My Texas, Adventures with a 
Texas Humanist, and coeditor of Literary Fort Worth

James Reasoner—professional author of over 180 novels, including 
westerns, crime fiction, private eye novels, and other genres

Mary Rogers—award-winning columnist and writer for the Star-
Telegram

Carlton Stowers—two-time Edgar Award winner for true crime 
writing

Jane Roberts Wood—author of several novels, including the classic 
Train to Estelline

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What people are saying about this book

"A book written by a baker’s dozen of Texas authors, each responsible 
for one chapter, ought to wind up on a worst, not best, list. But these 
collaborators—Elmer Kelton, Judy Alter, Carlton Stowers, Phyllis Allen, 
James Reasoner, Mary Rogers, Mike Cochran, Mike Blackman, Jane 
Wood, James Lee, Carole Douglas, Jeff Guinn, and Mary Dittoe 
Kelly—have turned in a rollicking good page-turner, following the 
adventures of a runaway slave in Mississippi at the end of the Civil War. 
Noah, a slave with no last name, tries to stay one step ahead of one of 
the meanest-drawn characters in fiction, slave catcher Quint, with a 
“milky eye.” Each author’s job is to further the story where his/her 
predecessor ends a chapter—and keep the suspense alive as they do it.

This collaborative effort was the brainchild of former Fort Worth Star-
Telegram book editor Jerry Flemmons. A basic plot was chosen, and 
the writers were turned loose. Not only is the tale a good one, it is 
obvious from the writing that these wordsmiths were having a helluva 
good time."—Fort Worth Weekly (Staff Choice)