Some people seem to find trouble no mater what and that includes fictional characters like Zachary Beddoes, who first starred in Stan Krumm’s historical fiction Zachary’s Gold. Readers were introduced to a charismatic young man, one time Pinkerton lawman and full time adventurer.
Beddoes left the Cariboo gold fields and a questionable past behind to begin a new life in Victoria in the 1870s. A wife, small son, extended in-law family and the proprietor of a small hotel, the newly invented Lincoln Zackary had hoped to put enough distance between him and his past.
A brand new colourful cast of characters help narrate the story of Zachary’s Horses. A pivotal horse race, a young governess’, a blackmailer determined to expose Zachary’s past and the title character’s grim determination to preserve the new life he’s built in Victoria all lend themselves to a great read.
Krumm said writing the second book posed certain challenges not faced in his first book.
“You’re building on existing characters and details must be consistent, but on the other hand it’s also somewhat easier because you’ve learned what works, things like plots and dialogue,” he said.
The world of publishing is full of twists and turns. Finding the right publishing house, getting someone to actually read your manuscript and then accepting it for publication were all hurdles Krumm faced.
He knows how lucky he was that his unsolicited work, Zachary’s Gold was accepted by a publishing house.
“Those days are gone,” he said.
Zachary’s Horses is published by one of B.C.’s largest fiction houses, Touchwood Editions. The distribution is throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Now that Zachary’s Horses is finally in print, Krumm is happy with the finished book.
“Everytime you finish a book you feel you’ve reached the top of your game, no more writing,” he said.
“Then an idea comes along and before you know it, you’ve got 50 pages written.”
Is there another Zachary story to
be written? Krumm said
he’s not sure but he has certainly considered several scenarios.
“The possibility exists,” he said with a smile.
However, Krumm has several ideas for other books.
Zachary’s Horses is available at Caryall Books, other various local outlets and online at Amazon and other online book sellers.
