For my newest release, RESCUING RAVEN (part of the WILD DEADWOOD TALES anthology), I had great fun including real-life villain Al Swearengen in my story. For me, Swearengen is the ultimate bad guy. He’s smart and determined. He hasn’t had an easy life. He’s keen to make a better life – for himself. He’ll go to any lengths to do that. His actions create high stakes conflict in the lives of everyone around him.

When portrayed by Ian McShane in the Deadwood TV series, Swearengen is also charismatic and amazingly likable on more than a few occasions. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next. He’s more than bad. He’s complicated.

Who was the real-life Al Swearengen?

• Ellis Albert “Al” Swearengen was born in 1845 in Oskaloosa, Iowa Territory. He and his twin brother were the eldest two of eight children.
• He arrived in Deadwood in May 1876 with his wife, Nettie, who later divorced him on the grounds of spousal abuse. Swearengen married two more times. Those marriages also ended in divorce.
• He lured women to Deadwood where he coerced them into working in his brothel. Calamity Jane was one of his first dancers at the Gem.
• His talent for making alliances and financial payoffs kept him clear of even the most dedicated townsfolks’ efforts to clean up Deadwood. This included Seth Bullock, the town’s first sheriff.
• In Deadwood, he started out with a narrow, canvas-and-lumber saloon known as the Cricket, which featured gambling and prizefights.
• Shortly after, he opened a larger two-story saloon known as the Gem Theater, which was promoted as a legitimate theater but was really a dance hall and brothel. The Gem earned an average of $5,000 daily (equivalent to $124,000 today).

Sadly I can find no pictures of Al Swearengen or his Cricket Saloon (where my hero and heroine, Charlie and Raven, become involved in one of Swearengen’s prizefights), but here is a photograph of the Gem Theater…

You can read the opening scene of RESCUING RAVEN on my excerpt page, but if you want to see Al Swearengen in action that comes later. Here’s a snippet…

RESCUING RAVEN ~ Al Swearengen Excerpt

The Cricket’s narrow width and long length delayed Charlie’s progress. It’d slow his departure as well. Keeping patrons inside might be one reason for the saloon’s unusual dimensions. Another was making the most of prime property on a bustling main street until the owner earned enough to expand.

Al Swearengen never stopped concocting new ways to make money. After many refusals, Charlie had finally agreed to one of Swearengen’s schemes to draw a crowd. A huge one. Men even filled the fighting ring.

Swearengen stood by its far left corner with his haggard-faced wife behind him. Too many days with Swearengen had bruised whatever beauty Nettie once had.

“Heaven be praised,” Swearengen shouted above the throng’s chatter. “Step back! Clear the ring!” He thrust his arm toward Charlie. “We need no longer fear Deadwood’s challenger won’t show.”

~ * ~

I can’t wait to visit Deadwood and walk in the footsteps of Al Swearengen and all of the people who shaped such a legendary Wild West town.

 

If you’re in Deadwood, South Dakota, June 7 to 9, 2018, I’d love to meet you!

I’m attending the 2018 Wild Deadwood Reads author-reader event which features a Thursday evening author meet & greet, and a Saturday morning/afternoon breakfast & book signing. You can find all of the details on the WDR’s event page.

Can’t make it to Deadwood? 

During 2018, read the WILD DEADWOOD TALES anthology and visit Deadwood in the pages of 17 unique stories, including RESCUING RAVEN. All proceeds benefit the Western Sports Foundation.

WILD DEADWOOD TALES sales links: Amazon ~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Australia ~ B&N ~ Apple ~ Kobo

UPDATE: As of January 2019, Rescuing Raven is now available as a standalone read.