Jane Candia Coleman

I loved this book. This book is a work of fiction, true, but it is all based on fact. Kate was indeed a real life lady, & this book was based on the diaries she kept throughout her life depicting the events & times she lived through. I have never been one for Westerns, but reading the story of Doc Holliday & Wyatt Earp, & the gunfight at the OK Corral through the eyes of the woman who witnessed it was fascinating. She was a true woman of the times, doing what she had to do to get by, & not apologizing for it. There were many times I felt sorry for her throughout the events, but admired her for her grit, her strength of will, her self confidence, her daring. She was a complex lady who remained kind hearted, honest in her own heart, & true to her love for Doc throughout her long & eventful life.

She's a woman I would have loved to have known.… (more)

I just finished Jane Candia Coleman's _Moving On_, a collection of Western short stories that was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in the 1980s. Each story is written in a narrative style that benefits from the author's poetic roots, but the text is not wordy or flowery. The women begin strong or else become strong during the course of each story, and the men for the most part are open to learning and growing. Coleman brings in multicultural aspects, which are refreshing and realistic about the West - she does include stereotypes of Apaches, which are annoying, yet consistent with assumptions of those who wanted to settle in Apache lands during the time period in which she is writing. The plots are complex with a message, often inconsistent with mainstream morals. Humor, accurate geographic descriptions, colorful characters, and well-paced prose keep these stories moving along.… (more)