Tyler Auffhammer

1 week ago | cowboysindians.com | Tyler Auffhammer

In this episode of Writing the West, we sit down with one of the most prolific voices in modern western literature: Johnny D. Boggs. From his early days in South Carolina dreaming of wide-open spaces to becoming a full-time author in New Mexico, Boggs shares how TV westerns, journalism, and real-life history shaped his storytelling.

1 week ago | cowboysindians.com | Tyler Auffhammer

Whether spoken from the top of a rodeo chute, over a fire, or staring down a sunset, a cowboy’s word has a way of cutting straight to the truth. They’re often plainspoken, full of grit, and with a quiet wisdom that only comes from hard-earned experience on the West’s broad landscapes. We tip our hats to the greatest cowboy quotes of all time—from rodeo icons, real-life ranchers, western actors, and everyday working men and women whose words echo across the Western prairies.

3 weeks ago | cowboysindians.com | Tyler Auffhammer

You may have seen the Tik Tok videos — cowboys and cowgirls adorned in leather and fur, towing skiers through snow-covered obstacle courses, dodging fire cannons and launching over gap jumps. Humans have been skijoring — getting towed on skis behind animals — for thousands of years. But there’s a modern Western version: a fast adrenaline sport performed in front of thousands of spectators in small mountain towns across the United States. And it’s growing fast.

3 weeks ago | cowboysindians.com | Tyler Auffhammer

Billy the Kid is quite possibly the most popular outlaw of the Old West. From his time as a regulator fighting against the corrupt Santa Fe Ring to his daring (and murderous) escape from the Lincoln County, NM, jail to his eventual death at the age of 21, Billy the Kid’s life and legend has remained a steadfast topic for academics and Hollywood alike.

1 month ago | cowboysindians.com | Tyler Auffhammer

We spoke with bestselling author Craig Johnson, the mind behind the beloved Walt Longmire series, to discuss his brand-new novel, Return to Sender. From his Wyoming ranch, Johnson reflects on the enduring relevance of the western genre; the real-life stories that inspire his plots; and why voice, empathy, and lived experience matter in good storytelling.