That Mike Leonard guy
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:21 pm
Something happened to me here a week or so ago that made me think about how fragile life is. I might die tomorrow, and if I did, this would be my last chance to say this. I have thought it from time to time but never said it.
That Mike Leonard guy is a heck of a good writer. I started reading here on the old shade tree a few years ago, not sure how long really, and I cant seem to figure it out; maybe three years or so. And that Mike, when he starts writing a story or two, befor long, I am right there with him and can almost feel what he is describing. Now I have heard people put him down. I have not heard as many people put him down as I have heard people put John Wick down, but I have heard a couple three. But I gotta say, Mike, if you ever read this, you need to write, buddy. If you dont have thick enough skin for it, you need to go rent a bear hide and put it on. Doesn't matter what a few folks say. Write! The world is a richer place for it. You need to write a book.
Back when I was a young man in Oregon, there was an old cat hunter, who also became an official in local government. Allen Dunn was his name. By the time I met him, he was 80 or so. We enjoyed each other so I visited him when I could.
He had a collection of old books about hunting and the outdoors. They were very valuable, but he did let me read a few. They are treasures, treasures that would have been lost if those men didnt take the time to write. Mike you write as good or better than any of those authors.
If you dont want to write about your actual experiences, then write a novel or series of books calling on all your knowledge of horses, hounds, bird dogs, rattle snakes, hunters, trappers and woodsmen, coybows and other interesting critters and folks. That would be the kind of book I was dying to find When I was a kid. Books like "Call of the Wild",
"Big Red", "Outlaw Red", "Where the red fern grows", "Old Yeller", "My side of the Mountain". I was on the path of illiteracy as a kid, and if it had not been for books like that, I dont know if I would have had any motivation to read at all.
You can write as good as any of those authors in my opinion. We lost Bruce, and any of us could go just as quick. It would be a shame if you did not leave a little of your writing gift behind for my grandson to tuck inside his history book and read to keep from falling asleep in class.
That Mike Leonard guy is a heck of a good writer. I started reading here on the old shade tree a few years ago, not sure how long really, and I cant seem to figure it out; maybe three years or so. And that Mike, when he starts writing a story or two, befor long, I am right there with him and can almost feel what he is describing. Now I have heard people put him down. I have not heard as many people put him down as I have heard people put John Wick down, but I have heard a couple three. But I gotta say, Mike, if you ever read this, you need to write, buddy. If you dont have thick enough skin for it, you need to go rent a bear hide and put it on. Doesn't matter what a few folks say. Write! The world is a richer place for it. You need to write a book.
Back when I was a young man in Oregon, there was an old cat hunter, who also became an official in local government. Allen Dunn was his name. By the time I met him, he was 80 or so. We enjoyed each other so I visited him when I could.
He had a collection of old books about hunting and the outdoors. They were very valuable, but he did let me read a few. They are treasures, treasures that would have been lost if those men didnt take the time to write. Mike you write as good or better than any of those authors.
If you dont want to write about your actual experiences, then write a novel or series of books calling on all your knowledge of horses, hounds, bird dogs, rattle snakes, hunters, trappers and woodsmen, coybows and other interesting critters and folks. That would be the kind of book I was dying to find When I was a kid. Books like "Call of the Wild",
"Big Red", "Outlaw Red", "Where the red fern grows", "Old Yeller", "My side of the Mountain". I was on the path of illiteracy as a kid, and if it had not been for books like that, I dont know if I would have had any motivation to read at all.
You can write as good as any of those authors in my opinion. We lost Bruce, and any of us could go just as quick. It would be a shame if you did not leave a little of your writing gift behind for my grandson to tuck inside his history book and read to keep from falling asleep in class.
