Step into the Old West with the August 2025 issue of Saddlebag Dispatches—packed with history, fiction, and exclusive interviews that bring the frontier to life.
This issue features Anthony Wood’s “Deadly Secrets of Wynn Parish”, the first in a two-part series uncovering the rise and fall of the West-Kimbrel Gang in post-Civil War Louisiana. In addition, readers will find an in-depth interview with New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss, “The Wild West Historian,” conducted by George “Clay” Mitchell. Enss discusses her long career, her approach to writing, and her deep ties to Deadwood history.
Alongside these highlights, our pages are filled with fresh voices and seasoned talents alike. We present award-winning poetry, powerful short fiction, and the latest winners of the annual Mustang Award for Best Western Short Story. Plus, our columnists return with new insights into overlooked corners of Western history and culture.
Whether you’re drawn to true tales of outlaws and lawmen, the craft of storyte
