Spokane novelist places at Will Rogers awards

Talk about being two for two.

Stephen Smart, a Spokane landscape architect and nursery owner, is also an author.

His first book, “Whispers of the Greybull,” was a finalist in 2012 for best first novel from the Western Writers Association. His second novel, “Vanishing Raven,” just last weekend won silver in the inspirational fiction category of the Will Rogers Medallion contest, which honors Western literature and film.

“Raven” is a Western mystery, set in Wyoming in 1867. A young rancher discovers the grisly remains of an Indian sacrifice, in a scene that doesn’t make sense. It sets him off on the path of danger.

Smart, who owns Environment West Landscape Service and the Smart Gardens nursery, self-publishes under his own High Mule Publishing. In this Five Questions with interview, we ask Smart about self-publishing, finding inspiration, and writing Westerns.

Q. What is it about the Western genre that appeals to you?

A. I have always appreciated a good mystery/adventure and if it has a Western setting then all the better. The more a story can relate to my life experiences, while taking unexpected twists and turns, the more I enjoyed it. If I was to give anyone credit for inspiring me to write it would be my late mother who always had a creative story on the tip of her tongue. She always encouraged me by saying that you can do anything you put your mind to, and reinforced that often.

Q. How did you come to writing?

A. Most writers I have met have told me they always wanted to write, but that certainly wasn’t the case with me. About 12 years ago I was cruising along in my life and business, totally absorbed in creating great landscapes and developing my nursery. Writing was the furthest thing from my mind. Unfortunately, you never know when life will tap you on the shoulder and throw you for a loop.

While riding one of my larger mules by myself on an open ridge the mule suddenly stopped and began shaking violently. I wasn’t sure if there was a snake or something else on the trail, all I knew was something wasn’t right. All I remember from then on was the mule’s large ears silhouetted in the bright blue sky as we fell backwards shoving the saddle horn into my chest. The impact of hitting the ground knocked me out and the mule and I began to roll down the hill. It was only then with my leg shattered that it separated itself from the saddle’s stirrup.

When I awoke my whole body felt crushed. Disoriented, I looked down and noticed my boot lying almost in my lap. As much as I tried I could barely raise myself with my elbows. Only my right arm seemed to work well and there was little to no strength in my chest. I wondered how my tall cowboy boot could have possibly come off. I gently lifted the boot with my good arm and was surprised by the weight. It took a few seconds to realize my foot was still in the boot and I knew if I wanted to walk normally again I needed to regain the circulation. In one quick motion, I threw my boot out in front of me only to be met with searing pain to which I then immediately lost consciousness.

Several more times I would wake to the realization of my situation and each time in a very pathetic voice cry for help. The hero of the day was an old fisherman that decided to turn up his hearing aid and luck for me he heard my pitiful cry.

Q. How do you develop your story ideas? Where do you find inspiration?

A. Quickly bored of TV and condemned to a lengthy bed rest I needed something to occupy my time and allow the creative juices to continue to flow so I began to write. The following months would allow me to heal and come up with a plot and outline for my first book, “Whispers of the Greybull.” To my surprise it would go on to be a finalist for first time author in the Western Writers of America Spur Awards.

Q. As a self-published author who has found some success and acclaim, do you think you’ll ever try to go the traditional publishing route?

A. Self-publishing was the only real choice I had. I sent out 30 query letters and received absolutely no responses. Fortunately I had enough money to have 200 books printed and then the real question sunk in: How do I sell them?

I really didn’t want to lean on friends and family to buy my books. I wanted my book to develop its own legs and have people buy it because it was a good read. I would later receive my award as well as needed encouragement at the awards ceremony in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

That experience was enough to push me on in my book writing and selling journey. I talked to one of my good friends, Tony Wilson, the manager of the North Forty Store on Trent and finally convinced him to let me put six books in his store on consignment. A little over two years later that store alone would sell more than 800 books. Presently I am selling in bookstores in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and on Amazon.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. My first two books can stand alone but are part of a series. The book I am writing now is called “A Single Drop of Blood” and is the third book in that series. This is the story of the young Gillis McCabe and how while searching in the 1860s for his missing father he is able to solve a string of perplexing murders by looking at a single drop of blood.

I am asked almost every day how this book is coming but no good book ever gets written overnight. I am close to having my editor take a look at it and hope to be completed sometime in December.