Jeffrey Lent
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Advice from a Cowboy

9/23/2014

20 Comments

 
Astute readers will note that I'm a dozen or fifteen years late in launching a website. But the time has come and so here I am. I aim to make this as interesting a site as possible, without going too far afield from the purpose of updating news about my books and related projects. I do have plans to include short bits or links to other subjects or websites that may be of interest. But first, this note. 

I'm not on Facebook or Twitter or any other social media. If anyone wants to share anything from this site on those platforms you're welcome to do so. But my lack of a presence on those sites, or similar ones, is not from lack of interest but from a more compelling reason. Like many writers I know, writing is the hardest work I can imagine: every sentence, every word in every sentence is studied and considered carefully. There's little more daunting for me than to be faced with the prospect of composing a few lines for a birthday card. I'm not making this up. 

And so a little story, to open this site up with.


In the summer of 1990 my wife, Marion, and I loaded up our old Subaru station wagon and, along with our Gordon Setter, Jill, left Vermont to drive across the country. Our final destination was Port Townsend, Washington, where we have old and dear friends. Once west of Chicago we got off the interstate and drove two-lane highways, a mode of travel I highly recommend. You actually see the places you're traveling through, rather than the backsides, the view most interstates offer. In other words, we meandered. And, the point of this story, we ended up spending a couple of weeks around Livingston, Montana. Beyond hiking in and above the aptly named Paradise Valley, we spent a fair amount of time just hanging out in Livingston.(Some time later I'll write a post about the 19th century photographer F, Jay Haynes, why he's of interest to me and what I hope to do with that interest.) At that time Livingston was very much a 'destination' town but was two or three steps back from the development that's occurred since. The downtown was and is still today a wonderful mix of the old and new, but still mostly old. There were at least a couple of bars that were just bars; a jukebox, a couple of slot machines, a pool table. One afternoon Marion and I had come down out of the woods and were seeking refreshment. We ended up at The Sport and pretty much had the place to ourselves and so after a beer, we decided to shoot pool. Neither of us are much practiced with pool but we were having fun, which sometimes is the only point in undertaking something. After a bit a cowboy came in, a working guy, not a tourist, not a transplant getting dressed up. How could I tell? If you've spent time around men who do hard physical work all the time, it's pretty easy to spot them. He had a beer, maybe two and then started to chat with us. Mostly, but not always, I tend to be quiet, to observe, to watch and listen. Marion is more gregarious, curious about people and she has a wicked sense of humor and it was not too long before she and the cowboy were hitting it off. All friendly, nothing more. So he strolled over and set his stack of quarters on the edge of the table, which, for the uninitiated, meant he'd play the winner of the game. Which turned out to be Marion.


I ordered another beer and perched on a stool and watched. He was a much better player that either of us but it was a weekday afternoon and the game was only half-serious, at best. The cowboy and Marion were telling stories, trading stories and now and again figuring out whose turn it was and taking their shots. Late afternoon sunlight coming through the windows onto the table, an endless cycle of Hank Senior, Willie and Waylon, George Jones on the jukebox. I bought another round of beers, The sort of quiet good time that the road and meeting strangers can open up. But at one memorable point, Marion was ahead in the game (it could've been two or three games in- I was having too much fun watching and listening and I also knew he'd kick my ass, quickly, at the table) and it was his turn to shoot but she was trying to follow up on a story he'd just finished and he looked at her and said, "Hey girl?  You want me to talk, or shoot pool? 'Cause I can't do both at the same time."


And that's me. I've got a new novel coming out next spring and are a hundred pages into the one after that. So while I plan to spend time here and spin some tales, most of the time I'll be shooting pool.
20 Comments
Marian2
9/24/2014 12:53:07 am

Very nice, Jeffrey! Glad to see you out in the larger world.

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Virginia Eliseo
10/24/2014 03:56:36 am

I'm in the middle of my first introduction to Mr. Lent's work...In the Fall...It called to me from the shelf of a Montana thrift store. It reads as though Mr. Lent is deep in the soul of each of his characters, and as others have noted, the descrptive paragraphs are poetic! I find I want to read passages aloud to hear the sounds of the words written. I am anticipating the ending of this book and look forward to reading more Jeffrey Lent!

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Mark
2/7/2015 03:41:01 am

I love your work. I just stumbled on to this site after deciding to see what new books you have written since Peculiar Grace - my two favorites are In the Fall and Lost Country - It looks like I need to catch up.I am writing a letter to an old friend who has retired and moved part time to Arizona. He has taken up writing about growing up in Vermont and I thought I would recommend that he get a copy of In the Fall. My daughter and I met you some years ago when you did a reading from Lost Country in Tunbridge. I don't know if you still live there exactly but your pictures look great. Looking forward to the new book.

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Mark
6/17/2016 06:34:25 pm

I cannot believe I wrote Lost Country for Lost Nation maybe there was something there though, even if unintended, in this world we live in on both counts.

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Leona Leofsky
3/21/2015 07:31:20 am

Jeee-eez Read one or other first,then whichever..Darn, man, I love your stories> Appreciate the detail of genuine knowledge that you write about. My original neck-of-the-woods is Western New York State,but have great affection for the Green & White Mountain states. Had grandfather in the [un]Civil War, so your people are wonderfully alive on the pages. May you tread & ever more. Am an old widow & reading is my life now. You are cared about in many ways.

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Rick Wing
7/18/2015 03:11:04 am

great story/analogy & if you appreciate Hank Sr's music, you should check out what his grandaughter - Holly Williams is doing (she's really carrying on the legacy of that musical family). Had read all the novels you published, except "A Peculiar Grace" & am now about 2/3rds into it & am so appreciative of all your works man, but this just might be my fave. Probably because I see myself some in the central character & so there's a cathartic quality to the unfolding story. Thanks much (looking forward to more!)

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Karen
8/10/2015 11:09:40 am

I just finished A Peculiar Grace. Thank you for writing such a marvelous book, so incandescent. I thought I was reading another version of my life.

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David
8/11/2015 03:14:54 am

Thanks so much for your incredible writing. I've read all of you novels except A Slant of Light which I am about half way through. Your details of the landscapes are great. I've lived in western NY for about 25 years so A Slant of Light is of particular interest.

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Janice Forler
9/7/2015 09:44:00 am

Me again! This old woman loves the poetry in your writing. (You KNOW you are a poet at heart!)
A Slant of Light is beautifully descriptive; I am amazed at your alliterative writing style. I'm halfway through and anxious to read your next books. Get busy!

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gloria cefalu
1/19/2017 04:28:02 pm

I picked up In The Fall a few years ago then looked for another book by you....didn't much use Amazon at the time. Well I finally found another book by you - Lost Nation and now I've ordered the others through Amazon. I am an avid reader and cannot think of another author I enjoy as much as I do your work. PLEASE keep it up - I am almost finished with A Slant of Light and hope you are ready to release more books. - g

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Gary Stevens
2/8/2017 05:48:03 am

A big fan of your work since the beginning. Only someone intimately involved with the milking of cows could include having a cow swipe you in the face with a urine soaked tail in his or her words. Been there and have never forgotten the feeling! Our farm was in southern New Hampshire and your connection with New England is evident throughout your books. Thanks for sharing with us all.

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Burns
5/30/2017 08:26:02 am

Just thought I would add myself as a big admirer of your books. Have read all of them and am always on the hunt for the latest. Your highly descriptive writing got my attention from my first read, which was "The Fall". I rate you as one of my favorite writers, along with Howard Bahr and David Wilkinson. Keep it up!

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Ken Mosedale
6/7/2017 04:51:02 pm

as a Franconia person with many Franconia College friends I have read all your books except 'Before We Sleep" which I was given today. You are a special talent. We met briefly at the Balsams years ago and you were discussing making a movie from "Lost Nation" Alexander was the producer?? I think all your books should be movies, especially "In the Fall" Thank you for sharing your mind and talent.

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Don Pustina
1/3/2018 09:17:19 pm

Whenever I’m asked who my favorite writer is, I always reply ‘Jeffery Lent’ I wish everything I read could be written by you. I have to get A Slant of Light and I see you have another new one out now. Yay!! I’m ready to re-read In The Fall and I’m actually holding off awhile longer so I can savor the anticipation! None of what I say is hyperbole. Please continue to write!

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Howard Swayne link
8/19/2018 09:16:26 pm

Just finished ''In The Fall'. It touched me in some deep places, some very dark, some very light, always surprising in its twists and turns. Thanks for a good read. Along with Ken, above, I think it would make a great epic movie, combining elements of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Gone With the Wind'. Keep up the good work.

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Susan Adams
3/9/2019 10:05:21 pm

Cousin, You captured me at F. Jay Haynes! We met when you were but a wee boy. Keep up the fine work, I'm intrigued.

Bob's daughter, Susan

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Dan R
8/11/2019 02:18:56 pm

Just discovered and finished reading In the Fall. Wow. Such a talent. I savored, read and reread so many passages, often out-loud to hear and taste the words. This book will linger with me for years to come. I look forward to reading your other novels. Thank you for rekindling my love for discovering new books and authors.

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Susan Feltus
3/29/2020 03:18:23 pm

I have been reading your books since In the Fall mesmerized me. They are always so damned hard to read because every word is important and can’t be skimmed over. The rewards are commiserate with the effort. Thank you for the good stories but even more for the fine language.

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Larry Shepard
8/28/2020 06:36:10 am

Jeffrey, thank you for writing books that make me pause and think about my family and my life as an old man, now. As a fellow Vermonter, I have seen the landscape, social and otherwise change in ways I never thought possible, but am glad to have been along for the ride. I never took to the long lonesome highway to find myself, but through your words and those of my family who have traveled far, there is no place like Vermont to come home to. I appreciate your words and images that capture this little piece of our world. What better way to survive the pandemic than reading good writing while Mother Nature decides what to do with us and we search for an antidote.

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Rex Coleman
2/15/2021 04:47:15 pm

Hi it goes without saying I am a fan of your writing!
I have read In the Fall three times, The Lost Tribe twice and A Peculiar Grace twice. Each time they are as fresh as the previous reading. My main pleasure is trawling through bookstores, Amazon is to easy, and your books are very hard to find in the U.K. I bought A Peculiar Grace on visit to Vancouver! Please have a word with your publishers and ease my frustration. Thanks for all the pleasure your books have given me . Guess I'll go and revisit In The Fall again , it's getting a bit worn now though maybe Amazon will win in the end.

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