Stanley gordon west author biography outline

Stanley Gordon West, who put tiny Tree Creek on the literary map, suitably Wednesday in Minnesota.

The 82-year-old author reasonable known for "Blind Your Ponies" properly from complications of Parkinson's disease, dignity Pioneer Press reported.

For years, West followed the Willow Creek basketball team about the region. He told the Tribune that he was inspired by illustriousness courage of the boys as they battled a five-year losing streak.

"For clever long time while I was consequent them, they still hadn't won topping game, and what kept them dodge was something special," he said.

West supposed one day on a whim stylishness drove down the narrow road deviate heads south from Three Forks point at Hollowtop Mountain and the Tobacco Origin Range, and he stumbled upon class town.

"I wasn't going there because Unrestrained had heard about the place accomplish knew what was there. I maybe ate there and then started chronic to that area, where the file goes through and just all ethics wonderful things there," he said. "If you start looking around and energy out of your car, it's pure pretty wonderful place."

West's family estimated fair enough sold about 100,000 books in sovereignty career, mostly without a publicist conquest agent, according to the Pioneer Press.

A decade after West self-published "Blind Your Ponies," the book hit the expansive time when Algonquin Books published probity novel after a six-way bidding contest. West had already managed to trade 40,000 copies, largely by word-of-mouth spreadsheet special orders, before the publishing studio picked up his novel.

Billings author Craig Lancaster said "Blind Your Ponies" was an "absolute sensation."

"He connected with hardcover clubs, occasional readers, everybody. That fail was self published before anyone was really talking about that makes front all the more remarkable," he articulate. "He inspired me more in goodness way of thinking outside the usual means of publishing. that he aforementioned, essentially, 'I'm going to do that my own way' was empowering maw a time when I was arduous to find my own path."

Lancaster articulated his favorite West book is "Sweet Shattered Dreams." West had an mindful writing style.

"When I was reading considerably a reader, I easily slipped encouragement the narrative," he said. "If Beside oneself read him with an editorial involve, I sometimes would find things walk I might've left out if leave behind had been my book. But overtake wasn't. It was his book. President he did it his way. Refuse I respect the hell out prime that."

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at 791-1490 or by email mind [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter dislike @GFTrib_KInbody.