Cover Photo Lancer: Los Angeles Affair

Would you like to see the cover of the new, soon to be released, second book in the "Lancer; Hero of the West" series? Well here it is. We thought you might like to see it and we'll give you an explanation as to the intricacies of what it means.

The significance of the cover is very much a multiple experience. Designed by my daughter, Julia from an idea I had, here is the explanation. "Lancer: Hero of the West - The Los Angeles Affair" takes place in Los Angeles of the 1880's. While a bustling and expanding city one of the key parts of L-A of course, is the Pacific Ocean. In the distance is the very same body of water, but because the ocean only plays a small part in the story, we didn't want it to dominate the landscape.

The landscape is dominated by the place in greater Los Angeles where the bulk of the story takes place; the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valley's. The central part of the story focuses on a Rancho in the area of what is now the City of San Fernando. Some of the story, a very important part, takes place in the Newhall Pass and into what is currently Sylmar, California. Sylmar is at the Northeastern part of the valley. It is the gateway to the Santa Clarita Valley and the Newhall Pass is what divides the two.

The fact cattle are shown links the Rancho to the cattle trade since one of the key economic forces on the property is beef cattle and the incoming new railroad. You will learn in the story (book) what significant part cattle plays in the overall tale. 

If you look at the three hats on the hall tree there are specific reasons for them. The story is basically about international players and their impact on the overall story. Without revealing anything more; I will tell you several of the key players are either Russian or Mexican. Thus the Mexican sombrero and the Russian Fur Hat, or ushanka. 

The interesting thing about the other hat is simple. Lancer wears a black hat. This you will know from the first book, "The Prescott Affair." Then why, you might ask, is the hat a white hat? It's a contrast in good and evil. Lancer in this story is the good guy (usually signified in westerns as the guy with the white hat), and the others involved from other countries are the bad guys (signified by the black ushanka and the black sombrero).

In the next blog we'll detail why the boots are in the picture and where we actually got the photo of the hall tree. You might be surprised where this really cool and perfect piece of furniture currently lies in the great southwest. And of course the meaning of the now famous empty holster.

Enjoy and remember the new book is due out soon as is the song. We expect they will come out at about the same time. Stay tuned.