Don Coldsmith Books In Order

Publication Order of Spanish Bit Saga Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Rivers West Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Don Coldsmith is an author best known for his Western fiction who has penned more than 40 novels in addition to hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles.
His very popular “Spanish Bit Saga” series of novels is credited with redefining Western novels as they adopted the Native American perspective rather than that of European settlers.

Coldsmith was born to a father who was a Methodist preacher and as a child, he went to a high school in Coffeyville, Kansas before joining the Army in 1994.
In the army, he was a medic who served with distinction during the Second World War and was deployed in the Pacific Theater.

Following the conclusion of the war, Coldsmith was sent to Japan, where he took care of prisoners accused of committing war crimes.

During his time as an Army medic occupying Japan, he took care of top-ranking Japanese war criminals including Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.

In addition to being an author, Coldmsith was a family practitioner in Emporia, Kansas. He practiced as a medical doctor until 1988 when he decided to quit and become a full-time author.
During all this time, he was also a renowned breeder of Appaloosa horses and a cattle rancher alongside Edna his second wife.

After Don Coldsmith got out of the military, he went to the Baldwin-based Baker University.

He would then work as a youth director at the YMCA in Topeka and help in the integration of the swimming pool. He is credited with being the first person to ever achieve the first interracial swimming pool in Kansas.
While he was very much involved in medicine and social issues, he also found time to periodically teach English at Emporia State University and write on the side.
It was in 1990 that he published “The Changing Wind,” which won the Golden Spur Award by the Western Writers of America.

He has also been honored with the likes of a lifetime contribution to literature Edgar Wolfe Award and the Distinguished Kansan Award. He also became a high-demand speaker on American West and High Plains topics.
In 2009, Don Coldsmith was attending the Western Writers of America conference when he suffered a stroke and died at The University of Kansas Hospital.

Don Coldsmith’s novel “Trail of the Spanish Bit” tells the story of a Spanish explorer who gets separated from his group after falling from his horse. He was lucky that he was found by the People, a combination of several Native American tribes.
The man ends up becoming part of the People while recovering and ultimately becomes part of the tribe.

This is a very well-researched narrative that tells of life in the Wild West.

He shows how the Native Americans hunted buffaloes, and how the introduction of horses completely changed their lives.

Horses made hunting more plentiful and travel easier for the Native Americans, which probably explains why they were very successful at that period in time.

The most amazing and unique part of the story is that, unlike most Western fiction, this work takes place in the 16th century in the plains area. This is a period in which very little had ever been written about the plain and even America as a whole.
Don Coldsmith goes deep into the intricacies of the Spanish traveling north from Central and South America, even though it is clear that they used to make their way into the plains area during this time.

“The Elk-Dog Heritage” by Don Coldsmith is a work in which the author shows why he was considered one of the Twentieth Century’s Greatest Western Writers and a national treasure.
In the recent past, the People have been living in fear as they have to contend with the threat of the Head Splitters who are their ancient enemies.

However, that had been before Juan Garcia the Spaniard had arrived and brought with him horses-Elk-Dogs.
He had taught the people how to fight and ride, to be victorious, and to defy death. Slowly, they began learning the ways of the many very usefu
l animals that he introduced to them.
It was not long before they could beat just about anyone who came against them and the once timid and cowering People lorded it over the Great American plains. The Headsplitters were beaten and the People began living a life of prosperity and peace.
But not everyone is interested in peace as tribal youths long for war and going against their elders they seek out the Headsplitters placing everyone in jeopardy.

Like most of his other novels, this work recreates the early 16th century including a people, place, and time that were nearly lost to history.
In this work, we get to have some great insights into history from the proud eyes of the people who lived during the time.

“Follow the Wind” the third novel of the “Spanish Bit Saga” series of novels by Don Coldsmith is a very interesting addition.

This is the story of Don Pedro Garcia who is frustrated by the fact that there are too many forced marches and he is not sure if the horses can take it anymore.
He is now an old man and is heading into the plains where it is rumored his son is alive among the Great Plains Indians.

His trusted lieutenant is a man named Ramon Cabeza who is just as troubled, given that no matter how fast they move across the terrain, the Native Americans are aware of their movements the day before they make their advance.
What neither of them is aware of is that Don Pedro’s son has risen through the ranks among the Indians to become a senior chief.

As they advance deeper into Native American territory, their every movement is being watched by the Head Splitters who are preparing to come to blows with the invaders whom they are angry with for violating their lands.
While it is a dangerous time and place to venture into the plains, Don Pedro and his lieutenants will not let anything stop them from completing their mission.