THE FOUR ARROWS FE-AS-KO
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When the owner of Oregon's largest cattle ranch - the Four Arrows - is shot by his horse in a freak accident, Royal Leckner suddenly finds himself charged with teaching the owner's retarded son to take over management of the ranch. The son, Leviticus Perrault, comes as part of an unmatched set, which includes Toofer, a man split between bickering Confederate and Union personalities; Tommy Two Hearts, half-white, half-Indian, and half-paralyzed; and Lou(ella), and idiot savante. With the help of some cowhands and an uppity lady accountant, Royal and his crew try to run the ranch despite the connivings of the entire county.
The magic and humor of The Four Arrows Fe-As-Ko lie in the charming gusto of its narrator. Looking back on his 1890s youth from the vantage point of his 1930s old age, Royal laughs at himself more than at anyone else.
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The Film
The Four Arrows F-As-Ko was filmed as "Promise The Moon" by Sullivan Entertainment. Read the book and see the movie and ask yourself the question, "Huh?"
Actually, it's a great film...and a study in the art of adaptation.
Reviews
"Bonanza meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in this comic western."
---Kirkus Reviews
"A fast, delightful read. Platt brings a rare female perspective to a generally male fictional domain."
---Publishers Weekly
"A humorous western with pathos and engaging dialogue ...told in a tongue-in-check style and a delightful, wholesome tale that outshines the norm."
--- School Library Journal
TEN CHANGES I'VE MADE TO BOOST MY CREATIVITY
- STOPPED LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS - I love being read to, but I can't think about MY stories while listening to someone else's story. So, unless it's a long, boring drive or flight, I no longer listen to audio books. Instead, I think about my current project.
- CREATE MY OWN SOUNDTRACK - I create IPod "soundtracks" for my own work in progress. I create a playlist of the tunes which inspire my story and characters.
- CUT BACK ON THE FREE ADVICE - I am the sort who will stop and talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. So I don't answer letters or phone calls, but will zap a quick email instead.
- SET REALISTIC GOALS - Just because I CAN write fast, does not mean I should, so I no longer try to get it written in two months.
- FEWER GROUPS AND FORUMS - I used to belong to several writers forums, clubs and newsgroups, but now only belong to a few and I open my yap only when I have something important to add.
- PICK MY BATTLES - Too many things far outside of my control were taking control of my time and mental energies. So, I write fewer letters, join fewer campaigns and stick to the business at hand - being a writer.
- TOOK COMPUTER GAMES OFF MY COMPUTER - A minute here and a minute there adds up to vanished hours. I now play only ONE game a day - and that is a crossword puzzle the first thing in the morning to make my head come to life.
- CUT BACK ON INTERNETING - Well, if you have read this far, maybe you need to do the same thing. Nah, just joking. Keep Reading. Number 10 scores!
- TAKE WORK AND MUSIC EVERYWHERE - I am never without my work-bag. The time we spend waiting adds up. So, even if there is a ghost of a chance that I will be kept waiting wherever I go, I know I will fill that time with work.
- TAKE SUNDAYS OFF - Okay, as you can see from the above nine items, I am a workaholic and it's taken me many, many years to realize I need one day to recharge, rethink and reset. Sunday is for family, food, reflection, and many times, sipping champagne. So when 4 am Monday rolls in, I am set for another week.... providing there hasn't been too much of that champagne thing.
by Randall Platt.
All rights reserved.