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December 2, 2022
Getting In Tune
Craig Johnson
Ever since I gave away Old Indian Trick, the first Walt Longmire Holiday Short Story all those years ago, it’s become a tradition. It’s also fun for me in that I sometime run across story ideas that just don’t fit any other format other than a short story, and besides, I’ve come to love those little snippets from Walt and from the other characters’ lives. They’re short, but they can still be very informing. Greer Shephard, one of the producers of Longmire, once told me that Slick-Tongued Devil from the first anthology Wait For Signs was her go-to for the tone of the TV show Longmire. I usually have a few backup ideas floating around, but to be honest this year I didn’t. I learned a long time ago that you can’t push these types of things, that you simply have to be patient and allow the inspiration to present itself. November arrived, and I was getting a little impatient. One of the joys of the short stories is the opportunity to travel around during the holidays to all the local libraries and take part in a community style celebration. They vary in size and style, but each one has grown dear to me over the years -- the only thing I count on is a blizzard when we go over the mountain to Ten Sleep. Early November and the libraries were contacting me, wanting to know what the name of this year’s short story might be. We usually haul swag with us when we go, because folks are genuinely disappointed when we don’t, and I try to invite the local bookstores to sell books if they’d like. They generally do, and I feel good about supporting the independent bookstores out there trying to make a living during the holidays. Mid-November, and I was getting panicked. “Don’t worry, you always come up with something.” Judy sipped her coffee and regarded me. “It’ll happen.” “What if it doesn’t?” She lowered her mug. “Read an old one.” “I can’t do that.” She shrugged. “Then you need to come up with one.” “Thanks.” She smiled. “No pressure.” “Right.” It was about then that I got a wonderful email from a reader who had stumbled onto a story concerning a Wyoming shepherd and wondered if I’d heard of it? I hadn’t and went on to do a little research to find out if the story was true. True or not it existed, and like a lot of tales from yore, it had passed from being a simple story to being a legend and this year’s Christmas story was born. I wrote it and was pleased and hope you will be too. But now here’s where it gets a bit odd. I went back through the emails to find the actual message from the reader and couldn’t find it. I even remember answering the email but for the life of me can’t find the original contact, which is odd, because I usually mark those types of emails with a green flag so I can respond to them. I like to think that this year’s Post-It and Christmas Story will find that unknown individual and convey my thanks for providing me with the fodder I needed at the time when I was growing a little desperate Or was it something else… ‘Tis the season for such things. See you on the holiday trail, Craig The Walt Longmire Christmas Story will be available on Christmas day. Or you can catch it in person before then at the Twelve Events of Christmas - details in Tour of Duty: • Laramie County Library, Cheyenne WY -- Sunday, December 4th at 1pm • Natrona County Library, Casper WY -- Sunday, December 4th at 6pm • Billings Public Library, Billings MT -- Friday, December 9th at 6:30pm • Big Horn County Library, Hardin MT -- Saturday, December 10th at Noon • Sheridan Fulmer Public Library, Sheridan WY -- Saturday, December 10th at 6pm • Ten Sleep Public Library, Ten Sleep WY -- Sunday, December 11th at 2pm • The Occidental Hotel, Buffalo WY -- Sunday, December 11th at 6pm • Story Branch Library, Story WY -- Friday, December 16th at 6pm • Tongue River Branch Library, Ranchester WY -- Saturday, December 17th at Noon • Ucross Foundation Christmas Event, Ucross WY -- Saturday, December 17th at 4pm • Clearmont Branch Library, Clearmont WY -- Sunday, December 18th at 2pm • Campbell County Public Library, Gillette WY -- Sunday, December 18th at 5pm Return to Post-Its
POST-ITS
© Craig Johnson All Rights Reserved
Author Of
Sign up for Craig’s Post-It Newsletter using this link. If you need help, please see the
Contact page.
December 2, 2022
Getting In Tune
Craig Johnson
Ever since I gave away Old Indian Trick, the first Walt Longmire Holiday Short Story all those years ago, it’s become a tradition. It’s also fun for me in that I sometime run across story ideas that just don’t fit any other format other than a short story, and besides, I’ve come to love those little snippets from Walt and from the other characters’ lives. They’re short, but they can still be very informing. Greer Shephard, one of the producers of Longmire, once told me that Slick-Tongued Devil from the first anthology Wait For Signs was her go-to for the tone of the TV show Longmire. I usually have a few backup ideas floating around, but to be honest this year I didn’t. I learned a long time ago that you can’t push these types of things, that you simply have to be patient and allow the inspiration to present itself. November arrived, and I was getting a little impatient. One of the joys of the short stories is the opportunity to travel around during the holidays to all the local libraries and take part in a community style celebration. They vary in size and style, but each one has grown dear to me over the years -- the only thing I count on is a blizzard when we go over the mountain to Ten Sleep. Early November and the libraries were contacting me, wanting to know what the name of this year’s short story might be. We usually haul swag with us when we go, because folks are genuinely disappointed when we don’t, and I try to invite the local bookstores to sell books if they’d like. They generally do, and I feel good about supporting the independent bookstores out there trying to make a living during the holidays. Mid-November, and I was getting panicked. “Don’t worry, you always come up with something.” Judy sipped her coffee and regarded me. “It’ll happen.” “What if it doesn’t?” She lowered her mug. “Read an old one.” “I can’t do that.” She shrugged. “Then you need to come up with one.” “Thanks.” She smiled. “No pressure.” “Right.” It was about then that I got a wonderful email from a reader who had stumbled onto a story concerning a Wyoming shepherd and wondered if I’d heard of it? I hadn’t and went on to do a little research to find out if the story was true. True or not it existed, and like a lot of tales from yore, it had passed from being a simple story to being a legend and this year’s Christmas story was born. I wrote it and was pleased and hope you will be too. But now here’s where it gets a bit odd. I went back through the emails to find the actual message from the reader and couldn’t find it. I even remember answering the email but for the life of me can’t find the original contact, which is odd, because I usually mark those types of emails with a green flag so I can respond to them. I like to think that this year’s Post-It and Christmas Story will find that unknown individual and convey my thanks for providing me with the fodder I needed at the time when I was growing a little desperate Or was it something else… ‘Tis the season for such things. See you on the holiday trail, Craig The Walt Longmire Christmas Story will be available on Christmas day. Or you can catch it in person before then at the Twelve Events of Christmas - details in Tour of Duty: • Laramie County Library, Cheyenne WY -- Sunday, December 4th at 1pm • Natrona County Library, Casper WY -- Sunday, December 4th at 6pm • Billings Public Library, Billings MT -- Friday, December 9th at 6:30pm • Big Horn County Library, Hardin MT -- Saturday, December 10th at Noon • Sheridan Fulmer Public Library, Sheridan WY -- Saturday, December 10th at 6pm • Ten Sleep Public Library, Ten Sleep WY -- Sunday, December 11th at 2pm • The Occidental Hotel, Buffalo WY -- Sunday, December 11th at 6pm • Story Branch Library, Story WY -- Friday, December 16th at 6pm • Tongue River Branch Library, Ranchester WY -- Saturday, December 17th at Noon • Ucross Foundation Christmas Event, Ucross WY -- Saturday, December 17th at 4pm • Clearmont Branch Library, Clearmont WY -- Sunday, December 18th at 2pm • Campbell County Public Library, Gillette WY -- Sunday, December 18th at 5pm Return to Post-Its
POST-ITS
© Craig Johnson All Rights Reserved
Author Of
Sign up for Craig’s Post-It Newsletter
using this link. If you need help, please
see the Contact page.
December 2, 2022
Getting In Tune
Craig Johnson
Ever since I gave away Old Indian Trick, the first Walt Longmire Holiday Short Story all those years ago, it’s become a tradition. It’s also fun for me in that I sometime run across story ideas that just don’t fit any other format other than a short story, and besides, I’ve come to love those little snippets from Walt and from the other characters’ lives. They’re short, but they can still be very informing. Greer Shephard, one of the producers of Longmire, once told me that Slick- Tongued Devil from the first anthology Wait For Signs was her go-to for the tone of the TV show Longmire. I usually have a few backup ideas floating around, but to be honest this year I didn’t. I learned a long time ago that you can’t push these types of things, that you simply have to be patient and allow the inspiration to present itself. November arrived, and I was getting a little impatient. One of the joys of the short stories is the opportunity to travel around during the holidays to all the local libraries and take part in a community style celebration. They vary in size and style, but each one has grown dear to me over the years -- the only thing I count on is a blizzard when we go over the mountain to Ten Sleep. Early November and the libraries were contacting me, wanting to know what the name of this year’s short story might be. We usually haul swag with us when we go, because folks are genuinely disappointed when we don’t, and I try to invite the local bookstores to sell books if they’d like. They generally do, and I feel good about supporting the independent bookstores out there trying to make a living during the holidays. Mid-November, and I was getting panicked. “Don’t worry, you always come up with something.” Judy sipped her coffee and regarded me. “It’ll happen.” “What if it doesn’t?” She lowered her mug. “Read an old one.” “I can’t do that.” She shrugged. “Then you need to come up with one.” “Thanks.” She smiled. “No pressure.” “Right.” It was about then that I got a wonderful email from a reader who had stumbled onto a story concerning a Wyoming shepherd and wondered if I’d heard of it? I hadn’t and went on to do a little research to find out if the story was true. True or not it existed, and like a lot of tales from yore, it had passed from being a simple story to being a legend and this year’s Christmas story was born. I wrote it and was pleased and hope you will be too. But now here’s where it gets a bit odd. I went back through the emails to find the actual message from the reader and couldn’t find it. I even remember answering the email but for the life of me can’t find the original contact, which is odd, because I usually mark those types of emails with a green flag so I can respond to them. I like to think that this year’s Post-It and Christmas Story will find that unknown individual and convey my thanks for providing me with the fodder I needed at the time when I was growing a little desperate Or was it something else… ‘Tis the season for such things. See you on the holiday trail, Craig The Walt Longmire Christmas Story will be available on Christmas day. Or you can catch it in person before then at the Twelve Events of Christmas - details in Tour of Duty: • Laramie County Library, Cheyenne WY -- Sunday, December 4th at 1pm • Natrona County Library, Casper WY -- Sunday, December 4th at 6pm • Billings Public Library, Billings MT -- Friday, December 9th at 6:30pm • Big Horn County Library, Hardin MT -- Saturday, December 10th at Noon • Sheridan Fulmer Public Library, Sheridan WY -- Saturday, December 10th at 6pm • Ten Sleep Public Library, Ten Sleep WY -- Sunday, December 11th at 2pm • The Occidental Hotel, Buffalo WY -- Sunday, December 11th at 6pm • Story Branch Library, Story WY -- Friday, December 16th at 6pm • Tongue River Branch Library, Ranchester WY -- Saturday, December 17th at Noon • Ucross Foundation Christmas Event, Ucross WY -- Saturday, December 17th at 4pm • Clearmont Branch Library, Clearmont WY -- Sunday, December 18th at 2pm • Campbell County Public Library, Gillette WY -- Sunday, December 18th at 5pm Return to Post-Its
POST-ITS
© Craig Johnson All Rights Reserved
Author Of