INTERVIEW: Wolfpack author Eugene J. DiCesaris talks Westerns, optimism, and writing process

My books have found a more than welcome home at Wolfpack Publishing, but I’m not the only author who works with the publisher to carry the torch of the Western . Many of the best authors in the genre have partnered with Wolfpack to deliver the kinds of stories that keep your TBR pile impossibly long.

Eugene J. DiCesaris is one such storyteller. DiCesaris is the author of the Pioneer Scout John Helper and Clayton Sharp series at Wolfpack Publishing, and you could take my word for how talented of a writer he is, or you could take the word of reviews from his work calling it captivating, impressive, and heartwarming.

"I think the “Western” has always been with us. It’s not dying." - DiCesaris

I was fortunate enough to catch up with DiCesaris recently where I asked him about the importance of faith in his writing, how he got started in the Western genre, his experience working with Wolfpack Publishing so far, and what kind of future he sees for the Western moving forward.

---

Osborn: Faith and personal conviction seem to play important roles alongside the action and danger in your work so far. How do you approach blending these elements in your stories so that both the spiritual and adventurous sides feel authentic and compelling?

DiCesaris: As long as I can remember, I’ve always harbored feelings that no matter how bad or challenging things may become in one’s circumstances, there will always be a way to overcome and succeed if that individual perseveres and does not give up. My writing reflects this belief, along with the fact that trials and disappointments eventually come to everyone.

Pioneer Scout John Helper: The Complete Western Trilogy by Eugene J. DiCesaris

No one is exempt, and indeed, a person could consider himself blessed for being so challenged. That’s when maturity and perspective can develop. In my novels, the main characters often encounter difficulty, but I try to show that with each successful resolution, they become not only more seasoned, but also more reflective and empathetic to what others have experienced in their own circumstances.

Osborn: You’ve published multiple with Wolfpack Publishing. What has the experience been like working with them so far, and what keeps you returning to them as your publisher?

DiCesaris: The team at Wolfpack have been very supportive and encouraging. Many times they offered suggestions and viewpoints that proved to strengthen my novels. Book three in my “John Helper” series is an example of this. The book is much stronger the way they suggested, than it would have been the way I had first envisioned. In addition, the ebook format was new to me, and at first, I was a little dubious about going in that direction--most likely because all my life I’ve been able to hold a book in my hands (and comment in the margins) whenever I chose to read it.

Now, it seems pretty natural. I like it. They also often advertise my books on various social platforms, and I truly appreciate that, as well. Mike Bray [CEO of Wolfpack Publishing] gave me the opportunity to publish through Wolfpack after my first publisher, Five Star, closed down. I’ve always considered his invitation to be thoughtful and supportive.

Osborn: Can you tell us more about how you get started in the Western genre and some of the first stories of the Old West that captured your imagination?

DiCesaris: Mainly, it was the segment of history with which I was most familiar. I’ve been reading books since I was a kid, and my interests ranged from the Second World War (the European theater), to baseball, to the Civil War, and later, the Roman Empire. I started reading about the American West in the 1980s, with the book “Son of the Morning Star” by Evan Connell serving as a launching pad for my thirst to read more. It’s still a book I recommend to others. (With the caveat that having a basic understanding of events and personalities during that era of American history will help the reader enjoy the book more fully.)

Osborn: For readers who are new to your books, what can they expect to find in terms of tone, themes, and the overall experience of reading one of your novels? Also, is there anything you hope readers will take away after reading your work?

DiCesaris: The second half of your question first. I hope the reader will feel optimistic about dealing with challenges. Trials can be serious and can drain one’s resolve, but perseverance and faith can—and in most cases do—bring about positive results and ultimate victory. Of course, a victory may end up looking differently from the way we first imagined, but that’s where our faith can help us make the necessary adjustment.

Overall, I think readers will find my novels to be clean (there are no vivid scenes of sex, cussing, or random portrayals of violence unrelated to the story’s plot), and along with the drama, the reader will find numerous examples of humor, light-heartedness, and a balanced way of depicting people--not only as groups, but also as individuals. One example: I portray Custer more evenly than the way he’s been presented in recent years. Yes, he certainly had his bad points and could be very domineering, but he also possessed a keen sense of humor, and was a prolific writer.

Osborn: As you’ve written across different series, how has your voice as a storyteller evolved? What have you learned about your own style or approach through that process?

DiCesaris: First, I’ve tried to include a little more detail in my writing, such as in how I describe a character, the clothing that person is wearing, what a room might look like, and so on. But not too detailed. I like to leave some room for the reader to conjure up in his imagination what he’d like that person, room, etc, to look like. It’s like listening to a song. I have always liked songs with ambiguous lyrics. It allows me to place my own personal circumstances within the story. Somehow, the song becomes more relatable to me that way. Hopefully, readers of my books will experience the same.

Clayton Sharp: The Complete Western Series by Eugene J. DiCesaris

Also, I learned—but had never thought about prior to writing—that I needed to learn how to write dialog in such a manner that all my characters didn’t sound the same whenever they spoke. It became imperative that some would have to drop their “g”s; others to be sarcastic or glib; and others to speak in full sentences while others conversed in terse, or choppy, patterns. It seems like a small thing, but I actually listen more carefully to how people around me speak, and have noticed the same patterns.

Finally, I think the reader will find my tone to be optimistic, and based on principles of faith, trust, and that everyone has the potential to do good things.

Osborn: There are always people claiming that the Western genre is either dead or dying. Yet, we constantly see it finding audiences with each new generation. What are your thoughts on the timeless appeal of Westerns, and how do you see the genre continuing to grow and change in the future?

DiCesaris: I think the “Western” has always been with us. It’s not dying. It’s just been dressed up in different clothing, and in different time periods. Popular movies dealing with space, or war, etc., employ the same “white hat” versus “black hat” storylines. We just don’t recognize it sometimes, that’s all. Also, I think the genre will always be popular because it portrays a way of life that many people believe—rightly or wrongly—was simpler, less hectic, and based on rugged individualism, trust, and faith.

I think there is a great future for Westerns, especially for those books written in such a manner that not only accurately portray the way things were back then (good, bad, and heartbreaking), but also the way good people faced and overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles through belief in themselves, cooperation with others, and faith in God.

You can find Clayton Sharp: The Complete Western Series right HERE and Pioneer Scout John Helper: The Complete Western Trilogy HERE from Eugene J. DiCesaris.