John Edward Ames
Encyclopedia
John Edward Ames is an American
writer of novel
s and short stories
from Toledo, Ohio
. A critically acclaimed writer of western fiction
, Ames began his career writing for pulp magazine
s before penning horror novels and stories. In 1995, Ames’ historical novel The Unwritten Order was a finalist for a Western Writers of America
Spur Award
.
, and educated at Eastern Michigan University
, Ames lived in Colorado
and New Mexico
before settling in 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Ames taught English at Eastern Michigan University, the University of Northern Colorado
and the University of New Mexico
. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968 and served as a journalist, including seven months as a stringer in Japan for Stars and Stripes
.
In 2004 Ames wrote The Real Deadwood, a mix of history
and buff lore about Wild Bill Hickok
and Calamity Jane
. Writing under the pseudonym Judd Cole, Ames wrote the entire twenty-three book Cheyenne series. Under the same pen name he penned the eight-book Wild Bill series.
Ames fled with most fellow residents of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina
came ashore in 2005, but looming book deadlines forced him to return as soon as possible to his apartment on St. Charles Avenue
, where he spent the next six months writing three novels. He contributed to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine New Orleans Relief Issue.
He presently writes under a “house name” for one of the longest-published western series in America and has also written a novel, titled Deadwood Gulch, released in 2006, as Ralph Compton
, the deceased "USA Today
bestseller of frontier fiction" writer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s and short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
from Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. A critically acclaimed writer of western fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, Ames began his career writing for pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
s before penning horror novels and stories. In 1995, Ames’ historical novel The Unwritten Order was a finalist for a Western Writers of America
Western Writers of America
Western Writers of America, founded 1953, promotes literature, both fiction and non-fiction, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional western fiction, the more than five hundred current members also include historians and other non-fiction writers as well as authors...
Spur Award
Spur Award
The Spur Award is an annual literary prize awarded by the Western Writers of America. Founded in 1953 with only four categories , the award today has expanded to include the following categories:...
.
Biography
Raised in Monroe County, MichiganMonroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
, and educated at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, Ames lived in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
before settling in 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Ames taught English at Eastern Michigan University, the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
and the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968 and served as a journalist, including seven months as a stringer in Japan for Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes (newspaper)
Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
.
In 2004 Ames wrote The Real Deadwood, a mix of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and buff lore about Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
and Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane
Martha Jane Cannary Burke , better known as Calamity Jane, was an American frontierswoman, and professional scout best known for her claim of being an acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickok, but also for having gained fame fighting Native Americans...
. Writing under the pseudonym Judd Cole, Ames wrote the entire twenty-three book Cheyenne series. Under the same pen name he penned the eight-book Wild Bill series.
Ames fled with most fellow residents of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
came ashore in 2005, but looming book deadlines forced him to return as soon as possible to his apartment on St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue is a thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. and the home of the St. Charles Streetcar Line. It is also famous for the hundreds of mansions that adorn the tree-lined boulevard for much of the Uptown section of the route. The southern live oak trees, particularly found in...
, where he spent the next six months writing three novels. He contributed to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine New Orleans Relief Issue.
He presently writes under a “house name” for one of the longest-published western series in America and has also written a novel, titled Deadwood Gulch, released in 2006, as Ralph Compton
Ralph Compton
Ralph Compton was an American writer of western fiction.A native of St. Clair County, Alabama, Compton stood six-foot-eight without his boots. He worked as a musician, a radio announcer, a songwriter, and a newspaper columnist. Mr...
, the deceased "USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
bestseller of frontier fiction" writer.
Novels
- The Force
- Death Crystal
- Spellcaster
- The Asylum
- The Unwritten Order
- The Golden Circle
- Soldier's Heart
The Cheyenne series (as Judd Cole)
- Arrow Keeper
- Death Chant
- Renegade Justice
- Vision Quest
- Blood on the Plains
- Comanche Raid
- Comancheros
- War Party
- Pathfinder
- Buffalo Hiders
- Spirit Path
- Mankiller
- Wendigo Mountain
- Death Camp
- Renegade Nation
- Orphan Train
- Vengeance Quest
- Warrior Fury
- Bloody Bones Canyon
- Renegade Siege
- River of Death
The Wild Bill series (as Judd Cole)
- Dead Man's Hand
- Bleeding Kansas
- Santa Fe Showdown
- Gun Law
Dan’l Boone: The Lost Wilderness Tales (last seven books as Dodge Tyler)
- The Long Hunters
- Warrior's Trace
- The Kaintucks
Magazines
In addition to fifty-six book sales and six ghostwritten novels, Ames’ has written short stories and articles for magazines:- Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
- Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
- The Writer
- The Borderland SeriesThe Borderland SeriesBorderland is a series of urban fantasy novels and stories created for teenage readers by Terri Windling. The series is set in Bordertown, a dystopian metropolis that lies along the border between "the Elflands" and "The World". The series consists of five anthologies and three novels to date...
- Mystery SceneMystery SceneMystery Scene Magazine, based in the US and first published in 1985, covers the crime and mystery genre with a mix of articles, profiles, criticism, and extensive reviews of books, films, TV, short stories, audiobooks, and reference works....
- Colorado-North Review