WIP: A novel of the desert

I continue to research for my next publication, an historical fiction work about a unique character named Steve.

Steve was a preacher turned cotton farmer, but when the prices of cotton dropped during World War I, he could not pay the taxes. So he turned the farm over to the collector, packed his family into a truck, and headed out into the desert to found a small town to assist travelers along the route.

At that time, the “route” was merely ruts in the Colorado desert—a hundred mile stretch of nothing halfway between Phoenix and Los Angeles. He set up a café, a repair garage, and a gas station. Later, he added places to stay, a post office, a general store, and even a pool for traveller to cool off during their long journey.

As owner of the entire town for decades, he ran it his way—and he was quite a character. “No drunks or dogs—and we prefer dogs!” was posted on the café door. “The only town with a 100-mile Main Street!” he boasted.

It is a story of grit, determination, and a testament to the incredible ingenuity and staying power of those humans who chose to make their home in the middle of a desert in the early 1900s. It is also a story of bad poetry, goats who eat schoolhouses, love, betrayal, General Patton, the start of Kaiser Permanente and health plans, rattlesnakes, skin cancer, and much, more more.

Cover of Nuff Sed: A Novel of Desert Steve by Markus McDowell.

A captivating historical fiction saga that traces the indomitable spirit of “Desert” Steve Ragsdale, a man who helped shape the American West.

In 1921, after losing his Kansas cotton farm to an inability to pay the taxes, Steve ventures into California’s desert with a bold vision. Defying a harsh land and no roads except ruts in the sands, he founds the town of Desert Center—a beacon of resilience amid heat and hardship. From his early days in Coffeyville, Kansas, confronting outlaws, to navigating the Great Depression, World War II, and the rise of Eagle Mountain Mine, Steve’s journey is one of grit, humor, and unwavering conviction. His motto, “Nuff sed,” encapsulates a life of action over words, as he battles the harsh environment, builds communities, and leaves a legacy etched in desert lore.

Blending historical events with vivid storytelling, McDowell explores themes of perseverance, family, and the human condition, drawing readers into a world where one man’s dream transforms a wasteland. With meticulously researched details—from Gruendike’s Well to the Colorado Aqueduct—this novel immerses you in the 20th-century West.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction and Western epics, Nuff Sed is a testament to the enduring power of determination. Join Desert Steve’s extraordinary adventure and discover why his story still resonates today.

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