WIP: historical fiction novel

In my novel, To and Fro Upon the Earth, there was a scene that took place at a café in a little desert town. The place is not fictional, though it is now deserted for the most part. 

A reader asked me the story behind the little town, and though I had done research on its location and the café, I really didn’t know. Not one to pass up an opportunity for research, I began looking into it. It was founded in 1921 as a stop between Phoenix and Los Angeles in the middle of the desert, when the road was no more than ruts in the sand. That was interesting enough, but the man who founded it turns out to be quite a character. His adventures, his ownership of the town, and many of the events that happened during his lifetime caught my imagination.  If I could find enough information about him, his life, and the town, it would make for a delightful historical fiction novel.

I don’t have a working title yet, referring to it as simply as Desert Steve. I am finding a good amount of information about the town itself, its history, but not an awful lot about the man’s early life. There’s not enough for a novel yet, but I think I’m getting close. I’ll be doing some on-site research soon. Once I have enough for a novel, I’ll start looking for themes to explore and that will suggest a title, as is usually the case with my books.

I’ll be posting more as I get farther along in the project.

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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