Waiting For A Comet

During the long, hot spring of 1910 it seemed all 12-year-old Jo Harper could do was wait. Wait for her father, wait for her friends, wait for the comet that might appear in the sky and wipe out the whole town of Willowby, Wyoming once and for all. But when wild west legend Abby Drake arrives in town lugging an orphaned baby calf, an old-fashioned revolver, and a mystery shrouded with superstition, it’s up to Jo to take action. Why is Abby in town? Who is she after? And what secrets can Jo coax out of her own archenemy, Emily Bly?

Action, humor, and real life history combine for an exciting mystery about one girl’s summertime quest for family, friendship, and justice on the wind-burnt Wyoming range at the dawn of a new century.

Waiting For A Comet (Juvenile Fiction)

By Richard Prosch

Painted Pony Books

ASIN #B00KK895TO

Price $0.99

56 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“Well Written, and Loads of Fun.”

Set in 1910, the town of Willowby, Wyoming, is awaiting the arrival of Halley’s comet, and worrying if it’s bringing cyanide gas in its wake to kill them all. In the meantime, elderly Abigail Drake has arrived in town to become their local Constable. With her is a calf branded with a C. 12-year old Jo Harper, daughter of the WILLIOWBY MONITOR weekly newspaper, becomes friend with Abby, showing her around town with her 10-year-old pal, Frog Carpenter. They learn that the new constable is looking for cattle rustlers, and want to help. But what kind of danger will they be thrown into when a gunslinger threatens them?

This was a wonderful read, a throwback to those fun juvenile novels we read as children. The author captures our imagination with the descriptive narrative of the Old West, before the West grew up, when cowboys still wore six-shooters. Anyone that likes westerns, old juvenile fiction, or just plain good writing, will enjoy this short novel. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE PULP DETECTIVES

Champion of Justice and Freedom

Champion of Justice and Freedom (Juvenile)

By Wayne Greenough

ASIN B007d58H71

Musa Publishing

Rating 5-Stars

Young Tate’s grandfather loves old Republic serials, and shows them to his grandson, telling him about heroes and champions of justice in the days of his youth, instilling in the young 7^th Grader the idea of becoming a hero at school, protecting the innocent and punishing evildoers. But to his sad discovery, things always backfire making him into the bad guy. Even when he takes on Mountain, the biggest boy in school as his helper, they still wind up in trouble with the principal and teachers. Especially when the Phantom Marker strikes.

Written in 12 chapters, like the old Saturday Matinee series of Republic Pictures, each chapter ending in something resembling a cliffhanger, the young boys must unmask the evil Phantom Marker before they are blamed for his misdeeds.

This was a fun little novelette featuring children who wanted to be heroes like Spy Smasher, The Lone Ranger, and all the great heroes of radio, comic books and serials. Meant for children, I think adults will also get a kick out of the innocence of hero-worshipping children. Now, if the author would just write a 12-chapter serial for us adults. Highly recommended for ages 7 to 12, and maybe some of us older kids.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

Three Go Back

In the year 2323, when their teleport vehicle malfunctions, becoming a time machine, it sends three young high school girls back in time on a journey of discovery they never expected. From the Ice Age through the Cretaceous, Permian, Carboniferous, and finally to the beginning of the Earth’s evolution of life, they experience their world’s prehistoric past in all its splendor and terror, coming away with the joy of knowledge and fantastic adventure!


A juvenile science fiction novel that is both entertaining and educational. Available from Amazon and NTD.