by George Gramlich

I met TL Davis four years ago at the Independence Day Parade in Westcliffe. He had come to observe and march with the Southern Colorado Patriots Club Second Amendment section of the parade. I didn’t know he was there until later in the day. That’s how TL operates, I found out later.
TL runs the blogspot “Christian Mercenary” (http://christianmerc.blogspot.com) where he writes perceptive comments on current politics from a clearly conservative, Christian viewpoint. He is definitely on the “prepper” side of the aisle, and like a lot of us, feels that an economic and/or political tsunami is coming soon.
After the parade, TL came over to the old Sentinel building and we had a chance to meet and have a nice chat. He told me about himself a little bit and that he was a writer and had written some books and even a play.
TL is about six feet, well built, with a fighter’s carriage. He grew up on a cattle ranch in eastern Colorado. First impression is that this rugged looking fellow is a brawler and not somebody to be messing with (I have been around “brawlers” a lot in my life). He wears cowboy boots, a white cowboy hat, and nice sensible western attire. (He cleans up good.) Talks slow (to a NYer, maybe) with a bit of a possible southern accent. The brawling identification was confirmed in later meetings when he said he was an oil field worker since he was 15. ‘Nuff said. And he still works the fields.
Anybody talking to TL for a while would realize he is very intelligent and well read, but with the somewhat rough exterior, you would NOT think that this oil field hand would write. However, after reading his blog for years, I will tell you he can write. His blog posts are short, four or five hundred words and he kept telling me he had written a few books, and even a play! Big difference….
TL came by again a few weeks ago and we talked books. He discussed his first book, “Shadow Soldiers” published in 1997 (and still available at Amazon.com in Kindle or paperback format) and how he struggled with it. I finally broke down and told him I was going to buy “Shadow Soldiers” to see what the deal was. Based on TL’s “struggle” with the writing of the book,
I didn’t have high expectations.
It showed up last week, 207 pages worth. I started it Saturday morning after chores. I couldn’t put it down. Read the whole thing in one sitting. Plain old fun reading.
I am an avid reader, mostly non-fiction (history, religion, politics, genetics, etc.) and in general stay away from fiction (except for the prepper “end game” novels like “One Second Later”, “Lights Out”, etc. which I am a sucker for.) That said, TL’s book is simply an outstanding example of a good, action packed western adventure novel.
The book starts during the Civil War with its initial scenes occurring in Vicksburg, Mississippi, with the central character, J.D. Wilkes, being the young son (16 years old) of an important Confederate food and goods supplier and an enemy of the North. The youngster J.D. gets involved in the war, and after its conclusion, starts a truly epic journey west by himself to Texas, New Mexico and even Denver, Colorado. Cattle rustling, tons of old school, wild West shoot outs. cattle drives, bar room brawls, frame J.D.’s voyage of becoming an adult in the rough world of the old West. Great dialogue, superb scene settings, and excellent scene transitions. TL also does a great job in depicting post-civil war issues with Rebels and Yankees mixing it up in the wild West. Plus, the book is quite historical. The exquisite, out of nowhere ending is simply superb. Plus, he even gets a Shakespeare Hamlet quote in at the end! A great, fun read for all.
So, this tough looking oil field hand can write a book. And knowing TL a bit, I see a fair amount of TL in his character, J.D., though TL will probably not admit it.
A great read folks, and a fine present for anybody for Christmas. Get it at Amazon.com: It’s only $2.99 for the Kindle version (free if you are a Kindle Unlimited member) and just $12.99 for the paperback.

To see a list of his books goto https://www.amazon.com/T.L.-Davis/e/B001K8YKN4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1