Gerald L. Guy | Updates

Depraved Injustice: A Journey that Changes Everything

Gerald L. Guy — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Since the day Gus McIntyre’s name first danced across my computer screen, his life path has changed repeatedly.

When readers closed the final page of Fighting Back, McIntyre had led a ragtag posse to a boxed canyon where they recovered a herd of stolen cattle. They were about to head back to the Circle H Ranch for a well-deserved rest. Of course, the trek back is not easy, and the ragtag posse arrives to a hero’s welcome. Finally, after months of dusty trails, Gus and Naomi Brown settle in for a peaceful existence among friends.

Serenity does not last long, though. Trouble has a way of finding the red-haired cowboy.

In the middle of the night, the young Apache brave, Running Bear, arrives at their doorstep with an urgent message from his grandfather. Chief Tatonga’s beloved granddaughter, White Dove, has vanished. He needs Gus’s help to find her. Of course, refusing the old chief’s plea is unthinkable.

The evidence points south, beyond the Rio Grande River and deep into the lawless reaches of northern Mexico, where justice is scarce and rich landowners operate with impunity.

Joined by Naomi and a handful of trusted friends, Gus rides into unfamiliar country. Every mile carries greater danger than the last. Their enemy is no ordinary outlaw. Hidden behind wealth, influence, and a private army of ruthless vaqueros, the powerful Don Guillermo Salamanca rules a world where innocent lives are bought, sold, and discarded without consequence. At his side is a giant bodyguard, an evil overseer, and a feared assassin known as El Fantasma (The Ghost).

White Dove is abused in every way and prays for her brother to come and restore her freedom. Her rescue becomes far more than a search for one missing young woman. It is a confrontation with cruelty, corruption, and the kind of depraved injustice that thrives when no one is willing to stand against it.

As the trail winds through barren landscapes and foreign soil, the rescue party discovers strength in their individual skills. Together, they make up a formidable force behind the planning of McIntyre.

Depraved Injustice is not only a story of bravery and courage. It is also a tale of two young people exploring the depths of their camaraderie.

Throughout the McIntyre Adventures, readers have watched the quiet bond between Gus and Naomi deepen through hardship and adversity. They have trusted one another with their lives, shared victories and heartbreak, and stood shoulder to shoulder when the odds seemed impossible.

At the conclusion of this 14th adventure, their relationship reaches a long-awaited turning point. Orphaned at a young age, Gus and Naomi have been fending for themselves for years. Now, as adults, they find it difficult to understand the emotional turmoil that stirs within their young bodies. In a moment that has been building since the day they met, Gus and Naomi confront their most difficult challenge, an examination of their unbreakable bond and what it means for their future.

Depraved Injustice delivers everything readers have come to expect from the McIntyre Adventures — fast-paced, unforgettable characters, sweeping Western landscapes, and the timeless belief that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they choose to stand for what is right. Watch for it later this August.

VISIT AMAZON

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UPPITY: A Memoir by Bill White

Gerald L. Guy — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Trailblazing Bill White was breaking into Major League Baseball when I was learning my ABCs. I don’t recall watching him play first base in the 1964 World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals or coveting his Topps baseball card. Nonetheless, he became a trailblazer and legend for a generation of baseball fans.

White was from my hometown, Warren (OH), and a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. Anyone who could read and write was aware that he played first base in the big leagues for more than a dozen years, was the voice of the New York Yankees from 1971 to 1988, and president of MLB’s National League from 1989 to 1994.

This week, White, 92, received the Buck O’Neil Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the seventh person to be so honored. The others are Buck O’Neil (2008), Roland Hemond (2011), Joe Garagiola (2014), Rachel Robinson (2017), David Montgomery (2020), and Carl Erskine (2023).

In all my years as a sportswriter and sports editor in Warren, I never crossed paths with Bill White, but he was an icon within a rich sports community. After helping legendary Harding Coach Steve Arnold write his autobiography, Born to Lead, this past year, I learned of White’s autobiography, Uppity, published in 2011. I downloaded it from Amazon and immersed myself in the play-by-play account of baseball at the advent of racial integration and before free agency changed it forever. In many ways, it was an eye-opener.

Here are some things I learned about William DeKova “Bill” White that every Warrenite should know:

■ Bill was born in Lakewood (FL) in 1934, and his single mother moved to Warren for financial opportunity.

■ He played football, basketball, and baseball at WGH, but was not a star performer. He warmed the bench for the Panther baseball team. Academics set him apart.

■ Bill was president of his senior class at Harding, which created a social problem. Traditionally, the senior class president kicked off homecoming festivities by dancing with the homecoming queen, who was white in 1952. The tradition was promptly discontinued because such racial mixing was unacceptable in 1952.

■ White attended Hiram College with plans for a career in medicine. At the time, Hiram didn’t have a baseball team.

■ Legendary Leo Durocher signed the future eight-time All-Star and Golden Glove winner to his first contract in 1953. The minimum salary of a major league player in the 1950s was $5,000. White’s mother had to sign his contract because he hadn’t reached the legal age of 21 yet.

■ Bill was the only African American player for the Danville (VA) Leafs, a Class B team in the Carolina League. Playing in the South was where he learned to ignore the racial slurs of some teammates and far too many vociferous fans.

■ In 1956, Bill White made his major league debut with the Giants, hitting a home run against the Cardinals in his very first at-bat. He ended his playing career with a .286 batting average and 202 home runs. He played thirteen seasons for the New York/San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies.

■ White became the first African American play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees and shared the microphone with legendary Phil Rizzuto for eighteen years.

■ When he was appointed president of the National League, Bill resented it when the news media repeatedly referred to him as the first African American to head a major sports league in America

Uppity is a treat for baseball fans, young and old. The author spins tales about Willie Mays, Curt Flood, the outspoken George Steinbrenner, the irascible Marge Schott and Howard Cossell, Phil Rizzuto, and many more. White takes readers back to a time when baseball was America’s Game, an era when a small-town boy could reach the pinnacle of success on sheer determination and principle.

Thanks, Bill White, for sharing your memories. I’m sorry it took me so long to make my way to your autobiography. And congratulations for being recognized in Cooperstown at long last.

UPPITY ON AMAZON ]]>

Hypocrites vs. AI

Gerald L. Guy — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’m having trouble understanding the loathing authors seem to be lobbing at AI these days. I’ve read threads on social media sites that encourage others not to endorse novels written with help from artificial intelligence. I think it’s very much like “spitting into the wind,” to borrow a phrase from Jim Croce.

Perhaps I need to set the stage so anyone reading this will understand. I am a Baby Boomer and old-time newspaper guy. I’m seventy-six years young and have written more than thirty novels in the last twenty years. I’ve never been on the New York Times bestsellers list, but, like you, would love to be one day.

I remember when linotypes and molten lead were used to create every line Americans read in their daily newspapers and monthly magazines. The men who operated the machinery were among the most respected and highest paid in the industry.

Then, some genius Boomer invented computers that put them out of work. Next came the Internet. By then I was an editor, working at a newspaper whose slogan was “Read It Here First.” I balked when I was told I had to put my stories on the Web before my newspaper was delivered to the doorstep of loyal readers’ homes.

Guess what happened?

The Internet won.

Today, the print media is hanging on by a thread because everybody gets their news via the Internet. The Tampa Tribune, The Atlanta Constitution, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer no longer publish daily print products. My old nemesis, The Youngstown Vindicator, shut down completely.

So, as I sit and create this rant (I might call it a warning, though) on an electronic device that magically knows what keys I intend to strike, tries to guess my next word, and underlines the ones I misspell, I say PSHAW. It was that word you missed the other day on Wordle, the New York Times’ popular word game.

Let this thread serve as a harbinger for all who suggest authors who embrace AI are something less than rat dung. The march of technology is unstoppable; it opens doors to unimaginable possibilities. Don’t fight it. Grab on tightly because this is just the beginning. I cannot think of a future without it.

As authors, we are in the entertainment business. Those of us who do a better job of entertaining our readers get a royalty check every month. Sure, we’d all like those deposits to have more zeroes, but that doesn’t happen for all.

Over the years, I’ve learned that writing is an evolutionary process. The more you read and write, the better you get. Why sneer at those who seek to improve with a single click of the mouse? Artificial intelligence is a tool to make writing better, to help describe places never visited, to make thoughts clearer, to add dimension to senseless gobbledygook.

Many of you say using AI is akin to cheating. I call it an attempt to attract readers to wonderful, creative ideas that sit undiscovered and read by only family and friends.

There is no denying AI. It is part of YOUR everyday life. Opposing it is simple hypocrisy.

Like me, you all love and use Grammarly and Google. They are AI.

You right-click and search for synonyms because it is easier than reaching for a thesaurus. It’s instant AI but not as thorough as the bound volume that sits on my desk.

You never use a phone book. You use your cell phone’s AI.

Need I go on?

Instead of lambasting struggling authors who are treading water vigorously in an effort to stay afloat, focus on the publishers who use artificial intelligence nefariously. I’m talking about the guys who feed the entire catalog of a deceased author into AI, develop new streams, and reap the profits.

I’ll gladly stand with you in that fight, because novels, like newspapers, are a dying commodity. Sixty percent of the population no longer read the words we produce. Half of those can’t write in cursive or tell if the big hand or little hand tells what hour of the day it is.

That’s scary.

Call me Scrooge if you will. I stand by my creative brothers and sisters who strive to improve the written word and are willing to try new things to attract new readers. AI hypocrites can spit in the wind all they want. Take it from a former technology snob: you are bound to get wet.

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Browner Way

Gerald L. Guy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I began my sportswriting career under Dick Olmstead, who taught me about the importance of history. Olmstead was a fanatic about recordkeeping, and if anybody dared to say some new young athlete was great, he was quick to say, “Let me tell you about Paul Warfield, Bill White, and William McKinley.

Warfield and White graduated from Warren Harding High School long before there was a need for a second high school. While both had legendary prep careers, it was their post-graduate work that was remarkable.

Warfield starred at Ohio State, in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins,, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

White made his mark in the classroom and on the baseball field. He starred at Harding, Hiram College, and was an eight-time All-Star for the New York/San Francisco Giants, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Phillies. He later became president of MLB’s National League. White will receive the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2026.

McKinley was a Kinsman product who became a Major League Baseball umpire after serving in World War II. McKinley appeared in the World Series in 1950, 1952, 1857 and 1964. He worked the All-Star Game in 1953, 1958 and 1962. If you were lucky enough to hear him present as a guest speaker, you would understand why he was revered nationwide.

As many of you know, I recently helped Steve Arnold, a legendary high school coach at WGH, write his autobiography, entitled Born to Lead: Trailblazer, Mentor & Life Coach. Much of that exercise involved examining the history of Warren athletics. We both agreed that such a manuscript would not be complete without a word about the Browner brothers, who emerged in the 1970s as the greatest sports family in all of Warren sports history.

In their honor, Sixth Street in Warren will be named Browner Way on Friday, July 17. It’s where Ross, Jimmie, Willard, Joey, Keith, and Gerald grew up with their sisters. It’s a fitting tribute, one I think even Olmstead, my old mentor, would celebrate.

In conjunction with the dedication, Steve and I present “Chapter 38: Oh, Brother!” as a tribute to the Sensational Six, five of whom died far too early.

CHAPTER 38
Oh, Brother!

EDITOR’S NOTE: In documenting the events of Steve Arnold’s life, it goes without saying that we have recounted a brief history of Warren athletics. The author and the coach agree that such a dissertation would not be complete without a mention of the Browner brothers.

While Paul Warfield will always be remembered by Warrenites as the GOAT, the achievements of the Browner brothers will never be surpassed. It goes without saying that they are the greatest family of athletes ever to call Warren home. Ross, Jimmie, Willard, Joey, Keith, and Gerald all played at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. Four of the six were drafted to play in the NFL.

As a Harding alum, Arnold grew up in the shadow of the Browner brothers. They all played a variety of sports in the 1970s and 1980s, and Ross, Jimmie, Joey, and Keith had lengthy NFL careers.

Aside from their football skills, the editor recalls Ross running in the Ohio state track meet, Jimmie owning a black belt in karate, and Willard being a leading scorer on the Raiders’ basketball team under Coach John Lawhorn.

Arnold is adamant that the Browners do not get enough credit for the mark they made on athletics nationally.

“I don’t think they get their just due, given they came from one family. I’m not talking stepbrothers or half-brothers. They were the product of a hard-working family. They were all raised under the same roof by Julia and James Browner.”

The boys were not the only athletes in the family, either. Sisters Olivia and Burdette played sports, too.

Arnold was attending a football clinic in Iowa when he asked a number of the assembled coaches to tell him the names of the best combination of brothers to play in the NFL. Everyone struggled to come up with a name.

“Any time you ask that question, everyone names the Selmon brothers — Lee Roy, Dewey, and Lucious (WFL). They forget about the Browners for some reason,” Arnold said.

In 2024, Arnold and David were at a Steelers training camp in Pittsburgh to observe Hardng alum, James Daniels. Steve asked the same question of legendary head coach Mike Tomlin.

“He thought for about 20 seconds and said, ‘Oh, that’s easy. That’s the Browner brothers.’ I was so elated that he recognized the Browner brothers,” Arnold said.

Ross was the oldest and set the standard for his siblings. He was one of the most decorated players in college football history, winning the Outland Trophy and Maxwell Award at Notre Dame. Brothers Jimmie and Willard followed him and played for the Fighting Irish.

Arnold believes Ross could have been the MVP of Super Bowl XVI had the Bengals won the game. Instead, the 49ers won, 26-21, and Joe Montana won the prize.

Like his brother, Jimmie played for the Bengals. Joey played at USC and was a six-time Pro Bowler for the Minnesota Vikings. Keith also played at Southern Cal and was drafted into the NFL by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Willard had a free agent stint with the Steelers.

Younger brother Gerald was a 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive lineman for Georgia and Grambling. There was always talk of him being the best athlete in the family. Warren fans whispered he could dunk a basketball with both hands as a 250-pound freshman.

“Gerald was my age,” Arnold said. “We played on the same all-star baseball team that was coached by my father, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Hines, and Rich Middleton,” Arnold recalled.

Gerald, like Willard, had a brief stint in professional football, playing for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Gerald and Steve reunited briefly in 1989 when the Arnold family went to Pasadena to see his brother, David, play in the Rose Bowl.

“I remember seeing Gerald there. He was wearing a big yellow events jacket. We got to talk briefly before we were ushered off to our seats. It was unbelievable to see him again.”

Ross returned to Warren in 2016 for the inaugural Legends Football Banquet and Golf Outing. Arnold picked him up at the airport and recalls trading stories.

“As soon as we got into Warren, Ross said: ‘Steve, ride by the Hot Dog Shoppe, and take me down by my old home, off of Tod Avenue, SW.”

Ross pointed out some of the West Side spots the brothers frequented. Sixth Street, Eighth Street, Karl Avenue, and Baker Street were where the boys roamed and played when they were growing up.

“We rode around and actually parked in the driveway (of his parents’ home) and reminisced a little bit. Ross got out and talked to the guy who lives there now. You could tell it was bringing back memories for Ross. He said he remembered him and his brothers would leave the Y, stop at the Hot Dog Shoppe, and get 10 hot dogs between them. They would eat them and a bag of fries before they got home.”

“A lot of credit goes to their mom and dad. They raised their sons and daughters the right way,” Arnold added.

Ross summed up the family dynamics pretty well.

“Warren was a great place to grow up,” he said. “One thing about it was our parents always wanted us to stay off the streets and not be in gangs and all that type of thing. (They wanted us) to learn a trade or something that was going to be a positive in life. Sports really turned out to be one of those positive things.”

Ross attended the 2016 banquet to pay tribute to the Harding football team, as well as make a presentation on behalf of the National Football League. It was the fiftieth year of the Super Bowl, and the NFL — in an effort to honor the hundreds of players who had participated in the biggest games of the half-century — awarded a golden Wilson football to every high school that had had an alum (coach or player) listed on a Super Bowl roster. Arnold accepted three balls that night on behalf of Harding High School, marking the Super Bowl achievements of Warfield, Browner, and Manningham. All are proudly displayed in the trophy case at the high school.

A greater honor was yet to come.

In 2021, Jimmie sent Coach Arnold a collection of Browner memorabilia, much of which he still treasures.

“He (Jimmie) said it was a gift from him and his brothers to me for being the first African American football coach in the history of the Warren School System. It was something I never expected and means something very special to me,” Arnold said.

The coach used some of it to make a Browner Family Wall of Honor at the high school.

“I didn’t want their name to be forgotten,” he said.

To this day, players can look to the wall for motivation to work hard and achieve whatever potential they might desire.

* * *

■ According to available records, only Willard Browner has survived the new millennium. Five of the brothers — Ross (2022), Jimmie (2024), Keith (2025), Joey (2026), and Gerald (2016) — have died in the last decade. Willard was last known to reside in the Dayton area.

BUY BORN TO LEAD

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Drunken Cowboys

Gerald L. Guy — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fighting Back, the next installment of the McIntyre Adventures, will debut on Friday, July 3, just in time for the big Sesquicentennial celebration. As readers will recall, Gus and his friends are rushing back to Texas after receiving a telegram that stated there was trouble at the Circle H Ranch.

Meet Flemming Ibbara, an immigrant from Spain who keeps to himself while trying to refurbish a small farm on the outskirts of Santa Angela, Texas. He works his farm during the early monring hours and arrives in town at mid-afternoon to report to his bookkeeping job at The Everything Mercantile.

Ibbara is twenty years old and the product of a Jewish father and Spanish mother. He fled Spain two years ago after bludgeoning a bully with a four-foot-long walking stick that never leaves his side. It was an act of self-defense on the campus of a college in Madrid. When the bully who accosted him died, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

His father put him on a steamship to American forthwith rather than take the chance of a guilty verdict in the corrupt court system of Spain. Here is an excerpt that explains what’s taking place on the cover:

In the dry, windblown environment of Santa Angela, Flemming Ibbara’s appearance was dapper for a rugged frontier town. For two fun-loving cowboys with too much alcohol in their bloodstream, he looked refined, foreign, wealthy, and an easy, bespectacled target.

Ibbara pretended to ignore the men who intended to block his path and jostle him. Dark, deep-set eyes studied them from above, tiny reading spectacles that rested atop a prominent nose.

Here we go again. When will these young thugs learn?

His right fist tightened on the walking stick that accompanied him wherever he traveled. His left hand retrieved a pocket watch from a tiny vest pocket, flipped open the lid, and revealed the day’s time. He wondered how long the confrontation might delay his arrival at the mercantile.

Ibbara stopped when he was ordered to, removed his glasses, and looked up at the drunken duo. Both wore six-shooters on their hips; the one on the left had his holster tied just above his knee. Most likely, he was the fastest of the two and would be Ibbara’s first target if things turned ugly.

And Flemming knew they would.

“Look what we have here, Davy,” the man on the left said.

“I’ve never seen shit piled so high,” Davy Moore replied.

“He smells like shit, too,” said the gunslinger, Tucker Morgan.

“Do you talk shit, too, mister?” Davy asked.

Both men laughed.

Ibbara stared but didn’t say a word. He was taking in every movement and calculating when he would need to strike.

As expected, the gunslinger took a step closer, pulled his pistol, and jammed the barrel into Ibbara’s shoulder.

“We’re talking to you, mister. What do you have to say for yourself?” he said.

Flemming just smiled, his dark, beady eyes measuring every movement. The cowboy’s glassy eyes would tell him when to make his move.

The gunslinger turned to his buddy and said, “I don’t think this ugly man can talk, Davy. He’s what society calls a misfit. He doesn’t belong walking among us normal folks.”

Behind Flemming’s smile was the knowledge that the overconfident gunslinger didn’t have his finger on the trigger of the pistol that thumped his shoulder. He wasn’t going to wait for that to happen either.

Buy FIGHTING BACK to find out what happens next. Just click the link below.

AMAZON ]]>

Covers. Covers. Covers.

Gerald L. Guy — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hello readers and friends,

Creative book covers are one of the most valuable marketing tools a novelist has because they shape a reader’s first impression long before a single page is read. A compelling cover communicates genre, tone, quality, and professionalism in just a few seconds.

I came up with two of them for my new novel, Fighting Back, which debuts July 3. I thought I had settled on one that depicted Gus and Naomi shooting arrows at an enemy. I bounced it off a few readers, and many said it reminded them of Laura Croft: Tomb Raider. I didn’t like that because the McIntyre Adventure series is set in the Wild West. So, at the eleventh hour, I changed.

The new cover shows Flemming Ibbara, a new character, fighting off a pair of cowboys with a walking stick. It’s a pivotal scene in the book and tells the reader there is action and adventure ahead. The goal, of course, is to attract more readers. I apologize for any confusion it might create.

Ibbara, 18, arrives on the shores of American in the late 1870s, young, naïve, and a fugitive from an unjust legal system in Spain. When Flemming steps onto a busy wharf in Charleston, an older man offers him the opportunity for further adventure. Jacob and Sarah Levine need help migrating to Texas.

Why Texas?

In 1871, Texas passed the Texas Bureau of Immigration Act. Its goal was to rebuild Texas following the Civil War by luring domestic and foreign migrants to the Lone Star State. Periodicals proclaimed Texas as “Home for the Emigrant.” The legislation allowed bureau bosses to negotiate reduced rates for transportation to the state, and some frontier settlements provided housing for newcomers.

The Spaniard could see no reason to end his travels in Charleston. Flemming had journeyed 4,000 miles to get to America. What was another one thousand miles to Texas? Of course, the journey is fraught with danger, delays, and disappointment.

If you find this interesting, grab a copy of Fighting Back. It can be purchased in advance and will appear automatically on your electronic reading device on Friday.

In the meantime, cheers to all of you as we prepare to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. Be safe, take a peek at my new novel, and have a great time.

BUY FIGHTING BACK ]]>

Buy Fighting Back in advance

Gerald L. Guy — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It’s been nine years since Gus McIntyre smiled back at me from my computer screen. In that time, the fourteen-year-old boy I created to entertain my grandchildren has grown to manhood and become a force to be reckoned with wherever he travels.

Back in 2017, I never imagined this project would spin off in so many directions. Those who might remember Runs Like the Wind, a 25,000-word novella, will recall a eulogy in which Gus died a rich man after striking oil on the Circle H Ranch. His love for fast horses transformed into a love for fast cars, and he died in a fiery crash at age 86.

I don’t know if the series will ever evolve to that futuristic crash, but Gus will continue to entertain readers until my computer screen goes dark or readers stop following his exploits.

As I put his thirteenth adventure to bed, I promise there is much more to come. I’ve introduced a new character, Flemming Ibbara, a twenty-year-old immigrant who wields a mean walking stick in Fighting Back. I’m unsure what role he will play in the ongoing storyline, but he brings a fascinating contrast to the budding relationship between Gus and Naomi Brown.

For Gus and Naomi, of course, the greatest challenge of the 1880s will not be surviving the wilderness — it will be surviving change. The Southwest Texas they have known will disappear. The open frontier that once rewarded courage, self-reliance, and horsemanship will steadily give way to fences, railroads, towns, and an industrial revolution that will change the world. While progress brings opportunity, it also creates fresh conflicts and uncertainties.

Naomi, who spent much of her life among Native Americans, will witness the demise of her tribal family and the seizure of their ancestral lands. She will be caught between two worlds, neither of which will completely accept her.

For immigrant settlers like Flemming Ibbara, opportunities abound, yet success requires adapting to unfamiliar customs, languages, and business practices.

Perhaps the greatest challenge for my McIntyre characters will be preserving their values. Gus and Naomi grew up in a world where a person's word often meant more than a written contract and neighbors depended upon one another for survival. The new SouthSouthwest Texas will reward ambition and innovation, but also will encourage greed and competition.

As civilization advances, they must decide what parts of the old frontier deserve to be left behind and what principles are worth carrying into the future.

In Fighting Back, Gus and Naomi stand at the crossroads of two eras. Behind them lies the untamed frontier of endless horizons and simple rules. Ahead stretches a modern Texas filled with railroads, industry, prosperity, and conflict. Their struggle is not merely against rustlers and outlaws — it is against the relentless tide of change itself, a force as powerful and unpredictable as any enemy they have ever faced.

I hope you join me on their journey.

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Raton Pass challenges McIntyre entourage

Gerald L. Guy — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fighting Back, the next installment of the McIntyre Adventures, will debut on July 3, just in time for the big Sesquicentennial celebration. As readers will recall, Gus and his friends are rushing back to Texas after receiving a telegram that indicated there was trouble at the Circle H Ranch.

From the mountain ranges of Colorado, the journey is not easy. The Raton Pass, especially, is rugged and unforgiving. The trail they follow leads upward into the clouds, where they find thin air, loose shale, deep drop-offs, and relentless wind. Danger lurks with every step nervous horses take. Blind switchbacks make every inch of the twisting, turning ascent life-threatening. The only thing worse than climbing to the Raton Pass is the descent on the southern side of the rocky saddle.

The Raton Pass is a death trap, waiting for its next victim.

Of course, the terrain is not the only nemesis of weary travelers. Outlaws, native hunting parties, and Mexican desperados often lay in wait of unsuspecting travelers. The McIntyre entourage is no exception. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1:

They were surprised when three mounted desperados emerged from a copse of ragged trees and rock to block their path. Walt held up his hand to stop the procession.

“This looks like trouble,” Eduardo whispered.

“Yes. Let’s stay calm and see what they want,” Walt said.

All three wore ragged sombreros, white or blue cotton shirts, and decorative slacks. Each had a sarape draped across their shoulders and a pistol in hand.

“Buen dia (Good morning), gringos,” the leader of the trio shouted. A black mustache covered his mouth, but he had a look of mirth in his eyes. He was flanked by his two comrades, who stared menacingly at the Texans.

“What do you want and why are you blocking our path?” Eduardo asked in his native tongue.

“You are traveling to the Raton Pass, no?” the leader asked.

“Yes, what is it to you?”

“We are here to collect the toll,” the leader replied.

“My friends and I were not informed of any toll. Who are you? We kindly ask that you allow us to pass.”

“I am Juan de la Cruz. Because you are a countryman, the toll today is only five dollars a head. That will be thirty dollars, preferably in gold, my friend.”

“We are not friends,” Eduardo replied. “I must confer with the others.”

Gus had been watching the exchange and did not like the sound of it. He and young Hank rode up to where the women sat their horses and listened with interest. He whispered, “Hank, you stay here with the girls. I will see what is going on.”

He looked at Naomi and added, “Be ready. I do not like this.”

She nodded that she understood and whispered to Hank and Jessie, “Follow me. We must spread out so we are not easy targets if these men start shooting.”

“Oh, no!” Jessie said.

“Stay calm,” Naomi advised. “Hank, you ride between us. If shooting starts, get behind one of those big rocks as fast as you can.”

Next, she guided her pony into the tall grass so she had a clear view of Gus, Walt, and Eduardo, who were discussing the request of the desperados. The tactic she learned from her days with the Caputa Indians was both defensive and offensive. If shooting started, she had a clear shot at the enemy.

* * *

(If you want to learn what happens next, Fighting Back is for sale in advance. Buy it today, and it will instantly appear on your electronic reading device on July 3. Just click the link below.)

BUY FIGHTING BACK ]]>

UPCOMING SUMMER RELEASE

Gerald L. Guy — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fans who are familiar with my McIntyre Adventure series of novels will be happy to learn I’m well on my way with the next release in the popular storyline. I expect it to be released sometime next month.

In Fighting Back, Gus McIntyre and Walter Hamilton are rushing back to Texas after an extended stay in Colorado when they receive an ominous telegram from the Circle H Ranch that says: “Hurry home, Junior. We’ve got trouble!”

Making it through the mountainous wilderness isn’t easy, but the best friends are making it with the help of Don Eduardo Santiago, a Mexican charro they met in Del Norte. Of course, Naomi Brown is at McIntyre’s side, and Walt has a new bride, Jessie Prescott Hamilton, to protect. Young Henry Perez accompanies Eduardo.

The path from the mountains to the prairies of Texas is long and treacherous. There are no real roads, as we know them today.

The entourage must negotiate the Raton Pass, barren wilderness, and trails that are frequented by buffalo hunters, outlaws, and Indian war parties.

Here is an excerpt that describes what faces the travelers in their rush to return home:

Walt seemed to ignore his friend’s comments. His mind focused only on his father’s message. The only son of Walt and Gert Hamilton looked at Eduardo and asked, “How far away from San Angelo do you think we are, Eduardo?”

“Six or seven hundred miles through rough country, my friend,” he replied. “It will be a difficult journey at a moderate pace. To ride a lo loco (wildly) would be unwise. Your horse will never make it, and, without a horse, neither will you.”

Jessie grabbed her husband’s arm and pleaded, “Think about what they are telling you, Walt. Your parents wish for you to hurry, but they want you alive and well; so do I. I want us to begin a new life in Texas together.”

“Tell us what lies ahead, Eduardo,” Gus asked, looking to the newest addition to their traveling party. Eduardo had traveled the route north when he left Mexico and joined his brother in Del Norte.

“As you know, we must cross the Raton Pass,” Eduardo explained. “Like the Diablo Gorge, it is strewn with boulders and rocks that are ideal for ambush. Because we are many, we should pass without harm. Because of its elevation, the pass is prone to high winds that trigger unexpected landslides, making it treacherous. The footing will be a problem for our horses. In most areas, it will be best if we walk the animals through. The real problem is getting to the pass and then descending. Both trails are steep.

“On top of that, the weather is unpredictable. There is already snow on the tops of the mountains ahead. The pass descends to the small railroad town of Raton. Beyond Raton is Llano Estacado (the Staked Plains). It is a vast, flat landscape with little water. As you might know, when we enter Texas, we must cross the Canadian and Pecos Rivers. Then we will follow the Rio Grande to your home.”

“I don’t like the sound of the flatlands with little water,” Gus said. “How vast is it?”

“They say it is several hundred miles across, but we will not be crossing it entirely. We should be able to cross in five days,” Eduardo explained.

“That is a long time without water,” Gus said, looking at Walt, who was listening but in deep thought.

“Oh, there is water, but it’s just hard to find,” Eduardo replied.

“Can you find water?” asked Naomi.

“I did the last time I crossed, but the land changes. We must make the crossing slowly and preserve the water we carry and the energy of our horses. The journey is much longer on foot,” Eduardo added and chuckled at his own joke. Nobody laughed.

“Will we need extra horses?” Gus asked.

“Not if we travel at a casual pace,” Eduardo replied. “There are places, although far apart, where water is available for travelers. If I wanted to cross in three days, I would want two extra horses.”

“Once we navigate the pass, we can gather water and supplies in Raton, right?” Gus asked.

“Yes, we can stop in Raton. From there, we will travel southeast through the Llano Estacado to get to Texas,” Eduardo said.

“Well, let’s get through this pass,” Walt said. “When we get to Raton, I will send another telegram to my father to assure him we are on our way.”

* * *

Watch for the next installment of the McIntyre Adventures, FIGHTING BACK, scheduled for release this summer. Click the link below to order any of the more than thirty books in my Amazon catalog.

GUY BOOKS

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Book Launch & Inaugural Book Signing

Gerald L. Guy — Sun, 3 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Author Gerald L. Guy is excited to announce the launch and inaugural book signing of Coach Steve Arnold's memoir and autobiography, BORN TO LEAD, scheduled for the Warren G. Harding High School Cafetorium on May 30, 2026, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The novel has been a year in the making and the co-authors cannot wait to share it with Trumbull County fans and readers. The legendary coach will host the gathering and autograph purchased copies. Proceeds from the sale of the 400-page novel will benefit the Merle B. Carter (Arnold) Scholarship Fund, which will debut in 2027.

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BORN TO LEAD: Team goes AWOL

Gerald L. Guy — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While many Warren fans anticipated and praised Paul Trina’s choice of Steve Arnold as the next Harding head football coach in the winter of 2011, the timing was horrible. The announcement was made in late November, shortly after the end of the 2011 football season and just weeks before the launch of the 2011-12 basketball campaign. As usual, Steve and his coaches showed up for afternoon basketball practice, but got a big surprise. It went something like this:

After a long day of media demands, Arnold showed up for the team’s four o’clock practice session. To his surprise, the team was AWOL, absent without leave.

“I turned to Richie Chapman, my top assistant, and asked, ‘Didn’t we say practice was at four o’clock’?”

Chapman confirmed it, but the gym was empty. No players showed up for practice. When they checked the locker room, senior Jesse Hardin was seated in front of his locker, looking dejected. Steve was glad to see him, because he had an important question for his starting point guard.

“Where’s everybody at?” he asked.

“Coach, they’re not coming. They were mad that you left practice early yesterday,” Hardin explained. “They don’t think that you care about us anymore.”

Arnold’s response was immediate and assertive. “Jesse, call those guys and tell them to get here. NOW!”

* * *

To learn what happened next, get your copy of BORN TO LEAD. It will be available at Amazon in eBook and paperback formats on May 30. You can pre-order the electronic version today, and it will be delivered to your electronic device on the day of the launch. Paperbacks will be available at the Harding Cafetorium on Saturday, May 30, when Coach Arnold hosts a launch event and an inaugural book signing. The event begins at 11 a.m., and the public is invited to attend.

ORDER NOW: Amazon.com: Born to Lead: Trailblazer, Mentor & Life Coach eBook : Arnold, Steven, Guy, Gerald L.: Kindle Store

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BORN TO LEAD: Switching sports

Gerald L. Guy — Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Steve Arnold spent almost forty years guiding the lives of student-athletes in Warren, Ohio. He had won 190 games in ten seasons as Warren G. Harding High School’s head basketball coach. Meanwhile, the football team was struggling. Athletic Director Paul Trina asked him to cross over and take the reins of the Raiders’ gridiron fortunes in 2012. It wasn’t an easy transition. The autumn warriors lacked discipline, respect, and commitment. That changed the first time Arnold met with the team.

The following is an excerpt from BORN TO LEAD. It describes the first meeting between the legendary coach and the football team:

“The word was out. I was a no-nonsense guy who demanded excellence on the field of play and in the classroom. The team wasn’t used to that,” Arnold said.

Dozens of players shuffled into the cafeteria and took seats at the tables, and began chatting among themselves. Some were seated with their backs to the Harding hierarchy. Steve didn’t like it; he thought it was disrespectful, and he let them know it.

“So, I blew the whistle that was around my neck and informed them I needed everyone’s attention. Not everyone responded or turned my way.”

Arnold took a moment to scan the faces of the young men who would be playing for him next Fall. He saw some things he liked and some he didn’t.

Next, he dropped a bomb.

He ordered the team to turn around so everyone was facing him. Then, he said, “Take your hats off, pull back your hoods, and pay attention to what I am about to say. You have three minutes to decide if you want to be part of this team. If you don’t, you are free to get wup and walk out. You can gladly transfer somewhere else.”

The silence was deafening as the three minutes ticked by slowly. Nobody moved. The only sound was the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen, where workers were preparing student meals.

Then, Steve laid down the law.

* * *

To learn what happened next, get your copy of BORN TO LEAD. It will be available in eBook and paperback formats at Amazon on May 30. You can pre-order the electronic version today, and it will be delivered to your electronic device on the day of the launch. Paperbacks will be available at the Harding Cafetorium on Saturday, May 30, when Coach Arnold hosts a launch event and an inaugural book signing. The event begins at 11 a.m., and the public is invited to attend.

ORDER NOW: Amazon.com: Born to Lead: Trailblazer, Mentor & Life Coach eBook : Arnold, Steven, Guy, Gerald L.: Kindle Store

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Coach Arnold recruits Guy for his memoir

Gerald L. Guy — Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When I received a cold call from Steve Arnold in July of 2025 and agreed to assist him in writing this autobiography, I had no idea what lay ahead. How hard could it be? I had been writing stories my entire adult life as a sportswriter, sports editor, managing editor, and editor-in-chief.

Since retiring from the newspaper industry with failing eyesight in 2004, I remained active, writing hundreds of short stories and commentaries on a variety of subjects. I had authored more than thirty novels across several genres. My first foray into the literary world, in fact, was a historical fiction account of the legendary WWII aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Saratoga. My father had helped repel Japanese aggression aboard the “Old Lady.” I used voluminous research, his memoirs, and those of dozens of other WWII vets, to create my first novel, “Sara: A Hero’s Story.”

After that, creating a manuscript from one voice would be easy, I thought.

The coach said he had already made one dozen or so audiotapes that recounted his life. All I had to do was listen, transcribe, and do what I do best — write, baby, write.

Boy, was I wrong.

There was more to this man than games children play. Steve Arnold was unlike any of the coaches who had crossed my path in the past. The Xs and Os of his life were amazing. Soon, I realized I had missed out on something very special when I left Warren, Ohio.

After more than two hundred audio recordings, too many text messages to count, and countless telephone conversations, I feel blessed that he chose me to share his story with others. Thanks to the wonders of electronics, we’ve grown to be friends while living hundreds of miles apart and never once setting tired eyes on each other.

As the end of our collaboration draws near, I pray that I have done justice in relating his remarkable tale for others to savor.

As I learned more about the man behind the manuscript, the title Born to Lead seemed appropriate. Many of Steve’s friends, associates, and former players agreed. The passion to guide and improve young lives seems to drive. Personality and sincerity allowed him to navigate easily between jobs, social dynamics, and racial barriers to become one of the longest tenured coaches in Warren history. Why else would someone work two full-time jobs for more than thirty years if not for the unfettered love of Warren and its young people? Make no mistake, coaching a major sport at one of Ohio’s most prestigious high schools requires more than eight hours a day and forty hours per week. Steve did that while working for thirty years as a full-time liquor control agent for the state of Ohio.

Steve Arnold is a remarkable guy whose life story stands as a testament. He will celebrate the launch of his memoir at the Warren G. Harding Cafetorium on May 30. The event begins at 11 a.m., followed by the sale of autographed copies of his BORN TO LEAD.

* * *

ORDER TODAY: BORN TO LEAD will be sold exclusively at Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats. You can order the eBook in advance today. It will be delivered automatically to your electronic reading device on May 30. Just click the following link: Amazon.com: Born to Lead: Trailblazer, Mentor & Life Coach eBook : Arnold, Steven, Guy, Gerald L.: Kindle Store

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Novel debuts in 2 weeks

Gerald L. Guy — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

WARREN, Ohio — A compelling new autobiography, Born to Lead, tells the remarkable story of Coach Steve Arnold — a trailblazer, mentor, and life coach whose legacy extends far beyond the playing field.

In Born to Lead, readers are taken inside the life of a man who made history as the first African American head basketball coach for Warren City Schools in 2002. He topped that in 2012 by becoming the first minority head football coach. He guided both programs to extraordinary success. But this is more than a story about wins and championships. It is a deeply personal account of determination, resilience, and the courage to lead when the odds are stacked against you.

Through vivid storytelling, Arnold reflects on the challenges he faced, some of the lives he shaped, and the lessons he learned along the way. From locker rooms to life-changing moments off the field, his journey reveals what it truly means to lead — with integrity, vision, and heart.

This autobiography offers inspiration for athletes, coaches, young leaders, and anyone striving to overcome obstacles and make a meaningful impact. Born to Lead is not just a memoir—it is a blueprint for leadership and a testament to the power of perseverance.

Key Highlights of Born to Lead:

A glimpse of Arnold’s life from the beginning, and how it shaped the foundation of his legendary coaching career.
An historical journey through Warren G. Harding High School athletics.
A pictorial collection of Arnold’s private and professional life.
A Q&A for coaches and parents of athletes.
Tributes from a wide range of former coaches, players, and friends.

Born to Lead will be available May 30 in paperback and eBook formats at Amazon. Retail outlets will be announced at a later date.

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BORN TO LEAD TO DEBUT

Gerald L. Guy — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I had the privilege of assisting Coach Steve Arnold, a trailblazer in athletics at Warren G. Harding High School, in writing his autobiography. The process has taken almost one year. Today, I am happy to announce that the novel, BORN TO LEAD, will debut on May 30. Watch for it at Amazon and for more information in the days to come. It is an amazing story.

https://www.amazon.com/Born-Lead-Trailblazer-Mentor-Coach-ebook/dp/B0GXXPLXFC

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May 30 Debut

Gerald L. Guy — Sun, 3 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

“BORN TO LEAD” — The Inspiring Life Story of Coach Steve Arnold

A powerful new autobiography chronicles the trailblazing career of a Warren G. Harding legend, May 30, 2026

WARREN, Ohio — A compelling new autobiography, Born to Lead, tells the remarkable story of Coach Steve Arnold—a trailblazer, mentor, and life coach whose legacy extends far beyond the playing field.

In Born to Lead, readers are taken inside the life of a man who made history as the first African American head coach in the history of Warren City Schools, leading both basketball and football programs to extraordinary success. But this is more than a story about wins and championships. It is a deeply personal account of determination, resilience, and the courage to lead when the odds are stacked against you.

Key Highlights of Born to Lead:

A glimpse of Arnold’s life from the beginning, and how it shaped the foundation of his legendary coaching career.
An historical journey through Warren G. Harding High School athletics.
A pictorial collection of Arnold’s private and professional life.
A Q&A for coaches and parents of athletes.
Tributes from a wide range of former coaches, players, and friends.

Born to Lead will be available May 30 in paperback and eBook formats at Amazon. Retail outlets will be announced at a later date.

For review copies, interviews, or speaking engagements, contact Steve Arnold at (330) 219-5811.

About the Authors

Steve Arnold is a respected leader, mentor, and trailblazer in athletics. His career has impacted countless players, students, and community members, leaving a legacy defined by excellence, integrity, and leadership.

Gerald L.Guy is a former sports editor and editor in chief of The Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio. As an independent author, he has published more than thirty novels in multiple genres.

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