In “Threads West” you’ll find romance, adventure and strong female characters Wyoming author Reid Rosenthal says the characters in his novel are “real people” with complex personalities. “If you don’t care about the characters then what’s the use?” he says.
By Karen Cotton
kcotton@wyomingnews.com
You won’t find women who are shrinking violets in Reid Rosenthal’s debut historical novel, “Threads West.”
You will find romance, adventure and a reminder of America’s roots.
“The year 1855 was the year that I chose to begin the story,” Rosenthal said. “It is a pivotal point in American history. While I knew that because I thought I knew the history of that time period, I didn’t realize how pivotal that was.
“It was a fascinating time to pick because the world was on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, immigrants were just beginning to come over.”
It doesn’t take much to get Rosenthal – who lives on the LaPrele Creek Ranch near Douglas – in the writing mode. All it takes is for him to set the scene for a chapter or a section, then his characters have a stage.
“They tell you what the story is,” he said. “You’re merely the scribe. They’re as real as they can get. It’s an amazing experience.”
Rosenthal writes in a style called converging threads, which means his character’s lives get wound together over the course of the story.
“The women characters in the book are strong, smart capable ladies, of course they have weaknesses, strengths and flaws, but they’re not shrinking violets – by any stretch.”
Each of his characters has fears, anxieties and inner and outer conflicts.
“They’re real people,” Rosenthal said. “People identify with the characters and care about them, which is critical to a good novel. If you don’t care about the characters then what’s the use?”
There are eight primary characters in the first book and 38 over the total of the series.
“It’s a cast of characters, as you’d expect over four generations, but none of them are related, and they’re from uncommon origins, different countries, lives and different experiences,” Rosenthal said.
He started writing when he was 9. His teacher insisted that he keep a journal during a family trip to the Caribbean.
This was his first time that he said he wrote descriptively.
When he returned from his trip he had to read his entries to the class.
“When I looked up, all of the kids and the teacher were just sitting there entranced, so it was an epiphany when I realized that they liked it and what written transported them.”
He made a promise to himself then and there that he would write books.
“I’ve been writing these books in my head for 40 years, and I’m enthralled with the West,” he said. “I am proud of America and the American spirit.
“I’m fascinated with the role of the land, particularly that the Western lands played in the evolution of the country, and the spirit of the country.”
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