Legend says that cowboys of the Western Plains quieted their restless cattle at night with the "song of Sam Bass." By the campfires along the cattle trails after 1878, no story was more popular.
Now author Duane DeMello brings the tale of Sam Bass and the Denton Mare to life for a new generation in his book, The Denton Mare. Readers can relive the story of the largest gold heist, ever, from the Union Pacific express and the face-off between Bass and the Texas Rangers.
The Denton Mare follows Sam Bass as he effortlessly eludes his pursuers and shares his haul without restraint, a real-world, western-style Robin Hood. Honorable to the end, Bass never killed a man until his last gunfight when betrayed by one of his closest friends. This led to his dramatic final confrontation with the Texas Rangers which ended his spree on his 27th birthday.
DeMello passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on through his book, The Denton Mare. It has won multiple literary awards and is now being published by his wife for the first time. The Denton Mare won the Houston Area Booksellers Award, and DeMello was later named one of eight finalists for the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize.
"It's the story of lost dreams and of an existence held together only by the uncommon will of the human spirit," said Duane's wife, Bev DeMello. "And that's what keeps our dreams alive. I believe that's why the story of Sam Bass resonated so much with my husband. Love and the human spirit transcend death."
The Denton Mare
By Duane DeMello
ISBN: 978-1-4363-0415-3
Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Xlibris online bookstores
About the Author
Duane DeMello was born in Oakland, California, but grew up in Shive, Texas and always considered himself a Texan. He received his B.A. and his M.A. from the University of North Texas. DeMello served in the U.S. Air Force, owned a newspaper, and worked for two major Fortune 500 corporations before giving up the corporate life to do what he loved best, writing. In Texas, he gathered the material and inspiration to write two novels, The Denton Mare and Texas Gothics.
He is survived by his wife, Bev DeMello, who seeks to publish his novels and keep the spirit of both Sam Bass and her husband alive.
For more information, please visit http://www.dentonmare.com.
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