The Westerner Magazine Halloween 2018

Birds of Prey by Faith is important to the artist. He feels his

gift is from God and he wants to use what
Artist Mike he’s been given to the best of his ability.
Lofland With Bruce Bennett, editor of The Westerner©






Bruce: You mentioned that you were a
gymnast in school, and you are in the
healthcare profession today. How would
you describe your drawing?


Mike: I’ve always been fascinated with
birds of prey: hawks, falcons, eagles, owls.
I’ve been an athlete all of my life and to me
they’re the most athletic birds. I’m
fascinated with them.


My mother was an artist and I was a hyper
child. She would sit me down with the
children’s encyclopedia and I would draw

on a tablet starting with the As. This began

to instill the fun of drawing with me.
The artist describes himself as “a man of
However, I quit drawing when I was
extremes.” He’s been many different and
young. I got into gymnastics and did life in
varied things. Those include a professional
high school. Later in life I saw a wood
musician, international gymnast, cliff diver,
carving of an owl, and I was fascinated by
but art has always been in the background
it. I bought a bunch of wood and carved the
of his endeavors.
ugliest bird you’ve seen in your life. I
started carving birds and made a living
Mike has earned master’s degrees in
with that for several years.
Exercise Physiology and Theology. He’s
dedicated to his profession but would like
to also devote more time to his art. Whether
he is commercially successful or not, he

feels motivated to continue to produce the
exceptional drawings that have made him
widely known and respected as an artist.

acknowledged I was getting better but told

me I had some more improving to do.

It was about a year later when I went in that
she told me she’d like all my work and she
bought one of the drawings. That was what
I needed. I needed direction from someone

who knew the audience. She told me,
“Mike, nobody is going to buy a hawk with
a dead snake in its mouth.”

Women purchased a good deal of the art so
her advice was well received.


I have a technique that I use to produce the
drawing of each bird. I actually texture the
bird by using a metal barb that makes an
imprint in the paper. When I color over it,


Then I had a change in my marital status the little spot in that I’ve broken in the
and, with three kids to raise, put aside my paper is not completely covered. That’s
art for a number of years. When my mother what gives it the feathery texture.
developed Alzheimer’s disease, I became
her caretaker. She loved quilting, but she
couldn’t do the large quilts anymore.
However, she could do the small squares.
While she was working on those I decided
I’d begin sketching once more.


I began to improve and thought I was doing
well. I found a gallery in Ft. Worth that I
love and brought my work in for the gallery
owner to review. I thought she would gush
all over it but she told me it was good but

needed some improvement.

I went home with my tail between my legs.
It became my goal to get my work into that
gallery. I drew constantly and returned to
the gallery about six months later. She

It’s extremely time consuming. I spend

about one hundred hours on each drawing.
I love the process, I love the detail that
produces a natural feathered look. It’s
challenging for me.

I’m very active in our community. I’m

active with the hospital. I’m active with
Young Life Ministries. My life is very busy.
This is what grounds me. I put my goggles
on, in the evening, and I work through the
hours and just forget about the world. It’s
my own form of medication and I love it.


Bruce: I’ve seen your drawings on
Facebook, which sparked my interest in
speaking with you. How do you make your
decision on what to draw?

Mike: I have every bird book and one is an original. I don’t make prints. I’m

ornithological journal that exists. I’ll find a looking for a market for my work. Galleries
picture of a bird that inspires me and then don’t really fit the bill because they are
sketch it out on tracing paper. On another looking for oil paintings. If my paintings
piece of paper I’ll begin to sketch out the don’t sell, my children will claim them. But
background. I put them together until I get I just have to continue to draw.
a vision of what I’m looking for. Once I
Bruce: How many do you do a year?
have that I do a master sketch.

Mike: I may do three to six.
Once I have that I’ll begin the drawing. I do
my drawing opposite to what most people Bruce: How long have you been drawing?
would. Most people would start from the
top and work down. I do the head last. Mike: About eighteen years. The piece I’m
Once I do the head and eyes my bird comes working on now is going to be one of the
to life. That’s my reward. The heart and best pieces I’ve done. The bird is sitting on a
large fence post with a good deal of barbed
soul of a bird of prey is their eyes. You
wire wrapped around the post. The bird is a
wonder what they see.
big prairie falcon sitting on top.
That’s the process I use. I’ll waste a lot of
paper. It takes a number of weeks to come
up with a final idea on what to draw. Every

Bruce: I’ve seen the picture developing on
line.

Mike: I have about six hours of detailing left

to do on the drawing. For instance, I’ll
mention the shadowing of the barbed wire
on the post.

Facebook page: Mike Lofland Art

Review from his well received Western novels of

the last few years.

To quote the blurb:
Corner “Cimarron Jack Wheatley is just wrapping

up a tremendously successful first tour with

his very own highly acclaimed ‘Real Wild
West Extravaganza’ when his show is
With Lon Hamilton
stricken by a rapid succession of oddly
coincidental setbacks—injuries, formerly

satisfied troupe members suddenly
quitting, and then a catastrophic train
wreck. It soon becomes apparent that Jack

isn’t simply experiencing a run of bad luck.
Someone aims to ruin the business he has
invested his entire life into—and to end his
life if he puts up a fight. Now, everything
that Cimarron Jack is supposed to have
represented as a symbol of Wild West
heroism in the show, he must actually be, in
the deadly reality of chasing down answers

and outlaws.”

To quote my review notes:

An original, page-turning novel that could

be one of the finest Western novels written
this year. Top characters, well-researched,
excellent writing—and a book that should
be on your book shelf or Kindle.

This is Westerners pick of the month.
“Cimarron Jack’s Real Wild West: A Novel”
“Cimarron Jack’s Real Wild West: A
is awarded five stars and can be purchased
Novel” – GP Hutchinson
here.
This brand new release from GP
Hutchinson has been anticipated for some
time, and is something of a move away

“Caz: Vigilante Hunter: Slaughter At
“Timber U.S. Marshal: Book Four” –
Buzzards Gulch” – Scott Harris
Robert Hanlon

A brand new Western novel from one of the
Another great adventure in this popular
great western writing sensations of 2018.
series from Robert Hanlon. Timber
This is a completely new kind of novel from
dispatches the bad guys, rips up the town
Harris. He’s done action before—but this
and leaves with a sense of satisfaction.
one is a rip-roaring, page-turning jamboree.
Readers will also feel this way about this
An exciting adventure that grips the reader
latest novel. Possibly the strongest in the
by the backside and propels them towards
series—it shows that Hanlon has the
the finish—no slowdowns, no readability
stamina to keep turning out big hit books
issues—just wall-to-wall great writing, and
with increasing speed. Number five is
possibly one of the big hits of the year.
already on the way—number four is on the
Westerner rates “Caz: Vigilante Hunter: bestseller list and we award the book four
Slaughter At Buzzard’s Gulch” five stars. stars. “Timber: U.S. Marshal: Book Four” is
a four star read.

“The Unwanted” – C. Wayne Winkle “A Long Way To Texas” – Dave Sebeslav


A major release from the lucky writer who The latest Dave Sebeslav release from
held the number one spot on the Western Outlaws Publishing says a lot about the
chart earlier this month. This is “The writer. Here is a man who can turn out
Unwanted.” A brand new Western book after book and still find an original
adventure we believe readers will love. story to tell. Sebeslav is one of the biggest

“The Unwanted” definitely has that Winkle cats in town—and he’s showing no signs of
magic that makes his books some of the vacating this lofty position. “A Long Way
most acclaimed in the industry. If you just To Texas” is the usual magic—crime and
finished “Frank Bannon – The Fixer,” you’ll punishment with a little bit of love thrown
want to pick up “The Unwanted” and in for good measure. If you loved his
discover these golden Winkle novels. You’ll previous releases, you’re going to love this
love them! Westerner rates “The new one. If you’re new to Dave Sebeslav—

Unwanted” as a four-star read. you’ll love it too because the boy has heaps
of talent. Westerner rates “A Long Way To

Texas” a four-star read.

“Showdown At Possum Trot”- David
Watts

David Watts has turned out another

winning Western with the second Possum
“Colt’s Justice: Blood Along Dove Creek”– Trot novel. He has slowed the pace a little
Cherokee Parks with this one—but the melodramatic story

grabs the reader by the eyes and reels them
Cherokee Parks has managed to turn out a
in hook, line and sinker. Westerner rates
series of big hit books over the last few
“Possum Trot” as a four-star read.
months— all are high value reads and show
the versatility of this great new Western ******
storyteller. He’s the Burl Ives of the Western
business. If there’s a story worth reading, To request a book review, or to have your
Parks tells it. Grab this new one. It’s a book featured in an upcoming issue of
standard Parks classic. Westerner rates Westerner, please email our friendly team
of booklovers directly at
[email protected]
“Colt’s Justice” as a four-star read.

The period, and this evening it was my

Uncle Ron’s turn. There would be a
slap-up meal, fizzy drinks and games,

Devil while the men played cards for pennies
in the back room and the ladies played
bingo in the front. Whatever happened,

it would be a late night and I found
Rides myself before midnight watching a

black and white TV in the dining room.
A movie was starting. It would change
Out my life…


I had heard of Dennis Wheatley and

even read a couple of his novels, but
The Devil Rides Out was new to me.
The story is about a black magic lodge

and their attempts to recruit one of
several friends. The main character,
played by Christopher Lee, is a

knowledgeable magician himself who
works hard to save his friends from the
satanic sect. Having seen the movie

many times since, the effects are quite
laughable, really, but at that time and
for an impressionable 14-year old – the

movie was terrifying and yet…
interesting. So, this was magic? If so, I
wanted some.

That movie really started a lifelong

exploration of the occult, magic and the
By Gary Vasey paranormal that continues to this day. It

also both fascinated and scared me to
It was New Year’s Eve a long, long time
my core being at the time. By the time I
ago. It was a family tradition to visit
was 15, I knew an incredible amount
each other’s homes over the festive

about the occult. The problem is that attention.” I have to admit that a touch
such a young mind with such a vivid of ice ran down my spine, and after a
imagination (imagination, by the way, is quick hug, I left. My return to town was
the engine room of magic) was apt to a tad faster as the darkness seemed to

encounter problems after such a cling to me and the bright lights
dramatic portrayal of magic. glittering in the distance seemed to get

farther away as I walked and half ran.
A few years later, I went on a school trip
Clearly, in the back of my mind, images
to SW England. One evening during the
of magic circles and Death himself
stay, there were some girls in the hotel
claiming his victim, appeared like a
of similar age who had come for the
rerun of the movie in my mind. I
weekly disco there. I was immediately
imagined her parents as Mocata-like
attracted to one of them and over the
with piercing eyes and hypnotic voices.
course of the evening, did everything I
could to hook up with her. I had some Well, I eventually arrived back at the
success and at sometime after midnight, hotel deeply perturbed by her story, but,

I walked this beautiful girl to her home, as you do, I laughed it off and went to
romantically holding hands. As we bed. Now I was back with my
walked out of town down a dark classmates watching the last dances at a

country lane, farther and farther from disco in a hotel, the very idea of witches
the comforting lights of town, she began and magic seemed utterly ridiculous
to become afraid and insisted that I somehow.

leave her to walk the remaining half a
At first, I was fine. However, as I lay on
mile or so on her own. She told me a
the point of sleep, a strange feeling came
rather strange story as we walked.
over me, as if I were being observed. Of
She told me that her parents were course, I put this down to my
witches and of the darker variety. She imagination. Like I told you, mine is
told me how she was forced to take part very good and I was now imagining all

in rituals and was extremely scared. She sorts of things, mostly prompted by that
told me that even now, I was in danger damn movie! But then I had an idea! I

just by her being with me. I laughed at could surround my bed with a
her creepy tale but stopped short when I protective circle - just like in the movie.
saw the tears in her eyes. “Go, quickly,” With my interest in all things occult, I
she urged me, “before you have their knew exactly how this should be done

the only issue was how to do it in a I prayed more feverishly, shivering in
hotel bedroom? what was now a very cold room.

The answer came to me pretty quickly Those eyes grew in intensity, staring at

—I’m fairly bright—bar soap! I took the me out of their malevolent redness. I
bar of soap and began my task. As a I knew for sure that whatever this was, it
drew the circle I made the invocations could not pass the boundary of my soap

and made sure to stay inside it as I circle, but that didn’t stop my fear.
closed it. My work was invisible to the
Fear is a strange thing. It has cold
eye but I was pretty sure it would be
fingers that grasp at your neck icily.
effective, as magic is all about intent. My
Breathing becomes labored and
intent was clear… protection.
extraordinarily loud - especially in a

In my bed inside my soap drawn circle, quiet hotel room in the dead of night. It
I finally did fall asleep, but had very is difficult to quell as it rises in icy
strange dreams and I awoke in the later waves and seems to put the mind into a

hours of the morning covered in sweat. state of anticipation of the worst. The
It was very dark. slightest rustle or crack of the heating
system jumps out at you like a
In the corner of the room, I could swear
boogeyman in that state, and rational
there were two bright red eyes. I shut
explanations become totally irrational.
mine tightly and willed it to go away,
But fear is a weakness and it is an
but when I opened my eyes again, there
energy that occult and psychic forces
they were. Shaking, I reached for the
can use and, whatever the thing was
bedside light, however, it did not work!
staring at me across the room, it was
There I was in sheer darkness with a
gaining in strength, sucking at my fear
pair of red eyes staring at me from the
energy.
corner of the room and a growing air of
malevolence. I tried to focus. Tried to chant protection

spells, prayers, anything I could recall. I
I was terrified. Who wouldn’t be?
was shivering and shaking in the icy

I began to pray silently. I invoked the cold of the room and from fear. I could
forces of good to defend and protect me well imagine the skeletal death riding
and more besides. The feeling of gloom his white horse looking for a weakness

and despair deepened. The eyes grew in in MY circle. In these circumstances
intensity. sometimes, something happens and in

this instance, I found my voice and
recited the Lord’s Prayer.

Suddenly, the most amazing thing

occurred. I saw a ‘glow’ appearing on
the other side of the room. Slowly it
took on shape and solidity. What I saw

defied any logic. It became a soldier in a
bright blue uniform. It looked at me and
the love emanating from his eyes was

sufficient to calm me. It even smiled at
me. In one movement, it raised its arm
in a gesture that said ‘begone’ and that

was it. The gloom lifted, the atmosphere
turned into one of happiness, a
fragrance passed through the room of

roses, and the first light of dawn peeked
through the curtains. The eyes were G. Michael Vasey collects creepy stories
gone and so was the soldier. about people who have run into ghosts,
poltergeists, demons - the paranormal. He
Of course, I was a wreck. I was subdued has experienced the paranormal directly
all day. I never saw the girl again, but I growing up and has been fascinated ever
did wonder. Did she tell me something since. Not content to just collect and tell

real and were her parents really behind stories, he tries to explain it and build a
picture of a more complex reality.
the presence in the room trying to drive

me away? Or was the whole thing a He has had numerous supernatural hits on
story made up for some reason that both sides of the pond with his popular true
found root in my memories of The Devil paranormal tales and is a regular
Rides Out? Guess I will never know. contributor for Westerner magazine. You
can visit his popular website
www.myhauntedlifetoo.com by clicking
here to discover more creepy, true

supernatural tales. You can also discover
great books from G. Michael Vasey by

clicking here.

For more information
on how you might

publish your Western,

or if you know of a
Western author whom

our audience might

like, contact Nick Wale
at

dustysaddlepublishing

@gmail.com

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part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of
the publisher.


Copyright 2018 by Dusty Saddle Publishing