In The Making of a Rancher, Jack F. Kirkeby takes us back to Scotland where a young boy courageously leaves home in the first decade of the 20th Century and sets out to find his Uncle in Wyoming. In the process, the boy becomes man, a father and a successful Wyoming rancher. Key historical facts blend with rich characters in this sweeping drama that is the prequel to Death on Portal Mesa, the author's first novel. Both books are available in print and as e-books at Amazon.com and most major online retailers.
About the Author: Jack F. Kirkeby published his first full length novel in 2013 and wasted no time in completing and publishing his second novel in the same year. His first novel, Death on Portal Mesa, is available as an EBook and in print from most major web retailers including Amazon.com. In the prequel, The Making of a Rancher, the author tells the story of a young boy's challenging journey from Scotland to Wyoming where he struggles to become a rancher and start a family facing prejudice and forces pitted against his success. In this 20th century western saga comprising two books, readers get a strong sense of the author and his own passions. From the start Jack F. Kirkeby's interests have been of the West. He grew up in an era of strong Western stories and movies. Later in life, then, his writings would be of the West. Jack's motto, "Look behind you, there's no one there," is his way of reminding folks to accept personal responsibility for their successes and failures as adults. His principal characters embody this theme in their actions on the easily turned pages of his books. Before he was twelve years old, Jack F. Kirkeby had lived in a plethora of homes and places as the product of fractured family conditions. Very early on this gave the author a desire to succeed and foster something more. Ultimately a sense of personal responsibility and gritty determination oozed from the tall, six foot, four inch young man. In 1933 he entered Hollywood High School, where he joined the ROTC. In 1935, mother and son Jack moved to Lake Geneva Wisconsin where he finished high school, graduating in June of 1936. Then it was on to live with his brother in Chicago where he worked through the depression years while he continued his education attending after-hours college classes. On June 9th of 1941 Jack enlisted in the United States Army Air Force, and served in the Pacific theater for two years as an enlisted man. It was there, at an island air base overseeing communications equipment, that Jack's early life experience tinkering with radios and tearing apart equipment were truly appreciated. He then returned to America where he entered officer training. Jack F. Kirkeby is a lifelong student, a tinkerer, a fixer and a writer. His educational credits include Oklahoma A&M, Saddleback Junior College, Long Beach State and Fullerton Junior College. He currently lives in Mission Viejo, California, where he remains active in his community and works tirelessly on his next novel.