Have you ever fantasized about the American West? I have, as have millions from all over the world. So many that there is now a genre of literature, "The American West." So I was thrilled to discover an organization of "Women Writing the West (WWW)," which is female authors (and some male) whose characters, stories and settings reflect the distinct cultures, geography and history of this important and distinct part of the United States. 

Betsy Randolph is a widely-read, mystery author, including her noted Cat Carlyle Mysteries, the president of Women Writing the West and one of the first female officers in both the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Capital Patrol promoted to leadership roles. She joins me to talk about writing, growing up as a "tom-boy" and her reaction to the arrest of the parents of the suspect in the latest school shooting that occurred in my community of Oxford, Michigan.