Welcome to Mike Mackessy's Official Website
Mike Mackessy - Author
Biography
I live in rural Oregon with my wife, Gwen. I began my working life in the construction field as a hod- carrier in 1975, then as a bricklayer in 1977. In 1990 I became a Special Inspector. I retired as a Master Special Inspector in 2013. At the University of Idaho, I studied construction, architecture, and creative writing. My hobbies include shooting and collecting traditional archery and shooting and collecting black powder arms. Favorite themes to write about are Western History, Mountain Men, Bounty Hunters, and Military History.
I am planning a series based on my two latest books. One a Mountain Man story, the second a Bounty Hunter story. If you like what you read, leave a review.
I hope you enjoy my take on Mountain Man adventures and leave a review.
"Eternal" is my first attempt at a military-adventure/history-Time Travel novel, released by DSP. It's not a Western but give it a try and let me know how you like it.
"Second Chances" is my first attempt at a modern time western.
All my books are available as paperback and ebooks. Thanks for your continued interest.
New Releases!
Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: Seasoning A Gunfighter: A Western Adventure (An Orin Chantry Western Book 6)
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The sixth exciting Western adventure in a series from Mike Mackessy! Deputy U.S. Marshal Orin Chantry burns through deputies and saddle partners faster than most cowboys burn through horses, until he meets a young man named Rye. The oldest son of a farmer, Rye knows his future lay in the West. Rye heads west, alone, teaching himself to shoot a rifle and pistol as he rides. In the small town of Prairie Dog, Texas he gets a job as a clerk in the bank. The only thing going for Rye is that he can read, write, and do his sums. Less than a year later, an unseen outlaw robs the bank. The sheriff clears his name but Rye leaves town to prove his innocence. In Abilene, Rye gets a job as a clerk for an eastern stock broker. Rye learns the business end of the Kansas cow towns. Until Orin Chantry comes to town. Rye sees a way to prove he did not rob the bank. Orin sees a young man he can mold into a deputy that may stick. Both men are on their own trail, but ride together. Can they help each other or will Rye be remembered as just another deputy?
Explore Mike Mackessey's Literary Collection
Mountains Call
From Book 1: The first book in a brand new two-part Mountain Man adventure series! In the last days of the beaver trade, the mountains continue calling young men willing to risk their lives in the quest of plews. The last supply train to the last Rendezvous meets these adventurers. Some of them have prepared their entire lives for this experience. Unfortunately, just as many use the mountains to escape their old lives. Encounters with angry Indians, Mother Nature, and a grizz or two, reveal and separate the true mountain men from the pretenders. Travis and his Indian friend, Bear, are two such men. They find the mountains hold much more than they ever expected. This pair thrives. Russ is a pretender. He also finds more than he could ever imagine in the mountain’s heights and at Rendezvous. To complicate the volatile situation, an English Lord and his spoiled companions begin a hunting adventure in those same mountains. However, if one enters this wild domain, respect is due or expect to pay a toll. Their guides attempt to present the mountains to their paying customers while trying to keep them safe. Most times, this proves an impossible task. Find out how different people with a wide variety of personalities greet the wild Stoney Mountains, and what those wilds have in store for those without respect.
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Book 1: The Mountains Call: A Mountain Man Adventure
Book 2: The Mountains Call: A Mountain Man Adventure
Book 3: The Mountains Call: Bear And Travis: A Mountain Man Adventure
Book 4: The Mountains Call: An Eye For An Eye: A Mountain Man Adventure
An Orin Chantry Western
From Book 1: A brand new Western adventure novel from acclaimed author Mike Mackessy! Orin Chantry is the bounty hunter who gets the job done... at any cost! Orin Chantry learned and perfected the gunfighting skills trade during the war, riding as a scout and pathfinder for the South. After the war, the only trade open to those special skills is carrying a badge or bounty hunting. Orin tries both. Joining the Marshals Service, he carries a real badge as a real lawman. That stops when Orin is arrested, found guilty, and facing the hangman. His crime—serving the warrants issued by the Marshals Service. But the line between lawman and outlaw blurs, leaving Orin accused of murder. Further blurring those lines, the outlaw is the town sheriff’s brother, and the sheriff leads the outlaw gang. Rescued by a force of Texas Rangers, bounty hunters, and deputy marshals, he evades the noose but not public ridicule and loss of trust of the Marshals Service. Orin returns to the only profession a haunted man can function in and make some quick money—Bounty Hunting. Word reaches Austin. Reckoned as the perfect man to serve justice to Texas outlaws, Orin loses a badge, but his job remains the same. He is to bring in the ones no one else will or can. Orin is rough around the edges, but when you need help, you call Orin Chantry. Grab your copy today!
Book 1: Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: A Western Adventure
Book 2: Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: The Hardship Trail: A Western Adventure
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Book 3: Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: Retribution: A Western Adventure
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Book 4: Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: Desperados: A Western Adventure
Book 5:Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: The Mustanger: A Western Adventure
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Orin Chantry: Bounty Hunter: Seasoning A Gunfighter: A Western Adventure
Feud Of The Mountain Men
From Book 1: Bestselling Western authors Mike Mackessy and Ash Lingam are together for the first time with an action-packed new Mountain Man adventure you won’t want to miss! When two twin brothers who haven’t spoken for over a dozen years meet again, all hell breaks loose. Although siblings, they are possessed with envy and hate each other. Years ago, Logan Silas won the woman both he and Nate desired. When she chose Logan, they broke all ties, although Mary Blue Moon died in childbirth. Still, she gave her husband the baby Nate always wanted, making the grudge run deeper and hotter than a breach of molten lava into the earth’s core. He not only blamed him for her death but also envied him for his offspring. Years later, history repeats itself when the siblings fall for another girl and again simultaneously. This time, Nate has no plans of taking it lying down as they prepare to fight for the beautiful Crow woman, Tess Hold Donóho. As the long-standing Rocky Mountain feud deepened, the question on everybody’s mind was whether the brothers were willing to go too far and kill one another for her hand in marriage or if they would walk away to avoid the inevitable: brother killing brother.
Book 1: Mountain Man's Graveyard: A Logan And Nate Silas Mountain Man Adventure
Book 2: Mountain Man's Graveyard: The End Of An Era: A Logan And Nate Silas Mountain Man Adventure
Mountain Man
From Book 1: From author Mike Mackessy comes Mountain Man—a brand new adventure from one of the most popular Western authors of today! Mountain Man Morgan is a name he adopts for himself after working around Morgan horses. At age 17, he heads west to the mountains. His journey is told through his meetings with both bad and good elements of typical Westerners of that time—Indians, mountain men, and outlaws. Reaching the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains in the company of seasoned mountain men, his goal is in sight—Rendezvous. An encounter with a golden eagle, held sacred by the Crow people, wins favor with a party of Crow warriors returning from Rendezvous. Succeeding as a hunter and a warrior earns an invitation from the Crow warriors to winter over with their small band. While living in the Crow village, we follow this band to summer and winter camps, buffalo hunts, horse stealing adventures, and with fighting their mortal enemies, the Blackfoot.
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Book 1: Mountain Man
Book 2: Ira: Son Of Mountain Man
A Jarod Welsh: Range Rider Western
From Book 1: The first adventure in a brand new series from Mike Mackessy! In the premier story, Jarod is a drifter, trying to experience the West. Missing the shining times of the fur trade, he rides, just looking. After trying several jobs, he lands in a railroad camp digging rail-bed. He enjoys the labor until the Sioux raid the camp. The man hired as the guard runs, leaving the camp unprotected. Jarod stops the man, takes his weapons, and enters the fray. The railroad does not appreciate Jarod saving the camp. He finds himself drifting, again. He runs into a troubled young man, Cole. Together they hire on as scouts and hunters for a commercial wagon train heading for Santa Fe. Once again, his unappreciated actions send Jarod out on his own, except he and Cole made friends in the wagon train. After selling their loads in Santa Fe, the group of friends decide to start a ranch north of Taos, New Mexico. Jarod’s labor goes into something. He has a part of a cattle and horse raising ranch, but rustlers want to take it away. In this new series, Jarod fights against those outlaws fighting him and his friends. Join the journey as Jarod travels from New Mexico to Texas and along the way, fights against lawlessness on the side of the little guy.
Book 1: The Range Rider: Frontier Justice: A Western Adventure Novel
Book 2: The Range Rider: Acts of Vengeance: A Western Adventure Sequel
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Book 3: The Range Rider: Retaliation: A Third Western Adventure
Book 4: The Range Rider: The Killin' Tree: A Fourth Western Adventur
Book 5: The Range Rider: Wrath Of A Gunfighter: A Fifth Western Adventure
Book 6: The Range Rider: The Orphan: A Sixth Western Adventure
Book 7: The Range Rider: A Turn Of The Cards: A Seventh Western Adventure
Book 8: The Range Rider: The Scribblers: A Eighth Western Adventure
Book 9:The Range Rider: Miles And Gil: A Ninth Western Adventure
Zephaniah: Mountain Man
From Book 1: The foundational story to a new Mountain Man series, Zeph flees his perfect life at 21 years old. He is an immature man but has a good job, a loving wife, and owns a nice home, he just lacks the self-awareness to recognize his immaturity. Fleeing to the Rocky Mountains as a member of a company of trappers, Zeph does not listen the Booshway’s warning concerning the boundary of the Blackfoot nation. Ambushed, Zeph surprises himself by out-fighting the Blackfoot warriors. He returns to the trappers’ camp to warn them. Moving their camp is not enough. The Blackfoot kill most of the trappers. Wintering in a local Crow village, Zeph begins to mature. It takes four years. He returns to St. Louis to sell his plews and make things right but there’s a problem: leaving two wives behind. Unexpectedly, both of his wives agree to remain married to this new man. Laden with a young son, the new family return to the mountains. They know this is their single option. They know people and civilization will not understand. The family heads west on a steamboat. Landing at the trading post in the Stonies they leave civilization behind. The Crow chief who helped Zeph takes in the new family if Zeph will include his Crow family. This time the women need maturing. Both wives learn necessary lessons to survive in the Stoney Mountains. Waiting for the new family are the opportunities and mishaps that face every trapper calling the Rocky Mountains home. In this new series we follow Zeph and his growing family through life in the Stoney Mountains as they trap, hunt, and trade, forging a legacy.
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Book 1: Zephaniah: Mountain Man: Rocky Mountain Maturity: A Mountain Man Adventure
