Author's tale of 'lust in the dust'

Pensioner John Dyson, 71, from Pevensey Road, Polegate, put pen to paper for Logan's Gun.

He believes Wild West fans will love the new novel, set in 1880's New Mexico.

He said: 'There's plenty of lust in the dust in Logan's Gun.

'Hookers and croupier gals aplenty, plus a murderous and double-crossing wife who has the hots for the hero.'

Mr Dyson spent 25 years as a reporter and 20 years as a gardener before retiring.

He first got off to a gallop writing westerns in 1990.

Spurred on by his inital success, Mr Dyson kept pulling out story ideas from his literary holster.

Now 60,000 readers rifle around libraries across the UK to borrow his novels each year.

He said: 'I get my ideas from old photos, newspaper and court reports, memories and eye-witnesses accounts from that era.

'Once started I knock out about three thousand words in a morning.

'Then it's off to the pub for a pint and stroll on the downs with my old dog Jack Russell, Patsy.'

Mr Dyson enjoys horsing about with his readers in the books.

He added: 'I like to inject a bit of off-beat humour.

'Basically they're tongue-in-cheek entertainments, obviously not everyone's cup of tea.

'But they amuse me to write and I hope amuse the reader too.'

Most of the stories are based on real events and encompass different settings.

Mexico, Alaska, California and Colorado are regular favourites.

Many of the hardbacks go into large print editions, helping to raise money for the Ulverscroft Foundation.

The foundation researches into fighting eye diseases.

Mr Dyson also writes under the pen-name Jackson Davis.

Logan's Gun is published by Robert Hale, priced 12.25.