Moon of Madness

Don Coldsmith (February 28, 1926 - June 25, 2009) an American author of primarily Western fiction. A past president of Western Writers of America, Coldsmith wrote more than 40 books, as well as hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. His Spanish Bit Saga, a series of related novels, helped to re-define the Western novel by adopting the point of view of the Native Americans, rather than the European immigrants.In addition to his career as a writer, Coldsmith was a medical doctor, serving as a family practitioner in Emporia, Kansas, until 1988, when he chose to concentrate on writing. In addition, Coldsmith and his 2nd wife Edna were cattle ranchers and breeders of Appaloosa horses.Coldsmith, who had periodically taught English classes at Emporia State University, was awarded the Western Writers of America's Golden Spur Award for best original paperback for The Changing Wind of 1990. Other honors include Distinguished Kansan (awarded by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas in 1993) and the Edgar Wolfe Award for lifetime contributions to literature (1995). Coldsmith was in high demand as a speaker, especially when the subject was the High Plains and the American West.