Julia Bricklin Knihy

Lillian Frances Smith, often overshadowed by Annie Oakley, carved her own niche in the Wild West shows of the early 20th century. Unlike Oakley, Smith embraced a flamboyant style and formed close ties with cowboys and American Indians. This engaging biography delves into her vibrant life in showbiz, highlighting the unique talents that propelled her to stardom and the cultural dynamics of the era. Through Smith's story, readers gain insight into the complexities of female performers in a male-dominated entertainment world.

The Notorious Life of Ned Buntline captures the likeness of a man who sparked an American legend but whose own scandalous life somehow escaped history's limelight.

In 1900, the young and beautiful Leonel Ross Campbell became the first female reporter to work for the Denver Post. As the journalist known as Polly Pry, she ruffled feathers when she worked to free a convicted cannibal and when she battled the powerful Telluride miners’ union. She was nearly murdered more than once. And a younger female colleague once said, “Polly Pry did not just report the news, she made it!”If only that young reporter had known how true her words were. Polly Pry got her start not just writing the news but inventing it. In spite of herself, however, Campbell would become a respected journalist and activist later in her career. She would establish herself as a champion for rights of the under served in the early twentieth century, taking up the causes of women, children, laborers, victims and soldiers of war, and prisoners. And she wrote some of the most sensational stories that westerners had ever read, all while keeping the truth behind her success a secret from her colleagues and closest friends and family.

Burmah Adams, a 19-year-old hairdresser, embarks on a shocking crime spree during her honeymoon with her ex-con husband, White. Over eight weeks, they commit armed robberies against at least twenty victims in downtown Los Angeles. The situation escalates tragically when they shoot a beloved elementary school teacher and a former publisher, highlighting the dark turn in their lives just after marriage. The story delves into themes of crime, desperation, and the consequences of impulsive decisions.

Set in 1900, the story follows Leonel Ross Campbell, the pioneering female reporter known as Polly Pry, who made waves at the Denver Post. Her bold actions included advocating for a convicted cannibal's release and confronting the influential Telluride miners' union, putting her life at risk on multiple occasions. A younger colleague's remark highlights her impact: Polly Pry didn't just report the news; she actively shaped it, showcasing her trailblazing spirit in a male-dominated field.