Desert. Sun. Sand. No roads or human settlements within fifty miles in any direction. The perfect place to found a town?
That's what Steve Ragsdale believed. So he and his wife bundled up their four kids in their 1915 Ford Model T, bought a local prospector's shack and well, and built a fuel station (50-gallon drum), a repair garage, and café. He advertised "Free food on days the sun doesn't shine" and "No drunks, no dogs—we prefer dogs." He was the owner, sheriff, rockhound, writer, naturalist, and desert guide, and Santa Claus at Christmas. He became one of the local "desert rats" and earned the moniker "Desert Steve."
Along the way, he became part of history: the Colorado Aqueduct, the construction of the first State and National highways, the invention of prepaid healthcare, General Patton and World War II, the largest iron mine in the United States, flying saucer sightings, murder, and much more.
Based on a true story, this is the tale of a quirky, clever, and bold man who pursued a dream, wrote bad poetry, and found ways to survive when many would have perished or packed it in.
Praised for its detailed research and captivating narrative, Nuff Sed: A Novel of Desert Steve has earned accolades from critics and readers alike. McDowell's ability to weave historical facts with compelling storytelling makes this novel a standout addition to any bookshelf.
Other books by Markus McDowell
Markus McDowell is an author & editor of fiction and nonfiction in multiple genres. He is the author of To and Fro Upon the Earth: A Novel, Mortals As They Walk, Onesimus: A Novel of Christianity in the Roman Empire, and his first short story collection, The Sky Over Chaos, as well as a number of nonfiction books in law, theology, and literature in the ancient world. He lives on a 40' yacht in Southern California and travels frequently, exploring new lands and new meeting people. He has a fondness for scotch whisky, Cuban cigars, and reading everything he can get his hands on.
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