Larry L. Maxwell
F. Matt Hogle
Frankie A. Maxwell
Larry L. Maxwell
Larry L. Maxwell was born in Silver City, New Mexico, and was raised by grandparents in the Gila Valley.
He always loved the outdoors and spent most of his hours studying the wildlife.
He loved hunting and fishing and still does.
At 19 years old, and newly married, he and his wife went on a lifetime adventure to the territory of Alaska. It became a state some eight years later.
This truly was the last frontier; They marveled at it’s beauty and exciting people. Most of their nine children were born there – Six daughters and three sons. Perhaps, it was this exciting adventure that caused his desire to write.
Many years later, they moved their residence to Mesa, Arizona. There he was shown a pamphlet about Jacob Waltz and his gold mining. This caught Larry’s attention and brought an excitement, similar to the amazing Alaska.
He challenged himself to write about this “Jacob’s Gold.”
He reasoned – Many of the best stories are yet to be written, the best songs are yet to be sung.
Many of Larry’s Friends, Family, Readers, and Admirers, have given him the Nick Name of the Master Story Teller. He loved to entertain by telling stories and jokes. He was comfortable in front of large crowds at a pulpit, or sitting at the dinner table, or with a group gathered around a campfire.
In his later years Larry really became prolific with his writing. He has written over a hundred and twenty Rhyming Stories, of which, many have been turned into Large Print Illustrated Stories. HIs Sweetheart, Frankie Maxwell Speerheaded getting these turned into actual books, and is the Artist and Illustrator of these Fun, Family Oriented Tales.
The last few years of Larry’s life were pretty much consumed with these Novels and Stories. Every time we would get together, which was often, the major topic of conversation was the characters in these books, and the predicaments that they would find themselves in, and how they would react and overcome the opportunities placed in their path. Larry put a lot of himself into his major characters, throughout the Novels and Stories. A lot of the advice, and sayings that he liked to share are spread across the many pages. A few days before he passed away he was able to hold in paperback form, Jacob’s Gold Part 3, Texas Ranger, which brought a smile of contentment to his face.
Although he wasn’t able to complete the Adventure of his two favorite fictional men, Dutch, and Jacob, Dad and I had discussed what he eventually wanted to have happen to them many times.
So, I hope that Against the Western Sky, Jacob’s Gold Part 4 meets his expectations, and lives up to his standard of Story-Telling!
To The Master Story Teller…
Larry L. Maxwell (1932 – 2019)
F. Matt Hogle
F. Matt Hogle was born in Mesa, Arizona, and raised by his mother, Frankie. At thirteen, his mother married Larry Maxwell, and they moved to Larry's home in Anchorage, Alaska. During his time there, Matt developed a love for fishing and exploring the outdoors. After graduating from chiropractic school, he returned to Mesa, where he now lives with his wife and four children, continuing his chiropractic practice.
Living near the Superstition Mountains for years, Matt has always been fascinated by the history, legends, and folklore of the Old West. His stepfather, Larry, worked for years on a novel titled Jacob’s Gold. With Matt’s help, Larry finally published it. As Larry continued writing, Matt assisted with editing and publishing the second and third books. However, just after the third book, Texas Ranger, went to print, Larry passed away.
Matt was then encouraged to finish the saga. Using Larry's notes and adding his own ideas, Matt wrote the fourth book in the Jacob’s Gold series, Against the Western Sky. Following its success, readers called for more, which led to an all-new story, The Shadow Treasure, followed by Warriors of the White Mountain.
Though writing a novel is time-consuming and challenging, Matt finds it both rewarding and enjoyable, especially when readers appreciate the final product.
About the Illustrator: Frankie A. Maxwell
Frankie A. Maxwell was born in Silver City, New Mexico. She was raised between there and Mesa Arizona. She has always enjoyed Painting and producing many different forms of Art. Her canvas for her paintings and artwork, have been varied from paper, to wood, and from concrete to river or ocean rocks, to linen and cloth.
Frankie has Speerheaded getting these Illustrated Large Print Stories turned into actual books, and is the Artist and Illustrator of these Fun, Family Oriented Tales. For years she would do a Christmas Book, every year, all by herself. She would take Larry’s story and do hand painted plates and then copy them and paint them and bind them using the comb binding. She spent countless hours doing this to share the Christmas Spirit with her children and grandchildren.
Then in 2018 we started publishing them on Kindle Direct Publishing so they could be Shared and Loved by all.
Frankie has been the Artist for the Covers of all the Novels, and has been the Illustrator for all the Large Print Illustrated stories, bringing to Life the Tale’s as told by the Master Story Teller.