Who I am: I am Tom Galusha. I am the author of many published poems, a trade paperback of speculative poetry and fiction, a few short stories, cartoons and, for about ten years, monthly articles on natural history. I’ve written several unpublished novels, including more of the humorous Western SF adventures of Moby and Wolf. I also have several serious medieval-setting fantasy projects in varying stages of completion, but I feel that my true metier is humor.

Where the idea came from: from two main sources--the title from a Western painting by Russell (if I remember correctly) called "Smoke of a .45," and from a rambunctious collection of cartoon characters my brother and I created in our teens and have continued chronicling ever since. Since I cannot begin to draw as well as my artist brother, I have been writing about them instead of drawing them. I’ve combined them with my decades of reading science fiction and my love of good old Western movies.

How readers can help me shape my draft: I feel that I have taken this tale as far as I can on my own, and would welcome feedback, positive or critical, from others. This idea of working with others on a story online before publishing is new to me and I am excited to try it out. I’d like to know if others find this sort of humor funny or tiresome. I think this is a fairly unique form of fiction, and wonder if others feel the same. Thanks in advance!