Behind the Story: Becky Coffield, Arizona

The most amazing thing about PenTales stories is the people who share them. With “Behind the Story”, we introduce you to some of the personalities, voices, and stories behind the stories.

1. Tell us a little about yourself?

I live in Wickenburg, Arizona. I am an award-winning writer, but I also own/operate Moonlight Mesa Associates, Inc., a small, independent publishing company that now specializes in the Western genre, both fiction and nonfiction. Moonlight Mesa also sponsors the Cowboy Up Short Story Contest every year. This year we produced Award-Winning Tales, our first anthology consisting of 26 award-winning, never-before-published Western short stories accompanied by 19 illustrations. We normally publish 2 to 4 titles a year, so we are truly a “micro-publishing house.”

2. How long have you considered yourself a writer and what first got you interested in it?
I have always been a writer. I wrote my first book when I was 9 years old. It was 12 pages long and called Agog. It was hard work writing it out longhand, so I taught myself to type on an old upright typewriter. Then I produced my first underground newspaper that I sold in our apartment building for .15 each. I am a natural born fabricator of tall tales, malarkey and bullshit, so this has been mostly easy for me.

3. How did you hear about PenTales and how do you feel about our mission?
You know, I heard about PenTales because for some reason I got on your email list. I have no idea how, but I’ve been receiving your emails for a few months. I think you guys are onto something great. The internet offers incredible opportunities to entrepreneurs. I just wish I could take better advantage of it. I think your involvement in PenTales will provide you with a good opportunity to learn  and lot of good experience. Plus, you’re giving others a chance to write and be a part of something. You could even be saving someone’s life by giving them an outlet for their stories, even if the stories are horrible. They have a reader…and a listener.

4. What are your future writing plans?
I write under two different pennames and will continue to do so and will continue to publish Western works. (We publish great books!) I’m very excited about a new project. I’ll be writing under the name of “Jonah Arizona” and am trying to write a young reader book for the very first time. This will be LOTS of fun. My mule (Bouquet, aka Bucket) will be a character in the book. I think it will turn out well!!