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The combined efforts ofseveral groups are resulting in a visit by celebrated western author Chris Enssto Colorado’s mountain communities June 11th-12th. Chris Enss is a New York Timesbest-selling author who has been writing about women of the Old West for morethan twenty years. She has penned more than forty published books on thesubject. Her work has been honored with five Will Rogers Medallion Awards, anElmer Kelton Book Award, an Oklahoma Center for the Book Award, and was aWestern Writers of America Spur Finalist. Chris’ most recent work is According to Kate: The Legendary Life ofBig Nose Kate Elder, Love of Doc Holliday. Her new book, soon to bereleased is The Widowed Ones, a newperspective on the widow of General George Armstrong Custer.
As President of Western Writers of America, Enss is currentlyinvolved in the group’s Packing the Westeducational program designed for second through sixth grade students. “We wantto introduce kids to books about the American West and teach them about thehistory of the frontier,” Enss explained.
Joining Chris in this visit is award winning western authorPhil Mills, Jr. His books include three historical novels set in 1800sWyoming and six children’s books. His Wyoming series includes Where a Good Wind Blows, Where theWildflowers Dance and most recently, WhereCold the Waters Run. Where a GoodWind Blows was a Spur Finalist Award for Best 2010 Western Audio book fromthe Western Writers of America.
On Saturday, June 12,2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Chris and Phil will appear at the NationalMining Hall of Fame & Museum (NMHFM) at 120 W 9th Street, inLeadville. The NMHFM is a nationally chartered museum focused on the past,present and future of American mining. While visiting the museum, Chris willtalk with the audience about the historical characters she has researched, andthe many stories she has written over the years about some of the West’s mostintriguing historical figures. There is no charge to attend this appearance,but the museum asks that you call to give them a head count by June 7, 2021 at719-486-1229.
Immediately following theirNMHFM visit, the writers will cross the street to the Healy House Museum &Dexter Cabin at 912 Harrison Avenue for a reception and book signing session. TheHealy House Museum & Dexter Cabin offer tours of these amazing examples ofVictorian architecture, along with a discussion of Leadville history. There isno cost to attend the Healy House reception, but admission fees will be chargedfor those wanting to take a tour. Please reserve a tour spot ahead of time bycalling 719-486-0487.
During the authors’ LakeCounty visit, they will be lodging and dining at the Twin Lakes Inn. If youwould like to join them for dinner, please call to make reservations at719-486-7965.
For more informationabout Chris Enss, visit her website at www.chrisenss.com,and for Phil Mills, Jr., www.philmillsjr.com.
The Twin Lakes Inn www.thetwinlakesinn.com
Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin www.healyhousemuseum.org
National Mining Hall ofFame & Museum www.mininghalloffame.org
