The Beginning

Written by J. A. Johnstone and William W. Johnstone

Narrated by Jack Garrett

THE GREATEST WESTERN WRITERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

For the first time, an epic account of a boy born into a struggle for survival on the harsh and unforgiving American frontier, the story behind the legend of Smoke Jensen …

On the eve of the Civil War, Kirby Jensen is the youngest of three children living on a hardscrabble ranch in Southwestern Missouri. But in 1861, shots were fired in Charleston Harbor, and Kirby’s father and brother went to war. Smoke Jensen: The Beginning follows the Jensen clan during these volatile years, from Civil War battles to border state raids to the kind of frontier justice achieved only by bullets and blood. William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone chronicle the early years of Kirby Jensen—soon to be nicknamed Smoke—as he journeys from boyhood innocence into a manhood shaped by violence and a young man’s thirst for justice. Filled with actual historical events and legendary characters, the story of Smoke Jensen’s early years is a powerful, brutal, and amazing American saga.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781501904158

J. A. Johnstone

Being the all-around assistant, typist, researcher, and fact checker to one of the most popular western authors of all time, J.A. Johnstone learned from the master, Uncle William W. Johnstone.     He began tutoring J.A. at an early age. After-school hours were often spent retyping manuscripts or researching his massive American Western History library as well as the more modern wars and conflicts. J.A. worked hard—and learned.   “Every day with Bill was an adventure story in itself. Bill taught me all he could about the art of storytelling. ‘Keep the historical facts accurate,’ he would say. ‘Remember the readers, and as your grandfather once told me, I am telling you now: be the best J.A. Johnstone you can be.’”

Reviews for The Beginning

[steve delaney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it it was a great book thumbs up

[Donnie Ricketts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. I have not read William Johnstone a lot. Surprised by the writing. Very nice work.