William WILL Murray, Author
I was born on a ranch in California and grew up raising Black Angus cattle and Quarter horses. We grew thousands of bales of oat hay and rumor was that we made our own whiskey. Life on the ranch was wild and woolly; fists first and conversation second! My dad taught me to ride bucking horses and to start colts. He had four brothers and they taught me to enjoy a few things that I was too young for! My dad taught me to work hard from dawn to dark seven days a week. He also taught me how to play, and boy, did we raise some hell; too much to recount here. Our parties were famous for all the wrong reasons.
It was here on the ranch with my Dad that I learned to hunt and fish. I soon discovered that I loved the high country and the wildlife that lived there. Along the way I raised and trained some wonderful bird and stock dogs. I’ve spent almost my entire life raising livestock in the high country where critters eat each other. In the late 90’s I began to pack and guide people into the wilderness and discovered my real passion, people!
I’m long in the tooth now and am taking the time to write my first of several books about my life of adventure. My life’s journey has taught me to love people and all the wildlife that we live with. I’ve learned that the journey is more important than the hunt.
The photo above shows Painter and Smokin Dusty flanking Will’s wife, Grace Pagano. Rumor has it that she only agreed to marry him in return for a good horse,”Painter”, and an English Setter called “Panda Bear”. The truth is that Will would have given much more!!
“Worn Out Saddles and Boot Leather” and all of my books as they come out are available online and at your favorite bookstore!
A big thanks to the following stores that are carrying my books in my hometown of Santa Fe , New Mexico, Mortenson Saddles, San Marcos Cafe and Feed, Barnes and Noble, Collected Works Bookstore and coffeehouse, The Outdoorsman Of Santa Fe. Garcia Street Books and more on the way!
A big welcome to my new publisher ” Casa Urraca Press “An outstanding New Mexico Publisher! A New Mexico Press that champions authors from both New Mexico and the entire southwest! and of course the publisher that started it all ” McFarland Publishing ” who has helped me turn my scribbles into legible words!
I’m now writing a few articles for ” Project Upland ” a one of a kind Magazine printed for the outdoorsman that loves both the land and the wildlife that lives there!
I’m also writing articles for the ” California Sportsman Magazine ” Stories and articles for Sportsman Everywhere!
I’m always available for book signings, story telling and to give support where needed. Just reach out to ( wgmurray04@gmail.com ) or 505-231-1908 !
Discover some of yourself and of my world in the wilderness
I’ve put a lifetime of sometimes wild adventure into my books. Stories and chapters about people and horses in tough and often unrelenting situations. From high adventure to the lows of bad luck. Words that tell of the extraordinary courage that people sometimes find when the going gets tough and of those that couldn’t rise to the occasion. From high humor to sheer physical exhaustion, you’ll read about every trip and journey into the wilderness and back. How the journey becomes the hunt without which there can be no harvest. How about those horses? You’ll know them all by name long before you finish this first book. True tall tales for the young and old, the book-“Worn Out Saddles And Boot Leather”!
You’ll read about the lifetime full of the best friends a man could have, my dogs. From pets to cattle and sheep dogs, guardian dogs, bird dogs; real-life stories that tell of so many moments in the field and at home with my four pawed brothers and sisters, from the tragic to the oh so sweet. This book will be out next.
Discover the days and months of my life, from growing up on a wild and woolly ranch in California where arguments were settled with your fists.Where as a young man I would be measured by my ability to ride tough horses and to shoot when needed. Read about the movie that changed my life forever and set me on the path of right and wrong and my struggle to understand my father! From my rodeo days to the loss of my first ranch. Have a look at how I found success along the central coast of California and my own ranch here in New Mexico. I’ve dreamed big all my life and lived every one of those dreams. Come along and experience right along side me a life so well lived that it could be called illegal! Look for this book titled ” Rode Hard And Never Put Up! An Untamed Life”! Out soon.
My fourth attempt at putting words to paper will chronicle the not so slow loss of our freedoms in America. How slowly but surely we’ve become a fear driven society worried more about ourselves than the nation that has cradled us from birth. Where the individual is no longer important and where once you hit that magic age of sixty-five you’re somehow no longer relevant. How our history is being erased and we are being shamed. Coming soon, “While I Slept“
I strive to write for everyone from the very young to the older reader. It’s the journey not the hunt.
Book signings and readings! ——– Barnes and Noble , Santa Fe, New Mexico June 7th. 2025! From 1:00 until 5:00 pm
Santa Fe Story Lab. The Art of Story telling May 14th. 2025 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Presented by The Collected Works Bookstore, The Santa Fe Public Library and The Friends of The Santa Fe Public Library
Book signing and reading at the San Marcos Cafe located at 3877 State Highway 14 Santa Fe , New Mexico. When? December 7th. 2024 from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon. A limited menu will be offered of cinnamon rolls and great coffee! This event was a tremendous success! When you can drop into the cafe and thank them for supporting their local authors!
Sophia At Her Best!
Worn Out Saddles and Boot Leather Available August 7th. 2024! Through McFarland Publishing’s Toplight imprint, Barnes and Noble, Thriftbooks, Google Books and Others.
Two magazines that are the very best “Project Upland” and “California Sportsman” High Quality Reading!
Visit the Ragged Point Inn and Resort where Murray Outfitters was born and my book “Worn Out Saddles and Boot Leather” was started. It’s a beautiful resort located just highway one along the coast of California!
If you’ve never slept in the wilderness with your horse, bathed and drank out of the same stream, read “Worn Out Saddles and Boot Leather”. Step into my world for tall but true stories of both success and defeat in the wilderness. Learn how no one came back unchanged but with a love for the ground that we rode on and the wildlife that lived there!
A HEART FELT THANK YOU TO ALL THE SUPPORT SO MANY HAVE GIVEN ME!
Coming Soon
Available August 7th. 2024 Published by McFarlands Toplight imprint
“Worn Out Saddles and Boot Leather“
Is now out for purchase both online and in your favorite bookstore. Filled with hard to believe stories of unimaginable adventure including Horses, Wild critters and Poison Oak!
COMING SOON/ In the final edit now!
“On The Scent: A Lifetime with Dogs in The Field”
Sixty-five years of training Cattle dogs
Sheep dogs and Gundogs. Unbelievable stories of the days in the field with my
best friends. Read about how my mistakes almost cost my dogs life and how my dogs common sense and love for me pulled them through!
Now at McFarland Publishing!
Coming Soon
“Rode Hard and Never Put Up! : An Untamed Life”
Published by “Casa Urraca Press!” never before told tales of the wonderful mayhem that was and is my life!
Coming Soon
While I Slept
Our Freedoms/The last Hurrah and growing old in America!
All of my books are available online from McFarland Publishing, Casa Urraca Press, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Amazon and many more. They are also available from your local bookstore! You may also contact me at wgmurray04@gmail.com
Gallery
Timeless photos of Wills life and love for Critters!
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Riding into the wilderness and coming back. Tired both ways!
williamwillmurray.com 