J.R. Sanders
BIOGRAPHY
J.R. Sanders is a native of Newton, Kansas - one of the original "wild and woolly" cowtowns. His deep interest in Old West history dates back to childhood visits with his family to sites such as the Dalton Gang hideout, Abilene, and Dodge City. His interest in crime stems from his days as a private investigator and police officer in Southern California.
J.R. regularly contributes nonfiction articles to a variety of periodicals, among them Law & Order and Wild West magazine. A former living historian, he has portrayed 19th-century soldiers, cowboys, lawmen, and Gold Rush prospectors in presentations to schools, colleges, and historical societies all over Southern California, as well as for institutions including the Autry Museum of the American West and the Huntington Library. He has also written public service spots for local cable television broadcast and has worked both on-camera and behind the scenes on A&E/History Channel’s documentary series Dangerous Missions. His books have been used in educational programs by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.
J.R. lives in Southern California with his wife, Rose, and their rescue dogs, Ruby and Marlowe.
MEMBERSHIPS
Western Writers of America
Western Fictioneers
Private Eye Writers of America
International Thriller Writers
Short Mystery Fiction Society
American Crime Writers League
Upcoming Appearances/Events
| Date | Venue | Address | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Date:
June 8, 2025 10:00am - 4:00pm |
Venue: Santa Clarita Valley Book Festival |
Address:
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355 |
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| Notes: Event will be held in the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons. Admission is free. | ||||||||
Recent Appearances/Events
| Date | Venue | Address | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Date:
April 10, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm |
Venue: Old Town Newhall Library |
Address:
24500 Main St. Santa Clarita, CA |
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| Notes: Book discussion of A KILLING WAY, followed by Q&A and a special presentation on William S. Hart and the Hart Mansion by Bill West from Friends of Hart Park & Museum and author of Images of America: William S. Hart Park. Free event. | ||||||||
|
Date:
January 18, 2025 8:00am - 3:00pm |
Venue: The Porky Show |
Address:
1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd. Claremont, CA 91711 |
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| Notes: Will be signing copies of SOME GAVE ALL plus A KILLING WAY and the other Nate Ross novels at California's longest-running patch & badge police collectibles swap meet. $5.00 admission required. | ||||||||
|
Date:
December 26, 2024 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Venue: Rendezvous with a Writer |
Address:
online (archived on YouTube) |
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| Notes: Interview on L.A. Talk Radio with hosts Bobbi Jean Bell and Jim Bell. | ||||||||
|
Date:
January 20, 2024 8:00am - 3:00pm |
Venue: The Porky Show |
Address:
Taylor Hall - 1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd. Claremont, CA 91711 |
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| Notes: Will be signing copies of SOME GAVE ALL and the Nate Ross novels at California's longest-running patch & badge police collectibles swap meet. $5.00 admission required. | ||||||||
|
Date:
September 30, 2023 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
Venue: Timeless Pages - The Book Place |
Address:
12126A California St. Yucaipa, CA |
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| Notes: Signing books with author Wayne Purcell during AutumnFest event. | ||||||||
|
Date:
September 2, 2023 9:30am - 5:30pm |
Venue: Bouchercon 2023 |
Address:
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina - 333 West Harbor Driv San Diego, CA |
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| Notes: Paid registration required. | ||||||||
|
Date:
September 1, 2023 9:30am - 5:30pm |
Venue: Bouchercon 2023 |
Address:
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina - 333 West Harbor Driv San Diego, CA |
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| Notes: Paid registration required. | ||||||||
|
Date:
August 31, 2023 9:30am - 5:30pm |
Venue: Bouchercon 2023 |
Address:
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina - 333 West Harbor Driv San Diego, CA |
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| Notes: Will be signing copies of the Bouchercon anthology "Killin' Time in San Diego" at the scheduled Anthology Celebration between 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Paid registration required. | ||||||||
|
Date:
August 12, 2023 10:00am - 2:00pm |
Venue: Community Book Festival - Janet Goeske Foundation |
Address:
5257 Sierra St. Riverside, CA |
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| Notes: Free event with local authors, games, contests, prizes, and more. | ||||||||
|
Date:
August 6, 2023 10:00am - 4:00pm |
Venue: Los Rios Rancho |
Address:
39611 Oak Glen Rd. Oak Glen, CA 92399 |
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| Notes: Paid event with Old West encampment and vendors, Victorian tea tent, frontier demonstrations and activities for the whole family. Signing books on Saturday and Sunday only | ||||||||
|
Date:
August 5, 2023 10:00am - 4:00pm |
Venue: Los Rios Rancho |
Address:
39611 Oak Glen Rd. Oak Glen, CA 92399 |
||||||
| Notes: Paid event with Old West encampment and vendors, Victorian tea tent, frontier demonstrations and activities for the whole family. Signing books on Saturday and Sunday only | ||||||||
|
Date:
July 20, 2023 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Venue: Rendezvous with a Writer on L.A. Talk Radio |
Address:
online |
||||||
| Notes: Radio interview with hosts Bobbi Jean Bell and Jim Bell. | ||||||||
|
Date:
May 14, 2023 Open - Open |
Venue: Interview: SuitUp Podcast |
Address:
online |
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| Notes: "Today we’re joined on the show by JR. Sanders, author of the Nate Ross novels and the non-fiction book Some Gave All: Forgotten Old West Lawmen Who Died With Their Boots On. His latest book Bring The Night: A Nate Ross Novel was just released. Together we discuss old west lawmen, the elevolution of the cowboy to private eye, and the Nate Ross series." | ||||||||
|
Date:
May 6, 2023 10:00am - 2:00pm |
Venue: Legacy Commons Park - Palmdale, CA |
Address:
930 East Avenue Q-9 Palmdale, CA 93550 |
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| Notes: Signing books at Inkwell Book & Art Festival. Free event. | ||||||||
|
Date:
May 6, 2023 5:30pm - 7:30pm |
Venue: Garden Works for Kids |
Address:
10966 Bryant St. Yucaipa, CA |
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| Notes: Ticket required. | ||||||||
|
Date:
April 23, 2023 1:00pm - 1:40pm |
Venue: Old Town Newhall Library |
Address:
24500 Main Street Newhall, CA |
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| Notes: Free event. PANEL: New Westerns and Their Future What lies ahead for the Western genre – on paper and on screen? Why is the Western still relevant…or is it? What challenges do Western writers, screenwriters, and filmmakers face today? MODERATOR: C. Courtney Joyner PANELISTS: J.R. Sanders, Bruce Scivally, Bill Wilbur | ||||||||
|
Date:
April 23, 2023 10:00am - 6:00pm |
Venue: Buckaroo Book Shop - Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival |
Address:
Main Street - Old Town Newhall, CA |
||||||
| Notes: Free event. | ||||||||
|
Date:
April 22, 2023 10:00am - 6:00pm |
Venue: Buckaroo Book Shop - Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival |
Address:
Main Street - Old Town Newhall, CA |
||||||
| Notes: Free event. | ||||||||
