PHOENIX, AZ - When Lindsey Taylor is in danger of losing her cattle to her scheming rival, she calls the only people she can - the "Foofwahs," of course! The seven women, who have dubbed themselves the "Future Famous Writers of America," are always up for a challenge. In Cleo Lorette and Greta Manville's The Purgatory Trail (available from 1stBooks Library), the Foofwahs jump on their horses to save Lindsey's day.

Lindsey's only alternative is to forfeit the herd to handsome but devious Chan Reed for the past year's grazing fee. Determined not to give in to Reed's manipulations, she rounds up the middle-aged Foofwahs and crusty old cowboy Jake Wiggins as the drive foreman. With mutual disgust, Jake and the Foofwahs struggle to avoid dangerous trail "accidents" that turn what began as a vacation into a remarkable journey testing the limits of their physical strength and emotions.

Lorette and Manville are two Arizona writers who have much in common with their legendary "Foofwahs." Married to a cowboy, Lorette lived on an Arizona cattle ranch for many years. She has published numerous magazine articles, and taught creative writing at two Phoenix-area community colleges.

While teaching, Lorette met Manville, who had left a career in corporate management in California to move with her husband to Arizona. Manville is the recipient of several national literary awards for poetry and fiction.