Trail Dust: Conrad Richter — author of the West The other day, I came upon a fine essay by historian David McCullough that dealt insightfully with the life and writing career of novelist Conrad Richter. Although Richter spent much of his life in his native Pennsylvania, he had a close connection to New Mexico, having lived in the Albuquerque area from 1928 to 1938. McCullough thinks he stands alone as an author of frontier stories that ring true and are veiled in authenticity. And he adds that too little has been said about Richter, even though he won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Reading McCullough's piece brought to mind my own experience with Conrad Richter many years ago. It entailed a long correspondence that began in a rather unusual way. In 1961, I was working as a horseshoer and wrangler at Bishop's Lodge north of Santa Fe. Two other wranglers and I occupied a large bunkroom above the stables....