Dave's Historical fiction
Welcome to the Official Website of Dave McGowan
Journey through the stories of Canada’s wild frontier, told by a man who’s lived its spirit. Explore gripping tales of history, hardship, and humanity in every book.
Here, the past comes alive, not through dusty facts and timelines, but through raw characters, real struggles, and the unyielding landscapes that shaped a nation.
About The Book:Boundaries
Bob Morgan, a seasoned bounty hunter and rangeland detective, anticipates a peaceful summer training and selling horses. However, his plans are disrupted when a crime boss and his daughter intrude upon his tranquil life, further complicated by an ungrateful neighbor. As tensions escalate, Morgan is compelled to confront his past and navigate a web of deceit and corruption. Known for his adaptability and problem-solving skills, Morgan strives to transform chaos into order, even if it means blurring the lines between right and wrong.
About The Book: Partners
Thomas Brash, a 35-year-old former teacher and soldier, is haunted by the loss of his family to cholera. Seeking a new purpose, he journeys westward from Ontario through New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin, eventually arriving in the rugged expanse of the North-West Territories.
There, he crosses paths with Frank Clement, a young, illiterate backwoodsman from North Dakota whose sharp wit and survival instincts complement Thomas’s discipline and intellect. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, the two form an unlikely but unbreakable partnership.
Their adventures include rescuing a Native woman, integrating with the Blackfoot people, and navigating dangerous encounters with outlaws and corrupt traders — all set against the untamed backdrop of the Canadian frontier. As they face the harsh realities of pioneer life, their bond is tested time and again, ultimately evolving into a deep and enduring friendship.
About Book; HOMESTEADER;
FINDING SHARON
In Homesteader: Finding Sharon, D. M. McGowan continues the compelling journey of Hank James, first introduced in The Great Liquor War. This powerful tale unfolds during the Great Depression, capturing the grit, hardship, and hope of life on the Canadian frontier.
Haunted by loss and driven by determination, Hank is not just working to survive the harsh realities of rural life. He is searching for his missing daughter, Sharon. With the help of his shrewd partner Dan Stark, Hank builds a new life from scratch while refusing to give up on the truth.
Set against a backdrop of economic struggle and wild untamed land, Homesteader is a story of endurance, redemption, and the quiet strength of a father's love. As Hank's journey unfolds, it becomes a testament to resilience, revealing that some battles are fought not with guns but with grit, heart, and the will to keep going.
More Books by Dave McGowan
Discover more captivating stories from D. M. McGowan, each rich with historical detail, rugged landscapes, and unforgettable characters. The books below continue to explore the untamed spirit of Canada’s past filled with courage, conflict, and the quiet strength of ordinary people facing extraordinary times.
Each title offers a standalone experience, but together they form a powerful collection that honors the resilience of frontier life and the moral complexity of those who lived it.
GUNFIGHTERS THIEVES & LAWEN
The Great Liquor War
In 1885 British Columbia, Hank James just wants to raise horses and build an honest life. But when he's swept into a violent clash between bootleggers, corrupt officials, and the North West Mounted Police, he must fight to survive in a world where justice is often decided by who draws first.
Alongside his sharp-minded business partner Dan Stark, Hank is forced to make difficult choices that test his loyalty, courage, and grit. The Great Liquor War is a fast-paced Western packed with tension, dark humor, and the raw spirit of a lawless frontier, a gripping story of honor, resilience, and survival against all odds.
In Gunfighters, Thieves and Lawmen, D. M. McGowan delivers a gripping Western set in the late 19th-century Canadian frontier. The story follows Sully Wheeler, a retired gunfighter whose cattle are mysteriously disappearing. Determined to protect his livelihood, Sully confronts the challenges of lawlessness, corruption, and his own past. As he navigates interactions with a questionable Mountie and a curious newspaperwoman, Sully must decide how far he's willing to go to uphold justice in a land where the lines between right and wrong are often blurred
People Of The West
A Short Story Timeline
People of the West is a compelling collection by D. M. McGowan, featuring nine short stories interwoven with fourteen poems that span 170 years of North American history. From the 1790s onward, McGowan brings to life the diverse experiences of settlers, Indigenous peoples, outlaws, and everyday individuals who shaped the western frontier. Each narrative offers a vivid glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of life in the West, capturing the enduring spirit of its people
Experience the Frontier Like Never Before- Now on Audiobook
Step into the untamed wilds of Western Canada with the gripping voice of history itself. D. M. McGowan’s historical fiction novels are now available as immersive audiobooks, bringing his unforgettable characters and rugged frontier tales to life in a whole new way.
Whether you're commuting, working, or relaxing at home, you can now listen to stories of grit, survival, and justice, from the dusty trails of the Cariboo gold rush to the silent forests where bounty hunters chase redemption.
Available Audiobooks:
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The Great Liquor War
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Homesteader: Finding Sharon
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Partners
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The People from the West
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Boundaries (Coming Soon)
Narrated with clarity and emotion, each audiobook captures the raw spirit of the Canadian frontier—where every decision can change a life, and every voice tells a story worth hearing.
Don’t just read history. Hear it.
Available now on Audible and other major platforms.
My Story
Hi, I’m Dave McGowan though some just call me Dave. I write stories set in the Canadian West mostly because I’ve lived much of it in one form or another. I’ve been a rancher, truck driver, stage performer, and heavy equipment operator. I've worked in logging camps and managed a theatre company. Every job, every road, and every person I've met has helped shape the stories I now tell.
I grew up in British Columbia surrounded by forests, small towns, and the kind of rugged land that demands both grit and humor. History has always fascinated me not the kind you memorize for a test, but the kind that lives in the dust of old trails, the forgotten towns, and the choices ordinary people had to make to survive.
My books The Great Liquor War, Homesteader Finding Sharon, The Making of Jake McTavish, Boundaries, and others aren’t just Westerns. They’re stories about people on the edge of civilization, trying to do what’s right when the rules are vague and the land is unforgiving. I write about justice, survival, hard earned redemption and sometimes the cost of doing nothing.
If you love history, complex characters, and the wild places where law and humanity collide, I hope you’ll enjoy my books. Thanks for stopping by.
Dave (D. M. McGowan)