Lane Warenski on Writing the Grizzly Killer Series, Wilderness Life, and the Western Genre

Lane R. Warenski, author of the popular Grizzly Killer series, joins us on The Dusty Trails and Tall Tales Podcast to talk about writing gripping frontier fiction, his deep connection to the wilderness, and the lasting appeal of the mountain man era.

Raised with a deep respect for the outdoors and inspired by pioneers like William Ashley and Jedediah Smith, Lane brings authenticity and heart to every page he writes. In this episode, we discuss how his real-life experiences shape his stories, the origins of Zach Connors, and what it means to write the untamed West in the modern age.

📚 Find Lane's books here:
https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Killer...
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0:00 – Introduction to Lane Warenski and his connection to the wilderness

1:04 – How the Uinta Mountains inspire Lane’s writing

2:26 – Influence of outdoor life on Lane’s characters

3:09 – Origin of Grizzly Killer and how the series began

4:17 – Development of Zach Connors as a character

5:15 – Historical figures who inspired Grizzly Killer

6:26 – Lane answers a question from LeRoy A. Peters about writing fur trade novels

7:35 – Authenticity in wilderness survival and use of personal experience

10:06 – Comparing Lane’s work to Terry C. Johnston and Louis L’Amour

12:04 – Balancing historical accuracy with storytelling

13:43 – Favorite and most difficult Grizzly Killer books to write

15:24 – Lane’s typical writing routine and process

16:31 – Could Grizzly Killer become a TV show? Why Hollywood misses great Westerns

18:23 – Lane’s thoughts on The Revenant and differences between book and film

20:00 – Pivotal mountain man moment: Zach meeting Sunflower Woman

20:52 – Challenge of keeping a long-running series fresh

22:49 – Personal lessons from Lane’s father that show up in his writing

26:02 – Introduction of Lane’s new Frontier Scout series

27:15 – How Frontier Scout differs from Grizzly Killer

29:01 – Lane’s future plans for both series

30:19 – What the Western genre needs more of today

31:07 – Favorite tools and weapons featured in his books

32:45 – Will Lane ever end the Grizzly Killer series?

34:00 – Who could play Zach Connors in a film adaptation?

35:13 – Advice for new Western writers

36:17 – Resurgence of the Western genre and its importance today

37:46 – Where to start if you’ve never read a Western before

38:56 – Where to find Lane’s books and closing thoughts on his writing style