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Thursday, March 11, 2021
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
Real-life outlaw is subject of a new novel
students about the importance of
education, developing reading and
writing skills, and impressing upon
Oregon author
Rick Steber
releases ‘The
Last Outlaw’
them the value of saving our his-
tory for future generations.
To see a list of his books — fi c-
tion, nonfi ction, poetry and prose
— visit his website, ricksteberau-
thor.com.
By Renee Struthers
East Oregonian
Rick Steber, a prolifi c Oregon
novelist who brings the West to
life in his many works covering a
variety of subjects, has brought a
real-life bad boy to his latest book,
“The Last Outlaw.”
It’s the true story of Tobe Skiens,
who grew up in Texas as a cowboy
but soon discovered that cattle and
horse rustling was a much more
lucrative career.
Born in 1882 and doing a man’s
work on the ranch by the age of 10,
he becomes a drifter and moves
from ranch to ranch following his
perpetually itchy feet. When he
rides into Southeastern Oregon in
1906, the wild open spaces provide
the perfect playground for his
horse-stealing escapades.
When a 17-year-old girl disap-
peared from her family ranch
outside of Burns, Skiens’ life of
crime takes an ugly turn. Did she
run away with him willingly, as
Skiens said, or was she the victim
of kidnapping and worse?
Newspaper archives from the
time covered both the story and a
serialized version of one side of the
story.
As his fi ercely independent life-
style is slowly eaten away by the
continued settlement of Oregon’s
vast open spaces, Skiens must
come to terms with the taming of
his beloved West and the idea that
he has no place in the new world
order. Will he adapt quietly to the
new reality, or go out in a blaze of
glory?
“The Last Outlaw” is available at
ricksteberauthor.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rick Steber, nationally acclaimed
speaker and the author of more
than 50 books with sales exceeding
two million copies, has received
national acclaim for his writing.
His literary awards include the
Western Writers of America Spur
Award for Best Western Novel,
Western Heritage Award, Benja-
min Franklin Award, Mid-America
Publishers Award, Oregon Library
Association Award and Oregon
Literary Arts Award.
Five of his books have been
optioned to movie production
companies.
In addition to his writing, Rick
has spoken at national and inter-
national conferences and banquets.
He visits schools where he talks to
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