Getting three trucks and two horses stuck in the mud on "a good road" into BC's wild, remote interior was just the start of Bruce Watt's Chilcotin adventures—and it was his honeymoon, too. The wildlife, landscape and quirky, down-to-earth people captivated Bruce, and despite the hard work and challenging conditions, the Watts put down roots, raising a family, alongside herds of cattle and horses.

A consummate storyteller, Bruce tells it like it was—and perhaps still is for many people calling this place home. These yarns capture the adventure and humour of running a ranch—from roping cougars to close calls on cliff edges and other "typical" accidents. His stories of chasing horses, navigating the backcountry and getting five kids off to school have a charm all their own.

BC Cowboy Hall-of-Famer Bruce Watt grew up in the Fraser Valley and moved to the Big Creek area of the Chilcotin in 1948. Rodeo was a big part of his life, and he competed in rodeo events until he was in his late seventies. A consummate storyteller and a man of many jokes, Bruce had a fantastic ability to see the humour in most situations. He always derived great pleasure from the people and animals around him, and his hearty laugh was second only to his thunderous sneeze. Bruce passed away in 2013.

Bruce Watt's profile page

“Pull up a chair, kick off your boots and prepare to be ‘Chilcotinized.’ Bruce Watt has the cowboy cred to spin yarns with the best of them: sly and wry, with a dusty finish.” —Mark Forsythe, BC Almanac

“Bruce Watt is a tall-tale teller of immense humour and enormous heart who knows how to spin a laugh-out-loud yarn that captivates and enchants the reader.” —Ian Ferguson, author of Village of the Small Houses