Ralph Cotton

Ralph W. Cotton was an American author renowned for his western genre novels, with over 80 books published, including his debut *While Angels Dance* in 1994, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.[1][2] Before writing full-time, he worked as an ironworker, second mate on a commercial barge, teamster, horse trainer, and lay minister with the Lutheran Church.[2][6] He continued the Ralph Compton series after Compton's death and lived in Corydon, Illinois.[1][2]