A friend who's a firearms & self-defense instructor once wrote up a list of recommended readings. Among various sections like "How to Shoot", "How to Fight," and "How to Kick A** WW2-style", he had a section entitled "How to Be a Hard-A** Bastard". The books listed were H.W. McBride's "A Rifleman Went to War" and Askins' autobiography.

Askins asked one publisher why they wouldn't handle "Unrepentant Sinner". It was gently pointed out to him that on page 1 he shoots his best friend in the leg -- for borrowing a horse without permission.

I've also been told he was tough to edit, because when given a word count he would write a fairly pure stream of consciousness until the specified count was reached -- then just stop, fold up the paper and mail it in.

John