Pen Name:
None
Genre:
Articles, Biography, Historical, Paranormal
Contact Information:
kevinmcdevitt5797@comcast.net
Bio
A lifelong admirer of all things “old west” and being a former New Mexico lawman himself, it seems only natural to write on the subject. Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and spending time in Texas and Colorado, Kevin developed a deep love of the Southwest, its people, culture, and history. After receiving a copy of Haunted Highways (by Ralph Looney) from his uncle when he was young man, Kevin spent the next two years traveling all over New Mexico exploring these ghost towns every chance he had. It had a profound effect on his life. After an early retirement, Kevin could finally pursue his passion of writing about the Southwest. “If I could be anywhere it would be in an old library surrounded by old books doing research on a project or out in the field exploring some old town or place.” ~ Kevin
His first book, History of the St. James, Cimarron, New Mexico, is historical nonfiction.
Books
Title: Ghosts of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico
Published: January 2025
Genre: Ghost Mysteries
A small town sits in northern New Mexico, nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the great plains. A place on the old Santa Fe Trail. A town given the name Cimarron―Spanish meaning wild and untamed. In the late 1800’s Cimarron was known for the headquarters of Lucien Maxwell’s famous Land Grant and the Colfax County War. It was also known for violence and death. Most of this death is centered around the St. James Hotel.
After the launch of the book, The History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico, there was an overwhelming outcry for a follow-up book on the spirits of the old frontier hotel. Legend has it 26 men were killed within the walls of the St. James, although only 17 can be documented. An unknown number also met their fate in the streets of Cimarron. Most of these deaths were by the “law of the gun.” Lives taken within the blink of an eye, justly and unjustly alike. Would the spirits of these men and woman stay to protest their early demise?
This book was written after careful examination, interviews with patrons, employees, spirit-sensitive persons, and paranormal investigators who have had experiences in the hotel, along with the collection of copious ghost stories of this 150-year-old inn and saloon. So, let’s explore the past and the tales of the Ghosts of the St. James Hotel in Cimarron New Mexico.
Available for Sale
Title: History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico
Published: June 2019
Genre: Historical Nonfiction
The History of the St. James Hotel Cimarron, New Mexico is a detailed historical account of this Old West Hotel on the Santa Fe Trail. Twenty-six killings are said to have occurred in the saloon and 17 can be verified in the book. Clay Allison, Bat Masterson, Buffalo Bill Cody, John Chisum, Mace Bowman, Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, all stayed at the St. James Hotel along with many other western notables. A detailed history of the founding family and the original proprietor, Henry Lambert, and his incredible life is also documented. Along with the history of Lambert’s Saloon & Inn and its transformation into the historical St. James Hotel.