A New York Lady In Helldorado

This richly layered work of historical fiction tells the little-known story of Sarah Herring, who assisted in the legal defense of Wyatt Earp. Williams successfully establishes the setting, blending factual material with a vivid, character-driven narrative. The prose is clearly constructed and quietly immersive. Sarah Herring's voice is poised and polished, but it also conveys the weight of the challenge she faces in being a woman striving for success and notoriety normally reserved for men. This work offers a unique perspective on a historical figure that is unlikely to be known, while the more recognizable character of Wyatt Earp and other figures of the American West provide an additional layer of interest. Sarah Herring emerges as a woman of exceptional talent and intellect who challenges the conventions of gender roles in her era.

A New York Lady in Helldorado” by VC Williams is a fascinating insight into the fabled history of Tombstone, Arizona, and the exploits of the Earp brothers. More than that, its enduring central narrative is the absorbing story of Sarah Herring, a teenager and woman who fights for what she believes in and who ultimately overrode her father’s disapproval to follow him into legal practice. Sarah leaves an enduring legacy for the advancement of women in the practice of law and all who seek to assist those who are wronged. A wonderful read.
A New York Lady in Helldorado” receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company

In this historical novel, a trailblazer discovers that the Old West is the ideal place to prove herself.

Sarah Herring always goes her own way. She can’t fathom why a woman’s worth is contingent on the husband she manages to attract… She is a teacher, but she seeks a more adventurous life. She gets that opportunity thanks to her father’s wanderlust. Col. William Herring, a successful lawyer and politician, chucks it all to work his deceased brother’s stake in a silver mine in the Arizona Territory…The protagonist’s mother and sister move there while Sarah and her younger brother finish the school year in New York City. When they finally go west, Sarah receives the break leading to her destiny. Her father, returning to the law, enlists her to take notes during an inquest following the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He is defending Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holliday. Sarah is appalled by the wildness of the West but falls in love with the law, as she ends up helping Wyatt craft his testimony. She also falls for the much older Thomas Sorin, who co-owns and operates the weekly newspaper the Tombstone Epitaph. While they are separated for years, love finally brings them back together. Based on the life of Arizona’s first female lawyer, the novel shows the pioneering Sarah who’s ahead of her time, striving to overcome her era’s prejudices. Williams paints an impressive portrait of the attorney. Sarah resolutely follows her love of the law, with the backing of few beyond the mostly absent Thomas. She sacrifices love until later in life, after she and Thomas establish their careers. Her loved ones try to be supportive but can’t comprehend the possibility of a female lawyer. The author’s decision to make such Western touchstones as Tombstone and the legendary shootout a large part of Sarah’s backdrop is astute, as is giving such a substantial role to the real-life figure of Wyatt Earp, who is both flawed and engaging. This choice also allows Sarah to be a stranger in a strange land. What results is a bewitching blend of history and melodrama.

This engrossing, inspiring tale features an intellectual hero unwilling to compromise her career dreams.

This historical novel was inspired by the life of Sarah Herring. The story starts with Miss Herring’s arrival in Tombstone with her younger brother, Howard Herring. Immediately, Sarah is thrust into the aftermath of the famous gunfight on Fremont Street, which had taken place only a few days before her arrival. As the daughter of William Herring, one of the defense attorneys for the Earps, Sarah is recruited by her father to sit in Justice Spicer’s courtroom throughout the so-called Spicer Hearing. During the month-long hearing, she transcribes the testimony for her father and slowly gains an understanding of the events preceding the 30-second gunfight.
Although Sarah Herring’s involvement is fictional, Williams uses real names throughout her novel and maintains an accurate representation of the testimony given by key witnesses. The author further draws on her imagination and builds a fascinating relationship between Sarah and Wyatt Earp, which actually adds a bit of tension to the story. However, as the hearing proceeds, Sarah finds herself drawn, like a schoolgirl, to a newsman named Thomas Sorin. This is where the novel becomes romantic, and where, with the support of her future husband, Sarah becomes serious about becoming an attorney.
However, when Justice Spicer finally gives his opinion and releases the Earps and “Doc” Holliday from the charge of first-degree murder, Sarah’s usefulness suddenly ends. And her dream of becoming a lawyer in her father’s Tombstone firm a distant thought. Over the next few years, her romance with Sorin grows in intensity, and reluctantly, she finds herself having to choose between a family or a profession. Then, unexpectedly, a family tragedy inspires Sarah and renews her determination to reach her dream.
Throughout this time, Sarah and Thomas build a deep love and respect for each other’s dreams. They never lose touch but are often away from each other for long periods of time. You can feel their love throughout the story, but I knew how the story would end. I knew that both Sarah and Thomas would reach their dreams, but I was also aware of the fact that Thomas would have to experience the unimaginable death of his beloved wife before her time.
What I did not know was how Wyatt Earp would react. All and all, I enjoyed the story. It was my first historical novel. It could very well inspire a young reader to want to learn more about Sarah Herring and Tombstone.