The 19th-century American frontier is returning to life via an MTSU alumnus’ new book.

Tim Champlin

Host Gina Logue’s interview with MTSU graduate Tim Champlin on the “MTSU On the Record” radio program first aired Jan. 18 on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org ). You can listen to their conversation below.

Champlin’s latest book is “The Wild West of Louis L’Amour,” an examination of America’s most popular and prolific author of Western fiction. Champlin is an accomplished author of more than 35 Western novels of his own.

Illustrated with more than 240 images, including full-color photographs, maps and daguerreotypes, Champlin’s nonfiction appreciation of L’Amour analyzes the elder author’s descriptions of landscapes, women, gunfighters, ranchers and other familiar figures of the Old West.

“You could always be guaranteed an exciting story, an exciting tale, some character development, a good hero or heroine you could root for,” Champlin said of L’Amour’s writing style. “It was good escape reading. It was fun.”

Champlin, who is now based in Nashville, graduated from MTSU in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in English. He earned his master’s degree from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College in 1964. He was born in Fargo, North Dakota, and grew up in the western United States.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.