Rocky Matson

07/13/2026

Holding the finished book still doesn't feel real some days.

This story took years to find its way onto the page. The people in it — ordinary settlers on the 1889 South Dakota plains — deserved to have someone tell it right. I hope I did them justice.

The Ordinary Grit: Courage Under an Unforgiving Sky — available now. https://www.rockymatson.com/

07/13/2026

There is something about holding your own book that never gets old. This is The Ordinary Grit: Courage Under an Unforgiving Sky — my debut novel, set on the South Dakota high plains in 1889. If you love historical western fiction about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, this one was written for you.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX34QLL1

07/05/2026

06/29/2026

I'm humbled to share that The US Review of Books has published a Review of The Ordinary Grit: Courage Under an Unforgiving Sky.

Reviewer Nicole Yurcaba wrote:

"Matson's novel covers an often overlooked period in American history... This book adeptly captures the harshness of America's expansion and the homesteaders who contributed to its history and backbone. It also shows the fortitude that early settlers possessed and passed on to future generations."

She also noted that the story "resonates with today's ongoing discussions about land use, corporate greed, and the preservation of landscapes throughout the United States."

That last part means a great deal to me. I didn't write this as a political book... I wrote it about ordinary people protecting what they'd built. But those themes are timeless, and apparently still very much alive.

If you've been curious about the book, this might be a good time to check it out.

US Review of Books - a top online book review site for professional book reviews, fiction book reviews, novel reviews, memoir reviews, or any review of books.

06/25/2026

https://www.aberdeennews.com/story/news/local/2026/06/15/navy-veteran-and-south-dakotan-pens-new-novel-about-american-west/90495764007/

Navy veteran Rocky Dean Matson explores the resilience of frontier life in his new historical novel "The Ordinary Grit."

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads… the ones here and the ones we’re carrying with us today.

Miss you, Dad.

One man. One unforgiving landscape. And a choice that could change everything.

In the Dakota Territory of 1889, progress arrived on the back of a steam engine, but it brought as much danger as it did promise. For families already battling a ruthless drought, the coming of the railroad threatened to destroy the fragile lives they had fought so hard to build.

"The Ordinary Grit" is a haunting journey into the heart of the American frontier. It's a story of secrets buried in the dust, of sacrifice, and the raw courage required to just keep going.
Do they have the grit to survive?

Available now on Amazon and Kindle. Grab your copy Now https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXQBB7XQ

06/13/2026

Check out my new article, 'The People History Forgets.

The People History Forgets

06/03/2026

From Family History to Finished Book — One Debut Author's Honest Journey

From Family History to Finished Book — One Debut Author's Honest Journey

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

The Ordinary Grit is now available as an audiobook on ElevenReader. 🎧

Four voices. One unforgiving sky. 1889 South Dakota — now you can listen to Elias, Titus, Eleanor, and Samuel tell their story on your commute, your walk, or wherever the plains find you.

Link below to start listening. 🤠

South Dakota, 1889. The well has run dry. The railroad's land agent is already circling. And Elias Thorne has staked everything he...