John Wesley Anderson
Featured Author & Speaker

Author Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. He enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career, retiring at the rank of sergeant after 22 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department, followed by 8 years serving as the elected sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado. After being term-limited as Sheriff, John retired from public safety and was employed in homeland and corporate security for ten years in the private sector. He retired from the Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2012 to launch a consulting business allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of history, writing and the arts. In 2022 John was honored to receive the prestigious Golden Quill Award from the Friends of the Pikes Peak Regional Library District. Although John has traveled around the world, including several adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate security assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landing on an aircraft carrier at sea in the Pacific Ocean, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art discovered in his own backyard in the American Southwest.
Books by this author:
- Lou and JonBenet, A Legendary Lawman’s Quest to Solved a Child Beauty Queen’s Murder
- A TO Z Colorado Nearly Forgotten History 1776 to 1876
- Sherlock Holmes in Little London, 1896 The Missing Year
- ZacBox and the Pearls of Pleiades
- R.S. Kelly, A Man of the Territory
- Native American Prayer Trees of Colorado
- Rankin Scott Kelly, First Sheriff El Paso County, Colorado Territory
- Ute Indian Prayer Trees of the Pikes Peak Region
All of John Wesley Anderson’s books are available online at www.Amazon.com or www.BarnesAndNobel.com.
Lou and JonBenet, A Legendary Lawman’s Quest to Solved a Child Beauty Queen’s Murder
By: John Wesley Anderson
True Crime: On Christmas Night 1996, six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was murdered in her family’s home in Boulder, Colorado. A ransom note was found in the home, but it was hours before her father, John, found her body in the basement. She had been strangled with a garrote and her skull was fractured. The media sensationalized the tragic death of the “child beauty queen” and public speculation and rumors ran rampant. What followed was one of the most notorious unsolved murder investigations in American history. Boulder police fixated on JonBenét’s parents as suspects. Needing investigative help, the Boulder DA brought in legendary homicide detective Lou Smit. However, he was soon disenchanted with law enforcement’s obsession with the Ramsey family as the primary suspects, excluding other possibilities. Now, for the first time, Anderson tells the story of Lou Smit’s investigation.
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is an author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. He enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career, retiring as a sergeant after 22 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department, followed by 8 years serving as the elected county sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado. After being term-limited as Sheriff John retired from public safety and worked in homeland security for 10 years in the corporate world. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 2012 to launch a small consulting business allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of history, writing and the arts. Although John has travelled around the world, including several adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate security assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landed on an aircraft carrier at sea in the Pacific Ocean, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art discovered in his own backyard in the American Southwest.
A TO Z Colorado’s Nearly Forgotten History 1776 to 1876
By: John Wesley Anderson
Non-Fiction/Colorado History: This is a storybook about Colorado history. It tells 26 short stories, each a chapter, one for each letter of the alphabet. Within each chapter are interrelated historical vignettes of real people, places and events which served as building blocks providing the foundation upon which the State of Colorado was built. The common threads which runs through these 26 stories is that these people, places and events happened within a 100 year period, in what is today Colorado, and are at risk of being forgotten. This period of time, 1776-1876, was one of unprecedented change worldwide. Change was the catalyst which fueled the birth of a nation, the United States of America in 1776. This book culminates in 1876 with the addition of a new state being added to that union – Colorado. But before Colorado had earned the right to become the 38th State of the United States, it was first forged in the calloused hands of indigenous, Spanish, French, Mexican and American people who lived during this century of conflict.
Sherlock Holmes in Little London, 1896 The missing year
By: John Wesley Anderson
Fiction/Mystery/History: Sherlock Holmes fans the world over have long wondered what to make of 1896; the “Missing Year.” Of the fifty-six short stories and four novels, which constitute the canon of Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, one year has remained a mystery – where on earth did Sherlock Holmes and his intrepid friend, Dr. John H. Watson, spend the better part of 1896? Finally we know! During a chance discovery, in the spring of 2020, a black pocket notebook belonging to Dr. Watson was discovered. The notebook contained Dr. Watson’s personal notes detailing an unpublished investigation of an international counterfeiting ring which drew Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson away from their warm flat at 221 B Baker Street, London, England, and across “the pond” to Glen Eyrie Castle, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a small town in the American west once known as Little London.
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. Growing up on a small ranch in Colorado, John spent endless hours riding horses, collecting coins and reading. One of the first books he remembers reading was The Adventures of Silver Blaze by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After graduating high school in 1972 John joined the Colorado Springs Police Department where he enjoyed a 22-year career. John served six years as a homicide detective and taught criminal investigation courses. To teach investigative fundamentals, John shared quotes from the Canon of Sherlock Holmes, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In 1995 John was elected Sheriff for El Paso County Colorado. Term-limited in 2003 he went to work for Lockheed Martin. In 2012 John retired from the corporate world to launch a private consulting business allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of writing, history and the arts.
Details: This book is available at www.Amazon.com for retail purchasers ($29.95) and distributed by Ingram Content Group for wholesale buyers (libraries, bookstores, schools, etc.). John is available for presentations or short talks for book clubs (virtually or in-person). First printing October 2020 318 Pages 6” x 9” Hardcover ISBN 978-1-943829-17-0 Library of Congress Control Number 2020948402
ZacBox and The Pearls of Pleiades
By: John Wesley Anderson
Science-Fiction/Young Adult: For thousands of years ancient man gazed up into the stars and dreamt of returning to Pleiades. That dream now rests in the hands of Zac Box, a typical 15-year-old high school boy, interested in track, cars and girls, with dreams of his own to one day attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Zac’s mother graduated from the Air Force Academy to become a combat pilot. She was killed when her helicopter was shot down during a Pararescue mission in the Middle East. Zac’s father, a smoke jumper, spends most summer months away from home fighting forest fires. Zac must spend his summers with his great-grandfather, White Elk, on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in the Four Corners area of Colorado. This summer will prove life-changing for Zac; not because he finds a flying saucer – but because a flying saucer find him! This book can be a good extension for summer reading programs (a free STEM student/teacher study guide is available by emailing the author).
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. John spent ten years in the aerospace business and retired from the Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2012 to launch a consulting firm allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of writing, history and the arts. Prior to working in the corporate world, John enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career including being twice elected to serve as Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado (he was term-limited in 2003). His nonfiction book, Rankin Scott Kelly, First Sheriff El Paso County, Colorado Territory 1861-1867, received a 2017 Literary Award from the Historical Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs. Although John has traveled around the world, including five adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landed on an aircraft carrier at sea, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art found in his own back yard in the American Southwest.
Details: This book is available at www.Amazon.com for retail purchasers ($19.95) and distributed by Ingram Content Group for wholesale buyers (libraries, bookstores, schools, etc.). John is available for presentations or short talks for book clubs (virtually or in-person). First printing July 2020 308 Pages 5.5” x 8.25” Softcover ISBN 978-1-943829-03-3 Library of Congress Control Number 2020938059
R.S. Kelly, A Man of the Territory
By: John Wesley Anderson
Historical Fiction/Western: John Wesley Anderson debuts his first work of historical fiction … R.S. Kelly, A Man of the Territory. The American West was a wild and lawless frontier when the Pikes Peak Gold Rush began in 1859. Over 100,000 adventurous men, women and children from all around the world were drawn into this uncharted land west of the Mississippi River. Thirty-three year old Rankin Scott Kelly was one of these rugged pioneers who rushed into what would become the Colorado Territory. Only Kelly wasn’t rushing to anywhere. Thinking he had killed his sister’s fiancé – he was running from his past. After joining the Pennsylvania Infantry and going into combat during the Mexican-American War, Kelly heads west after his honorable discharge and follows the Santa Fe Trail. He settles in the small frontier town of Colorado City. It is here in Pikes Peak country where he encounters bandit outlaws, cattle rustlers, and battles with the hostile Indians … and, eventually, finds the love of his life.
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. John enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career, including 22 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department and was twice elected to serve as the 26th Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado. After being term-limited as Sheriff, in 2003, John worked ten years with the Lockheed Martin Corporation and retired in 2012 to launch a consulting firm allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of writing, history and the arts. His nonfiction book, Rankin Scott Kelly, First Sheriff El Paso County, Colorado Territory 1861-1867, received a 2017 Literary Award from the Historical Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs. He has co-authored the screenplay, Sheriff Kelly, Straight and Strong and True, based on the life and times of Sheriff Kelly, the first sheriff of El Paso County, Colorado Territory (1861-1867). John also served as one of the historical advisors for the Rocky Mountain PBS 30-minute Colorado Experience documentary The Sheriff.
Details: This book is available at www.Amazon.com for retail purchasers ($19.95) and distributed by Ingram Content Group for wholesale buyers (libraries, bookstores, schools, etc.). John is available for presentations or short talks for book clubs (virtually or in-person). First printing June 2019 330 Pages 5.5” x 8.25” Softcover ISBN 978-1-943829-21-7 Library of Congress Control Number 2019905864
Native American Prayer Trees of Colorado
By: John Wesley Anderson
Non-Fiction/History: There are Ute Elders who remember their ancestors, the Mountain People, teaching about the importance of trees. They tell of the many reasons trees were modified. Some were bent to mark a trail or an important location; others told a story or serve as a memorial honoring loved ones who have “walked on.” Each tree modification began with prayer, which remains part of the tree. Still today when some Ute Elders approach these sacred trees they speak softly to the spirits of their ancestors. Culturally Modified Trees are recognized around the world; still some believe Native American Prayer Trees are simply a myth or freaks of nature. This book will allow you to make your own mind. Come join John as he continues to share his journey with tribal elders in search of Native American sacred trees and places across Colorado.
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. John is retired from a 30-year law enforcement career, including being twice elected to serve as Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado. After being term-limited as Sheriff, John worked with the Lockheed Martin Corporation for ten years. He retired in 2012 to launch a consulting business allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of writing, history and the arts. Although John has traveled around the world, including five adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landed on an aircraft carrier at sea, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art found in his own back yard in the American Southwest. One of his most fascinating quests has been the search for Prayer or Spirit Trees, which some Ute elders claim as living Native American cultural artifacts. In 2018 John helped found the non-profit organization Native American Sacred Trees and Places (NASTaP.org).
Details: This book is available at www.Amazon.com for retail purchasers ($37.95) and distributed by Ingram Content Group for wholesale buyers (libraries, bookstores, schools, etc.). John is available for presentations or short talks for book clubs (virtually or in-person). First printing 2018 118 Pages 9” x 11.25” Color Photographs Hardcover ISBN 978-1-943829-01-9 Library of Congress Control Number 2018946766
Rankin Scott Kelly First Sheriff El Paso County, Colorado Territory 1861-1867
By: John Wesley Anderson
Non-Fiction/History: This book tells the true story of the life and times of the first lawman in the Pikes Peak Region. Attempting to conceal his darkest secret, Rankin Scott Kelly traveled west on the Santa Fe Trail, arriving with a wagon train of about 50 men, women and children in Colorado City on June 5, 1860. Scott Kelly, as he was known to his friends, was appointed Sheriff the following year, when the Colorado Territory was first established. Sheriff Kelly had his horse shot out from under him twice and was involved in four gunfights; including shootouts with the Big Tooth Jim Gang, the Hank Way Gang and the Salt Lake City Jim Gang of seven cattle rustlers, which ended with two outlaws being killed and a third wounded. This books shares the story of Sheriff Kelly capturing Jim Clarke, who had embezzled thousands of dollars in gold and cash from the Denver Mint in 1863 and of skirmishes with hostile Indians across the Colorado Territory.
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. John spent ten years in the aerospace business and retired from Lockheed Martin in 2012 to launch a consulting firm allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of writing, history and the arts. Prior to working in the corporate world, John enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career including being twice elected to serve as the 26th Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado (he was term-limited in 2003). His nonfiction book, Rankin Scott Kelly, First Sheriff El Paso County, Colorado Territory 1861-1867, received a 2017 Literary Award from the Historical Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs. Although John has traveled around the world, including five adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landed on an aircraft carrier at sea, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art found in his own back yard in the American Southwest.
Details: This book is available for retail purchasers ($19.95) by emailing the author at jwa122@comcast.net. John Anderson is available for presentations or short talks for book clubs (virtually or in-person). First printing 2017 166 Pages 5.5” x 8.25” Black and White Photographs Hardcover Softcover ISBN 978-0-9794023-7-1
Ute Indian Prayer Trees of the Pikes Peak Region
By: John Wesley Anderson
Non-Fiction/History: The Ute Indian Prayer Trees of the Pikes Peak Region is more than just a story about Culturally Modified Trees; this is about the advanced culture of the deeply spiritual people behind the trees. The Ute were the indigenous people of the Pikes Peak Region who skillfully modified trees for navigational, spiritual, burial, medicinal, nutritional and educational purposes. The Ute name for Pikes Peak was Tava, meaning the Sun Mountain, and Tava was the most sacred of all the Shining Mountains for the Ute believe the Creator allows the day to start there first, and each day is a gift from Creator. This book includes beautiful 8×10 color photographs of these living Native American cultural artifacts and lessons learned from Ute tribal elders.
Bio: John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. John spent ten years in the aerospace business and retired from Lockheed Martin in 2012 to launch a consulting firm allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of writing, history and the arts. Prior to working in the corporate world, John enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career including being twice elected to serve as Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado (he was term-limited in 2003). Although John has traveled around the world, including five adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landed on an aircraft carrier at sea, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art found in his own back yard in the American Southwest. One of the most fascinating discoveries for John has been his quest for Native American Culturally Modified Trees. There are a few Ute elders who refer to these living Native American cultural artifacts as Prayer or Spirit Trees.
Details: This book is available for retail purchasers ($39.95) by emailing the author at jwa122@comcast.net. John Anderson is available for presentations or short talks for book clubs (virtually or in-person). First printing 2015 118 Pages 9” x 11.25” Color and Black and White photographs Hardcover ISBN 978-0-9794023-9-5