From J.J. Watt to Michael Westin: The Inspiration Behind My Rustler Hunter
When I was writing The Rustler Hunter, I kept coming back to one question: what kind of man could track criminals across two states and bring them in alive? These frontier lawmen needed more than quick draw skills—they needed the dedication of a professional athlete and the strategic mind of a detective operating without modern backup or communication. That's when two unexpected inspirations collided to create J.J. Westin.
The Arizona Cardinal Connection
Several years ago, J.J. Watt moved to Arizona to play for the Cardinals. I'd always admired his legendary dedication to preparation and his relentless work ethic. The man is famous for studying film until the early hours, perfecting every detail of his craft, and showing up ready for whatever came his way. Watching him adapt to Arizona's desert heat and demanding schedule, I found myself wondering: what if J.J. Watt were a Wild West rustler hunter?
That "what if" became the foundation for J.J. Westin's character. Like his namesake, my rustler hunter approaches his dangerous work with meticulous preparation. He carries multiple firearms, keeps contingency plans, and never wastes unnecessary motion. When J.J. Westin tracks forty outlaws across the American Southwest, he brings the same professional dedication that made J.J. Watt dominate NFL defensive lines.
In The Rustler Hunter, passengers on a train robbery gasp when they hear his name: "The rustler hunter." That reputation didn't come from luck—it came from the kind of relentless preparation that separates professionals from amateurs. Just like his football inspiration, J.J. Westin studies his opponents, knows their weaknesses, and shows up ready to win.
The Spy Who Gave Him His Last Name
But physical toughness and preparation only told half the story. When I thought about the detective skills my rustler hunter would need, I found myself thinking about Michael Westin from Burn Notice. The former CIA operative's ability to read people, analyze situations, and think three steps ahead perfectly matched what a frontier detective would need to survive.
Michael Westin's tactical mind and investigative instincts—especially his ability to stay three steps ahead of dangerous opponents—became the blueprint for J.J.'s approach to hunting criminals. In the novel, J.J. can "track a man across two states without losing the trail" because he thinks like a spy. He reads the subtle signs others miss, notices when something doesn't fit, and always has an escape plan ready.
Those spy skills prove essential when J.J. teams up with Hayley Harper, a Pinkerton agent. Together, they infiltrate the corrupt rustling and criminal network operating out of Canyon Diablo, using the same analytical approach that made Michael Westin such an effective operative.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Combining these inspirations created a character who could handle both the physical demands and mental challenges of frontier law enforcement. J.J. Watt's preparation and toughness gave J.J. Westin the foundation to survive eight years of dangerous rustler hunting. Michael Westin's strategic thinking and detective skills gave him the tools to work alongside a Pinkerton agent and infiltrate criminal networks from the inside.
When readers meet J.J. Westin in The Rustler Hunter, they're seeing a man shaped by both inspirations. He approaches a hostage situation on a train with the calculated precision of a professional spy, but executes his plan with the physical confidence of an elite athlete—taking down an armed robber with two precisely placed shots while protecting innocent passengers. He can outfight the roughest outlaws and outthink the most cunning criminals.
Building Character Through Inspiration
Drawing character inspiration from unexpected sources keeps western fiction fresh while honoring the genre's traditions. J.J. Westin needed the dedication to track criminals across hostile territory and the tactical intelligence to infiltrate criminal networks. Two very different inspirations—a football player's preparation and a fictional spy's strategic mind—combined to create a rustler hunter tough enough to tame the Arizona frontier.
Want to see J.J. Watt’s relentless preparation and Michael Westin’s tactical mind collide on the 1898 frontier?
Meet J.J. Westin in the explosive opening of The Rustler Hunter, where eight years of experience and split-second decisions ignite a deadly game of cat and mouse aboard a speeding train.