Background

By the time Zane Grey's manuscript for Riders of the Purple Sage appeared in printing in 1912, he was already well on his way to becoming a successful author. He had married Lena (Dolly) Roth, an aspiring author in her own right, who mentored his emerging writing skills and managed all aspects of his business.  They had moved from New York City to Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania leaving behind his dreaded dental practice and his semi-professional baseball career.  However, he did not abandon his friends at the powerful Camp-Fire Club, an association of influential sportsmen.  As his career advanced, this relationship became increasingly important as he attracted the attention of outdoor magazine publishers interested in supporting their friend's career.

Zane Grey turned 40 a few days after Riders of the Purple Sage first appeared in print.  He had already published 31 stories and articles in magazines, often in publications managed by his Camp-Fire Club members. He had nine books under his belt, but only one of the western romance novels for which he became famous. (Heritage of the Desert- 1910). However, he was frustrated at the pushback he experienced when he presented Riders of the Purple Sage to Ripley Hitchcock, his editor at Harpers.  It was only through an intervention by Hitchcock's superior, Frederick Duneka, that Harpers finally agreed to publish the novel on September 15, 1911.  (Zane Grey- His Life, His Adventures, His Women, Thomas H. Pauly, p.111) However, this delay resulted in Riders first appearing in another media, Field and Stream Magazine.