The Legend 
Begins with Three Lost Fingers
Explore the unforgettable tale of Will Nixon — outlaw, poet, myth.
About the Author
Meet Richard Nixon 
Richard Nixon is a storyteller, wanderer, and lover of myths — both personal and cultural. With roots in poetic language and a passion for unconventional narratives, Nixon brings a voice to the voiceless and a story to someone who had none, Fingerless Will Nixon. When he’s not writing, you might find him hiking forgotten trails, journaling in coffee-stained notebooks, or tending his tomatoes, peppers and sweetcorn in his beloved garden.
Reviews
What Readers Are Saying
A rich, immersive glimpse into 1500s Scotland—gripping, atmospheric, and impossible to put down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lorna McIntyre
Skillfully blending history with speculation, Nixon weaves a wild epic ride of revenge, romance, and the lore of Olde Scotland.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steven Krulick
Captivating from the first paragraph, this book offers drama, humor, and a taste of 1500s Scotland that leaves you wanting a sequel.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Terri Sanford Jones
A rich blend of history and imagination, filled with vibrant characters and immersive detail. Perfect for readers seeking an escape into the past.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Becca Olsson
A compelling, well-researched historical saga with action, accuracy, and heart. A must-read for fans of epic fiction.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
John Oneill
A quick, engaging read that paints life in early Scotland with vivid storytelling. The author’s descriptions keep you turning pages.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Carole Britt
Author at Thirlwall Castle Ruins
Book Description
The Legend of Fingerless Will Nixon is a richly woven tale of love, survival, and defiance set in the storm-lashed Borderlands of southwest Scotland in 1508—an era of violent clan feuds, church oppression, and unrelenting war between England and Scotland. Will Nixon, a bold and headstrong eighteen-year-old Border Reiver, loses his cattle—and his fingers —to the ruthless young lord of Thirlwall Castle. Shamed and enraged, Will rides out in search of vengeance. But what he finds instead is Mattie Glendenning, a herder’s daughter with gold in her hair, fire in her eyes, and a tenderness that threatens to undo him. As love quietly takes root between the outlaw and the girl who saves him, the world around them grows ever more perilous. Hunger, disease, betrayal, and war press in on every side, while the Church and the nobility fight to crush the freedom-loving Scots who dare to live by their own laws. In the cold and brutal sweep of the Borderlands, Will and Mattie must choose whether love can survive a land steeped in blood and bound by legend. The Legend of Fingerless Will Nixon brings to life the harsh beauty of 16th-century Scotland, capturing both the raw hardship and the fierce spirit of a people who lived—and loved—on the edge of the law in a world created by themselves that others dare not touch.
The Legend of Fingerless Will Nixon is a richly woven tale of love, survival, and defiance set in the storm-lashed Borderlands of southwest Scotland in 1508—an era of violent clan feuds, church oppression, and unrelenting war between England and Scotland. Will Nixon, a bold and headstrong eighteen-year-old Border Reiver, loses his cattle—and his fingers —to the ruthless young lord of Thirlwall Castle. Shamed and enraged, Will rides out in search of vengeance. But what he finds instead is Mattie Glendenning, a herder’s daughter with gold in her hair, fire in her eyes, and a tenderness that threatens to undo him. As love quietly takes root between the outlaw and the girl who saves him, the world around them grows ever more perilous. Hunger, disease, betrayal, and war press in on every side, while the Church and the nobility fight to crush the freedom-loving Scots who dare to live by their own laws. In the cold and brutal sweep of the Borderlands, Will and Mattie must choose whether love can survive a land steeped in blood and bound by legend. The Legend of Fingerless Will Nixon brings to life the harsh beauty of 16th-century Scotland, capturing both the raw hardship and the fierce spirit of a people who lived—and loved—on the edge of the law in a world created by themselves that others dare not touch.
An enigmatic name—Fingerless Will Nixon—is all that history left behind. But what happened to his fingers? And why does his name still haunt the cursed Scottish Borderlands of 1508? Rich Nixon, a likely living descendant, breathes life into the legend in this unforgettable tale.
Eighteen-year-old Will Nixon wakes one morning on the unblessed borderlands to find his family’s cattle missing. Seeking the herd, his search ends in a bloody ambush by English thieves. Will’s survival now depends on the care of the lovely and spirited Mattie Glendenning. Nursed by Mattie, he vows to reclaim what was stolen, restore his honor, and win Mattie’s heart.
Blending fact and fiction, this is not a tale of kings, but a gripping saga of a young man and ordinary folk in extraordinary times. Nixon explores clan conflict, loyalty, and the tension between the godless Border Scots and a Church quick to curse them, shining a light on the historically forgotten, strong women who endured beside their men in a bloody century where justice often came at a hangman’s noose.
About the Author
Rich Nixon—no relation to the other guy (well, possibly, but none that I know of). I was born in 1943 in Bay City, Michigan, and after a detour through tool-and-die design, potato farming, and a stint in the U.S. Army, I finally sat down to write my first novel at the age of 80. Why? Because ankle surgery gave me three months with my feet up and nothing to do but think…and write.
While digging through family stories, I stumbled upon the name… “Fingerless Will Nixon.” There was no story to go with it—so I wrote one. Set in 16th-century Scotland, my book brings to life the rough, raw world of ordinary people—the common men and ignored women whom I suspect surely did live beside them, even though history often chose not to believe it.
These people lived in extraordinary times, in an extraordinary place, doing extraordinary things in a world almost completely historically overlooked by modern writings. I am hoping this story will help to rectify that, even if in the smallest of ways. I live with my wife of 49 years on the same farm my family bought when I was four. I hope you enjoy reading The Legend of Fingerless Will Nixon as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life—one stubborn word at a time.
Author’s Note
The author and his wife, Jean, at Hadrian’s Wall
I cannot take full credit for this book. My wife, my partner of 49 years, served as my editor—and did much of the heavy lifting. She kept my thoughts on track and even added some of the more poignant passages. I dare say I could not have written this without her. Indeed, many of the insights here come from the life we’ve shared, and it is she who inspired the character Mattie.