Judy Alter on Will Howard in Dallas Morning News

Last Sunday Judy Alter wrote in one of her occasional Dallas Morning News "Texas Letters" column about Will Howard, publisher of Will's Texana Monthy and host of the Texas Parlor etc.  Her kindness and generosity are exposed.  Thanks to Judy.  Hmm, she surely knows how to put the carrot out in front of this bibliographer.  Read more at   http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/books/stories/DN-bk_alterhoward_0222gd.ART.State.Edition1.4c00ec8.html   Keep up with Judy at http://judys-stew.blogspot.com/

Edward Nowatka

Edward Nowatka, now a Houstonian, writes book reviews and such often related to Texas.  Two of his articles in Publishers Weekly regard Texas retail bookselling.   "Texas Bookstores Assessing Ike Damage" considers the impact on places like Galveston. 9/15/08 http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6596209.html?q=texas   "Texas" explores the weight and influence of Texas-originated chains Half-Price, Hastings, and some independent stores. 10/29/07 http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6494668.html?q=texas   Ed has a site at http://www.edwardn.com/ and a blog "Books: Consumed and Digested" at http://edwardn.blogspot.com/ where he occasionally reviews Texana.  Ed also contibutes to a group blog "Beyond Hall 8" where Texas occasionally finds its way into the postings.

Texas Booksellers Association

Texas Booksellers Association

The Parlor had occasion to poke into the business of the Texas Booksellers Association, a fairly new venture, at least by name, to determine their intentions. The interviewed were TBA Membership Director Shirley Dyess of the Dusty Jacket in Irving and Dallas (http://www.thedustjacket.biz/ ), Chris and Hugh Wright of the Wright Collection in Waxahachie (http://www.thewrightcollection.com/ ), and Gary and Sue Fox of the Texas Star Books in Fort Worth (http://www.txstarbooks.com/ ). They’ve got themselves a pretty dynamic group now with a track record and concrete, achievable goals.
Texas Parlor Question: How did the Texas Booksellers Association get started?
Texas Booksellers Assn. Answer: The association started in 1991 as a cooperative effort to get a book show going in Ft. Worth. It was then known as the North Texas Booksellers Association. At that time there was a company putting on book shows in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, but in not Ft. Worth. About four years ago, the owner of that company retired. The Ft. Worth show was still going on organized by a cadre of hardworking volunteers. The October, 2008, show was the 16th Ft. Worth book show organized and managed by the association. The association had the great good luck to have in its membership many members outside the North Texas area as well as some from outside of Texas. So two years ago the name was changed to the Texas Booksellers Association and the association has been granted non-profit status.
Parlor: Does the association do any other shows besides Ft. Worth?
Booksellers: Yes, for the last two years we have partnered with DM Promotions of Houston for a joint book and postcard show in the Houston area. In January of this year we also put on our 1st Austin book show.
Parlor: Does the association plan to put on more shows?
Booksellers: Yes, plans are in the works for a Dallas book show, but it probably will not happen until 2010.
Parlor: What other things does the association do?
Booksellers: We conduct book collecting classes through adult university education.
Parlor: What are the association’s goals?
Booksellers: As it says on our website http://www.texasbooksellers.org , “cultivating appreciation of books in the community, maintaining the vitality of the independent book trade, and promoting ethical trade practices.”

A Forest Woodlot - Clark

"A Forest Woodlot" is provided by Jeff Clark up in Red River County.  The blog's self-describes itself as   "My goals on the property are sustainable personal wood production while increasing wildlife habitat and biodiversity, managing the pond for wildlife and enjoyment, and creating accessibility for my disabled wife to enjoy nature. I have found that most forestry literature is for midwest and northern states, and Texas agencies are set up for the large property owners and corporations. I will be posting any information I find useful, reviewing forestry books, and documenting the work."   As a forest steward, Clark will be recording his progress using diverse sources with an eye toward shaping information, much techical but some more personal to his situation, useful to Texans.  He's posted 12 book reviews so far.   A rather civilized approach to our tall, brown and green citizens.   http://texaswoodlot.blogspot.com/

Scholarly Books

The University of Chicago Press operates a book site - BiblioVault - for scholarly books.  It's self-description includes:   "The BiblioVault repository serves 60 scholarly presses and contains digital files for more than 14,000 books. Most books published over the past few years exist as electronic files originally used to print the hard copy. Older books that exist only in hard copy can be scanned to create electronic files. Publishers can deposit both types of files in BiblioVault."   A search for the subject of "Texas" brought 196 books.   The typical information is represented by "We're the Light Crust Doughboys from Burrus Mill": an oral history Jean Ann Boyd Copyright year: 2003 Publisher: University of Texas Press ISBN-10: 0-292-70925-0 (Paper); 0-292-70916-1 (Cloth) ISBN-13: 978-0-292-70925-6 (Paper); 978-0-292-70916-4 (Cloth)   You have the option of buying through the system. Read more at http://www.bibliovault.org/

Texas Publishers Assn - African-American Newspapers

Self-described as "Welcome to the the Texas Publishers Association (TPA).  The association is The Black Press of Texas, established in 1986. The association consists of African American owned and operated newspapers serving virtually every region of Texas with a potential reach of 2.9 million African Americans."   It's self-history begins "In the mid-1980's a group of visionary African American publishers in Texas decided to take control of their destinies a step further.  Although long the voice of black Texans, individually, the publications knew they lacked the power and influence that a collective organization could bring.  In unity, there is strength, they realized. "   With 14 newspapers across the state, showing for each as this one from San Antonio San Antonio Observer Telephone:  210-355-8686  Fax:  210-271-0441 Hussein Ali - Publisher 3607 Tuscany Drive San Antonio, Texas  78219 Email     Website   Last year's convention was in Dallas, Texas, November 8, 2008, South Dallas Cafe, 3126 Grand Avenue.   Read more at http://www.texaspublishersassociation.org/

Waymarking and TCU

Waymarking is a website for historical and other markers across the world.  There's a whole series on Texas historical markers (about 2,000 so far).  For example, see Texas Christian University marked at http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5VK8

Hunter S. Thompson in Texas

Yes, friends and neighbors, hide the Wild Turkey, children under the age of 62, Barbie Doll women, and men subject to the subjugation of bad influence.  You find Mr. Gonzo himself re-represented at http://fuppets.blogspot.com/search/label/Hunter%20S.%20Thompson  Fuppets specializes in "Dredging the most interesting and entertaining dead bodies from the bottom of the Internet Meta-Ocean" and here are several postings on the deleterious effects of gonzo journalism. Is is the Rice Stadium Super Bowl VII that you remember?  You likely didn't sit next to Hunter S. Thompson.

Southwest Review - Awards & Prizes

The Autumn 1955 issue celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the magazine. The venerable Southwest Review (est. 1915) provides awards & prizes, self-described as   "The SWR offers awards for the best works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry published in the magazine. These awards are given by the editors and are not contests. The McGinnis Ritchie Award Robert F. Ritchie, who died in 1997, was a long-time and generous supporter of the Southwest Review. In 1960 he established the John H. McGinnis Memorial Award to honor the man who edited the Southwest Review from 1927 to 1943. With a bequest in his will, Mr. Ritchie enabled us to maintain the tradition of his generosity. Since 1998, the  McGinnis-Ritchie Award has been given annually to the best works of fiction and nonfiction published during the previous year in these pages. The awards consist of cash prizes of $500.   The Stover Memorial Award The Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award was established in 1978 by Jerry S. Stover of Dallas in memory of his mother, who was for many years a key member of the Southwest Review staff. The award consists of a $300 cash prize and is given to the author of the best poem published in the magazine during the preceding year.   The Morton Marr Poetry Prize The Morton Marr Poetry Prize is an endowment by Marilyn Klepak of Dallas in honor of her father, whose love of poetry has encouraged her to pass this love on to others. Generous supplemental donations were also provided by Mr. and Mrs. David T. Searls, Jr. The first prize is $1,000 and the second place prize is $500. Both prizes earn publication in Southwest Review pages. Judging for 2008 was Charles Martin.   The David Nathan Meyerson Fiction Prize Southwest Review is pleased to announce a new prize for fiction writers who have not published a first book. Named for the late David Nathan Meyerson (1967-1998), a therapist and talented writer who died before he was able to show to the greater world the full fruits of his literary potential, the prize consists of $1,000 and publication in SWR. With the generous support of Marlene, Marti, and Morton Meyerson, the award will continue to honor David Meyerson's memory by encouraging and taking notice of other writers of great promise.    The 2008 and 2007 awards can be seen on their website at http://smu.edu/southwestreview/   Most of the Review's writings are not Texana, but I still like to keep my one on them.  Their current issue focuses on Modern Fiction from Arab Women.   See history at http://smu.edu/southwestreview/History.asp

eleven40seven - Literature journal at TCU

painting by Danielle Martin   Up at Texas Christian University amongst a nest of creative writers, there's the Bryson Literary Society with a journal eleven40seven.  The self-description is "The mission of the Bryson Literary Society is simple: to promote literary culture at TCU. Whether you're an avid reader, an up-and-coming author, a prospective English major, or anyone from any major who just wants lively interaction with some of TCU's students, BLS is for you. We define literary culture as any community in which the written and spoken word is recognized for its transformative power. We hold these truths to be self-evident: Once we become readers, we become caretakers of the language and bear a great responsibility for its preservation and continued health. Otherwise, reading is strip-mining. Those who argue that poetry and fiction are "irrelevant" should first articulate how football performs a more necessary cultural function. Expanding on William Carlos Williams's sentiment, literature "to be alive must have infused into it...some tincture of disestablishment, something in the nature of impalpable revolution, an ethereal reversal." Or, to mis-quote Jack Nicholson, "You want the truth about literature? You can't handle the truth about literature!" Read more at table of contents / about us / submit / archive /  http://www.1147.tcu.edu/   The journal's current issue carries a prose piece and several poems.  Quincey Miller's poem, "What doesn't kill you" begins with the line "Put me inside you, let me die" and explores sensuality and a butterfiy's metamorphosis, evoking, unknowingly (?), the official state insect, the Monarch butterfly.

Their blog is at http://bls-tcu.blogspot.com/

Texas Limestone Paper Weight

Texas Limestone Paper Weight. By Phillip Hoggatt, artisan. Distributed by the Gift Shop at the San Jacinto Museum of History from the Museum’s location in La Porte, just east of Houston. 5” x 5” x 1” http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/

Larry Spasic, the Chief Operating Officer of the Museum, recently spoke to the Harris County Historical Society, giving his usual exciting invitation to the museum. He brought with him some wonderful paper weights carved from the pitted and fossilized limestone. They used unnecessary remnants of the great monument itself. On the stone’s underside are some protective little cork spots. Larry mentioned that his samples were the last of their current batch. More would be available about March. The cost of the previous batch was about $20 or $25 each. They make excellent gifts for weighting paper or just for decorative display. I use mine to keep a book open to a page that I’m reading from while keyboarding. Mine remains cool so I also hold it to my forearms during a long writing period to cool the muscles. Give them a call to see when they’re available or to put yourself on the waiting list. 281-479-2421

Luke Wilson and Rushmore movie

News Release from Austin Film Society's Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards   2009 TEXAS FILM HALL OF FAME AWARDS HONORS RUSHMORE WITH LUKE WILSON ON HAND TO ACCEPT AWARD, ANNOUNCES BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH KLRU "(Austin, TX) - The Austin Film Society (AFS) is pleased to announce that Luke Wilson will accept the Tiffany & Co. Star of Texas Award on behalf of RUSHMORE, the critically acclaimed Wes Anderson film made in Houston, at the ninth annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards, presented by AT&T, on March 12, 2009 at Austin Studios. Both Anderson and co-writer Owen Wilson, Luke's brother, hail from Texas and used their early prep school experiences as fodder for the wry script that garnered exceptional critical acclaim and launched both into Hollywood careers. RUSHMORE follows precocious teen Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a scholarship student at the exclusive Rushmore Academy, as he navigates his friendship with wealthy industrialist Herman Blume (Bill Murray) and his crush on widowed teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams). The film will be honored with the Tiffany & Co. Star of Texas Award, which is given each year to an outstanding Texas film. Past recipients include URBAN COWBOY, GIANT and THE LAST PICTURE SHOW." ....   read more at http://austinfilm.org/

Elmer Kelton Statue

As King of the Western, Elmer Kelton is the proud son of Texas where the San Angelo Area Foundation wishes to sponsor a major, life-size statue.  If you wish to learn of the effort or make a contribution, please do.   The Foundation's online information begins as:   "San Angelo's own Elmer Kelton has published 47 novels and 13 non-fiction books in the Western genre. Three of his books have won the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Western Writers of America have awarded him an unprecedented total of SEVEN spur awards! Kelton has been chosen by his peers of the Western Writers of America as the "Best Western Writer of all Time."  "In recognition of his outstanding contributions to literature, a committee of Elmer Kelton supporters is working toward the creation of a life size statue of him which will be placed inside the new Tom Green County Library when it is completed in 2010. This committee has chosen local artist Raul Ruiz from among 10 other artists."   Read more at http://www.saafound.org/articles/view/35/elmer-kelton-statue

A Class Apart

Mexican-American rights enjoyed a major boost from a tragic event in Texas in 1951.   PBS aired a fine documentary, "A Class Apart" on the topic as one of their "American Experience" series.   The written introduction on the website begins: "From a small-town Texas murder emerged a landmark civil rights case. The little-known story of the Mexican American lawyers who took Hernandez v. Texas to the Supreme Court, challenging Jim Crow-style discrimination. In 1951 in the town of Edna, Texas, a field hand named Pedro Hernández murdered his employer after exchanging words at a gritty cantina. From this seemingly unremarkable small-town murder emerged a landmark civil rights case that would forever change the lives and legal standing of tens of millions of Americans. A team of unknown Mexican American lawyers took the case, Hernandez v. Texas, all the way to the Supreme Court, where they successfully challenged Jim Crow-style discrimination against Mexican Americans. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE presents A Class Apart from the award-winning producers Carlos Sandoval (Farmingville), and Peter Miller (Sacco and Vanzetti, The Internationale). The one-hour film dramatically interweaves the story of its central characters— activists and lawyers, returning veterans and ordinary citizens, murderer, and victim — within the broader story of a civil rights movement that is still very much alive today."    Read more, see the video at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/class/   Next air date Feb 23, 8:00 Central.

National Book Awards

Texans well-represented in National Book Awards competition : November 19, 2008 By EDWARD NAWOTKA, Special Contributor, Dallas Morning News    What does Ed say about Annette Gordon-Reed, Kathi Appelt, Reginald Gibbons, and Mark Doty?  Well, click the link.    http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/books/stories/DN-bookawards_1119gd.ART.State.Edition1.4a31170.html

The First Line - a journal

http://www.thefirstline.com/index.htm Editor: David LaBounty Manuscript Coordinator: Robin LaBounty   THIS PLANO-BASED JOURNAL'S SELF-DESCRIPTION follows below   "Our Mission The purpose of The First Line is to jump start the imagination-to help writers break through the block that is the blank page. Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line; it also provides a forum for discussing favorite first lines in literature. The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place. TFL Specs Published: 4 times a year starting in 2002 (Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall) From 1999 through 2001 we were six times a year First Issue: May/June 1999 Cost: $3.50/issue and $10.00 a year. Here's our subscription information. The First Line is a publication of Blue Cubicle Press, LLC. Here's our contact information. " ----- The Parlor's host is trying to Imagine having the FIRST LINE of your short story dictated to you by your publisher, even before you write the story!

"Year in Review 2008: Literature

Year in Review 2008: Literature January 5, 2009  By EDWARD NAWOTKA / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News /  Edward Nawotka is a freelance writer in Houston. The article begins:  "The year 2008 should erase any lingering doubt about Texas' importance on the literary landscape. Texas writers hit best-seller lists, took home national awards and sparked international controversies. On the business side, one of the largest new independent bookstores in the country opened for business in Plano. And elsewhere, it was a good year for vampires – and a bad one to be an American looking for a Nobel Prize."    Ed's  # 4 out of his top 10 is "4 Cormac McCarthy's archives go to Texas State: Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Cormac McCarthy these days lives in Santa Fe, N.M., but his literary archive was purchased by the Southwestern Writers Collection, a part of the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University-San Marcos. There, it will reside in perpetuity alongside the works of other notable Texans such as Willie Nelson. University President Denise Trauth called Mr. McCarthy's papers "the crown jewels of our literary treasury."    For a well-rounded education, read more of Ed's top 10 at http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/yearinreview/stories/1228glyirbooks.172ed70.html

America's Most Literate Cities 2008

John Miller at the Central Connecticut State University again informs us of the most literate cities in America.  Texas has some in two of the categories   http://www.ccsu.edu/amlc08/   TOP 10 - Plano is # 1 Education Level Education Attainment was indexed with two variables: 1. Percentage of the adult population with a high school diploma or higher 2. Percentage of the adult population with a bachelor's degree or higher   TOP 10 - Austin is # 5 and Dallas and Fort Worth tie for # 10 Internet Resources Internet resources were indexed as three variables. These numbers were then divided by the city population in order to calculate ratios of internet resources available to the population. 1. Number of Internet book orders per capita 2. Number of unique visitors per capita to a city's internet version newspaper 3. Number of webpage views per capita to a city's internet version newspaper

Christian Ficition Writers

The American Christian Fiction Writers have at least three chapters in Texas, which is in the Southwest Zone.   CENTEX Chaper in Round Rock http://home.austin.rr.com/linharris/centex.html  ALAMO City Christian Fiction Writers in San Antonio DFW Ready Writers in Dallas / Fort Worth   Get furher info at http://www.acfw.com/chapters.shtml   They've also got reviews in several genre  Historical Fiction    Romantic Fiction    Women's Fiction    Chick Lit/Lady Lit/Mom Lit    Suspense/Mystery/Thriller    Sci-fi/Fantasy/Futuristic    Multi-Cultural Fiction    General Fiction

French Legation Site and Blog

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas begin their website with this information: "Nestled in a quiet, green corner of the bustling modern capital of the State of Texas, the French Legation was originally built in 1840-41 to be the residence of the charge d' affaires who represented the government of France in the Republic of Texas. The Legation became the home of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Robertson in 1848, remaining in their family until 1949, when it was acquired by the State of Texas. Under the custodianship of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the site has been lovingly restored and furnished with items original to its time period. It is the oldest extant frame structure in Austin." Read more at http://www.frenchlegationmuseum.org/ The French Legation Museum Blog http://frenchlegation.wordpress.com/  was started in December 2008.

Exquisite Historical Photograhy

"Exquisitely Bored in Nacogdoches" is a site on Flickr (a site to exhibit and arrange sale of professional photographs), and this photograher (unnamed on the page) is performing (intentionally or not) an absolutely outstanding job of capturing architectural and vernacular signage photography (most in a wide swath of East Texas, but he does range outward to Eagle Pass and Fort Worth, and some oozing into Louisiana) of Texas.  He covers at least a hundred cities and towns. For example, he has 41 images of Marshall (the Parlor host's hometown), 18 of Jacksonville (where your host faultily studied for the ministry), 400 of Nacogdoches (where your host studied teaching), 75 of Austin (where the host studied librarianship), and 11 in far off Junction (where your host's brother went before TAMU).     He has 99 of old gas stations and 10 of ghosts of Bull Durham.   The rural shots are as nostaglic as the town shots.  At present, he's loaded over 4,000 images.  The image quality is fine.   The photos can be arranged by topic and by town.   I set his photos on "slide" presentation mode (a Flickr option) and could hardly look away.  Click on slide images and the subsequent shots show the annotations.   Somebody, maybe at Stephen F. Austin State University, oughta begin talking with him about the permanent archiving of his work in a research facility.   http://www.flickr.com/photos/exquisitelyboredinnacogdoches/

Home Range - Henry Chappell

Henry Chappell, novelist, essayist, journalist, blogs under the title Home Range: Notes on Literature, Nature, Working Dogs, History, Other Obsessions and Sundry Annoyances   About Me begins:  "Henry Chappell was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1960 and grew up in central Kentucky in the small town of Campbellsville. He graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1982 and moved to the Dallas, Texas area where he worked as an electrical engineer in the defense industry. Weekends, he explored Texas through hunting, fishing, and birding trips. In 1986, he read John Graves' Goodbye to a River and knew then and there that he wanted to write. Shortly thereafter, his articles, essays and short stories began to appear in various regional and national magazines. Over the past decade, he has written scores of articles for publications such as Orion, Field & Stream, Sports Afield, Gray's Sporting Journal, Concho River Review, Texas Highways, GORP.com and Texas Parks & Wildlife." http://www.byhenrychappell.com/   His books include Blood Kin, The Callings, 6666: Portrait of a Texas Ranch, and At Home on the Range with a Texas Hunter

Bush Library

About the Center " The George W. Bush Presidential Center will be located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and will house the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the George W. Bush Policy Institute, and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation. The George W. Bush Presidential Library will be the official archive of President and Mrs. Bush's presidential and gubernatorial records, as well as the papers of cabinet members and key decision makers within the administration. The museum will tell the story of the Bush presidency within the context of the historic challenges of the first decade of the 21st century and how President and Mrs. Bush worked to advance the core governing principles of freedom, opportunity, responsibility and compassion. The George W. Bush Policy Institute will advance these core governing principles  through research, discussion and scholarship. The Institute will operate independently of SMU but will leverage opportunities for collaboration with SMU faculty and students to enhance the Institute's efforts."  Read more at http://www.georgewbushlibrary.com/

Houston 100 Years Ago Chronology

The "Houstonian" at http://houstorian.wordpress.com/ carries a regular feature "100 Years Ago."  The entries include a source, often with extracts, commentary, and graphics.   A nice visit for folks and maybe something to emulate.

1960's Texas Music

For all the Boomers and even today's Busters, you can read and groove in 1960's Texas music history at http://www.scarletdukes.com/st/texmusic.html   It allows a focus on Houstonk, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, West Texas, South Texas.   One of their links takes you to You Tube See and hear the Sir Douglas Quintet performing "Nuevo Laredo" on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2uOhiM2YM

Houston Radio History

The blog "Houston Radio History: A salute to Houston broadcasters and broadcasting" is about to post its 100 posting on their topic.  http://houstonradiohistory.blogspot.com/ Its quite admirably done.  It's not just a collections of anecdotes out of chronological sequence.  The side bar allows readers to select the period of their interest or even scoot into television history of the Bayou City.  And the graphics are attractive.   The annotation for HRH given in "Texas Blog Notes" is "A History of broadcasting in Houston and the surrounding area from before World War I, taken from newspaper accounts, official documents and interviews." By Bruce Williamson.  Statement of Purpose begins: "Discussions of the origins of radio in Texas usually recite developments and achievements in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio while developments in the early years in Houston are often overlooked" and continues on.' " http://texasblognotes.blogspot.com/   You may wish to get Chris Varela's book  "Kotton, Port, Rail Center: A History of Early Radio in Houston" reviewed at http://texasbookshelf.blogspot.com/search?q=radio

Christmas with Glenn

Glenn Dromgoole picks through his pile of review copies for his Christmas selection.  He begins saying: "If you're looking for a Texas book for someone on your Christmas list, here are several new ones they probably don't have."   He selects five, what five would you select?   http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/dec/05/new-titles-make-good-christmas-presents/

Christmas with Judy

Judy Alter's Texas Letters column Sunday, December 21, 2008 By Judy Alter / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News Judy Alter is director of the TCU Press in Fort Worth.   {Judy was wondering getting another Texas Chistmas book, she begins:}   "Finding a new Christmas book by a Texas writer turned out not to be an easy task this year. There are some wonderful books – The Terrible Night That Santa Got Lost in the Woods, by Larry L. King (1981), Christmas in Texas, by Elizabeth Silverthorne (1994), The Homeless Christmas Tree by Leslie Gordon (2003), Texas and Christmas by Joyce Gibson Roach (2004), and others. I e-mailed a call for help, and one woman answered, saying she had two Christmas stories – one published in 1987 and one as yet unpublished. Hmmm. Not quite what I was looking for. "   So, Judy goes on from there.  See what she considers.  Read more at http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-bk_alter_1221gd.ART.State.Edition1.4a27ad4.html

Texas Boy Publications blog

A New Blog in Town SELF-DESCRIBED AS : " Texas Boy Publications currently publishes only books written by Marva Dasef. So don't query me. I'm using this blog to advertise what I have for sale. Plain and simple marketing. "I do plan to post information on other writers' books, publishing in general, and any other information which might prove interesting. "Currently, I have four editions of the same book available. This is how it breaks down. Trade paperback / 8.5x11 Large Print / 8x10 Large Print / Kindle Tales of a Texas Boy: Twenty tales from the life of a boy growing up in West Texas.

Craddick's computers cleaned

Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6246913.html Files wiped from Craddick's computers before ouster Some are concerned important state records in then-speaker's office are lost forever By JAY ROOT, Associated Press, Feb. 4, 2009 The Chronicle article begins:  "AUSTIN — Before the House voted Speaker Tom Craddick out of his powerful job, state officials wiped his computers clean and deleted scores of electronic files, raising concerns that important public records may have been destroyed."   Those in the Parlor wonder if is this standard procedure, standard cover-up, standardly outrageous or standard incompetence.

Texas Authors of Romance Ficiton - a blog

Well, folks, here's a corral full of Texas romance writers - the TARF blog is dedicated to just that.  The entries includes books BY Texas authors and some books of Texas romance are included.  Most are not Texana by content.  I haven't figured out whether they'll include Texas romance by non-Texans - probably not.  But in the meantime, snuggle up, toss your hair, cut a glance, or whatever serves your fancy.  Apparently, vampires may apply.

Women of Color at UNT

University of North Texas to present "Women of Color Conference" featuring Pulitzer Prizee winner Sonia Nazario -  to be March 27   UNT News Release  What: "Women Naturally Balancing It All" -- The annual Women of Color Conference at the University of North Texas, presented by the Multicultural Center and Women's Center. Conference will close with a lecture by author Sonia Nazario, who won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for feature writing for "Enrique's Journey," a series of articles that appeared in the Los Angeles Times and was adapted into a book. The lecture, open to those not attending the conference as well as conference attendees, is sponsored by UNT Women's Studies, the Division of Equity and Diversity and the Mayborn Graduate School of Journalism."   Read more at http://web3.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=11348

Nashville Nods To Texas Music

Here's a article about Texas' influence on Nashville music from the CMT Nashville Skyline column of Chet Flippo, "NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Texas Is a Musical Treasure Chest :Lone Star State Has a Rich History That Continues."   http://www.cmt.com/news/nashville-skyline/1602346/nashville-skyline-texas-is-a-musical-treasure-chest.jhtml

McKinney historical photos

The blog "McKinney Daily Photo" often has historical images.   http://mckinneydailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Bartee Haile column

Bartee Haile, of Pearland, has been writing a Texas history column for Texas newspapers now for about 800 years it seems.  The Plainview Daily is one of his carriers.   http://www.myplainview.com/articles/2009/01/27/news/94079dh_xml.txt   His homepage is http://www.twith.com/

Texas on the Potomac

The Houston Chronicle blog "Texas on the Potomac Washington News with a Texas Accent" has a recurring feature on "Today in Texas History." http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/ http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2009/01/today_in_texas_history_irlene.html

Buckhorn Museum

Some folks in San Antonio claim the Buckhorn is the oldest "museum" in Texas.  Visit their website for your opinion.  Better yet, go there and enjoy the artifacts and food. http://www.buckhornmuseum.com/

Thanks to GA Liz for the pat on the back

"Will's Texas Parlor" has been recommended by "Special Collections in Libraries" posting "Competency #4 -- RSS Feed   Read more at http://isarls5013galiz.blogspot.com/2009/02/competency-4-rss-feed.html   Thanks, GA Liz.  GA Liz surveys the net for sites suitable for librarians and others wishing to keep track of the book and archival matters across the nation.

DRT Texas History Forum in San Antonio

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas pass along news.   "The DRT Library will be holding its 22nd Texas History Forum on Saturday, February 21 in Alamo Hall on the Alamo Complex. The theme of this year's Forum is "Rangers and Rogues." The three special guest speakers for the day, Mike Cox, Dr. Paul Spellman, and Dr. Stephen Hardin, will recount the history of both sides of the law in 19th and early 20th century Texas. Seating is limited and pre-registration is advised. Registration is $20 per person. Reservations will remain open as long as seating is available. Proceeds in excess of expenses will benefit the library's operations endowment fund. For more information on the Forum, including a schedule, registration form, and biographies of the special guest speakers, click here or call (210) 225-1071. We hope to see you there!"   Their recently established blog has been considerable enriched. http://drtlibrary.wordpress.com/

Celia Hayes

San Antonio resident Celia Hayes send news of her work and website.elia Hayes June 30, 2008 12:24 PM She's at http://www.celiahayes.com   Celia Hayes*     *Books & More  Self-described as "She writes of the past as a means of exploring who we are, of honoring our unknown heroes and heroines, in order that we may appreciate the present which they built for us... and that we may use their lives as a guide for our own future."   And she has a trilogy about the German settlments in Texas.  She writes a lot about Texas and frontier history at the blog "The Daily Brief" at http://www.ncobrief.com

Al Lowman, Printing Arts: Online Exhibit

Fruits of a Gentle Madness: The Al Lowman Printing Arts Collection and Research Archive Self-described as:  "Centered on Al Lowman's work, Printing Arts in Texas, a history of fine printing in Texas until 1975, the exhibit features materials related to book designers and printers discussed by Lowman, including Carl Hertzog, William D. Wittliff, the William R. Holman family, Edwin B. Hill, the Book Club of Texas, the first university press in the state of Texas -- S.M.U. Press, and the University of Texas Press. The exhibit displays both trade and special editions of exemplary books, as well as their many significant and unique features such as typography, layout and illustrations."   A tour of the collection.

Literary East Texas Online Exhibit

Literary East Texas: An Exhibit of Photographs Honoring 25 East Texas Writers   http://www.humanitiestexas.org/exhibits/list/literaryeasttexas/literaryeasttexas.php  Self-described as "This exhibit surveys the verbal horizons of East Texas and encourages viewers to take advantage of the diversity and richness of their literary heritage. Honoring 25 of the more than 200 writers who have called East Texas home, this program surveys the verbal horizons of East Texas and encourages viewers to take advantage of the diversity and richness of their literary heritage. Resources help sponsors to plan and produce an outstanding humanities program for their community."  Some Panel topics include: J. Mason Brewer Siddie Joe Johnson William Goyen William Owens William Humphrey Thomas Thompson Francis E. Abernethy Suzanne Morris Madison Cooper Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey William Brammer Leon Hale Jewel Gibson Frank X. Tolbert  You also can rent this traveling exhibit of Texas literature heritage from Humanites Texas.

Literary Exhibits Online

On-Line Exhibits at Texas State University Alkek Library's Southwest Writers Collection.  http://alkek.library.txstate.edu/swwc/index.html

Horton Foote Society

Horton Foote Society  http://www.hortonfootesociety.org/   Self-described as "Mission:  Organized as a philanthropic organization, the Horton Foote Society promotes the study of the American playwright Horton Foote and his work through general intellectual inquiry and research, specific critical inquiry, academic conferences, popular and academic publications, public lectures, and the public presentation of plays. The purposes for organizing the corporation are educational and literary."  "In 2002, a small group of scholars gathered to incorporate this new learned society in order to draw attention to the life's achievement of the highly acclaimed American playwright Horton Foote. You are cordially invited to join us in our pursuit of scholarly excellence in the study of modern American drama. More information about the society is on our "About the Society" page. Information about joining the Horton Foote Society can be found on our Horton Foote Society membership page."   Folks wishing to maintain an interest in Texas literature are encouraged to discover the remarkable quality and diversity of Foote's work and criticism.  Many of his works draw from his Texas home and rearing, but Foote also spent considerable time on other perspectives.  He's an American gem and a Texas literary star.

Texas Archive of the Moving Image

So you like Texas movies?  Go to http://www.texasarchive.org/ They say this about themselves ... "For over one hundred years, film and video have uniquely documented history.  In Texas, early films recorded Native American traditions, the boom time in oil fields, and daily life in both rural and urban communities across the state.  In 1963, a Texas home movie became one of the most famous films of all time:  The Zapruder film of John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas.  Yet no institution has emerged that is dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of moving images specifically related to Texas -- until now.   The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) celebrates the state's home movies, industrial films, television output, and regional cine-club product as well as Hollywood and internationally produced images of Texas.  Valuable to state history, these films also serve an important collaborative role in the preservation and restoration of the larger motion picture heritage for the United States. TAMI is an independent 501c3 organization dedicated to the preservation of Texas film heritage. Every year, home movies, television programs, and locally produced films are lost as these visual records of Texas rapidly decompose or are simply thrown away. TAMI works to discover these "orphan" films and to educate the public about moving image history and contemporary preservation practice. Together, we will recover these unique visual memories of Texans and all who are Texans at heart." Search the library for: Your hometown Famous Texans Historical Events Texas locations Texana: Barbeque, Boots, Longhorns, and more! Browse: Click on "Random Film" and simply browse the collection for what seems most interesting to you today! New media is added on a regular basis, so y'all come back soon now, ya' hear! Contribute: See something (or someone!) you recognize? Become a TAMI "Tagger" and share your insight and stories with us. Visit our help page to find out how, or send an email to: tamitags@texasarchive.org Retrieved from "http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php/Main_Page"

Auction - Early Texana etc.

Texas Historic Diary in Heritage Auction Published January 14th, 2009   {The press release begins as below.  See more at http://auctionpublicity.com/2009/01/14/texas-historic-diary-in-heritage-auction/ }   "Texas Revolution comes alive at Heritage Auction Galleries with legendary Alamo commander's 1836 letter and Joseph Pulsifer's early Texas Republic diary. Two of the most important items in early Texas history - a broadside (poster) of an urgent plea from Col. William Travis on March 3, 1836 for volunteers to defend the Alamo and a diary with nearly 150 letters from a settler describing the early days of the Texas Republic - are among the many "Texana" items to be offered in a public auction in Dallas and online by Heritage Auction Galleries. The sale of the broadside, one of only three known, will raise funds to maintain a collection of artifacts now housed in a Fort Worth museum."