{"id":991,"date":"2018-12-31T15:07:39","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T15:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=991"},"modified":"2018-12-31T15:07:39","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T15:07:39","slug":"lone-star-reviewsmichelle-newby-nbcc-76","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=991","title":{"rendered":"Lone Star ReviewsMichelle Newby, NBCC,"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/span><\/span>Lone Star Reviews<\/span>Michelle Newby, NBCC,<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

Contributing Editor<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

POETRY<\/p>\n

Donald Mace WIlliams<\/span><\/p>\n

Wolfe and Other Poems<\/span><\/p>\n

Wundor Editions (UK)<\/p>\n

Paper with flaps, 64 pgs., 978-0995654129, $15.10 + $3.99 shipping via Blackwell\u2019s UK, or purchase locally at Burrowing Owl Books, Canyon, Texas<\/p>\n

May 2017<\/p>\n

Reviewed by Barbara Brannon<\/p>\n

Seven years ago this week, on a Fourth-of-July camping excursion<\/span> to Palo Duro Canyon, I wandered into the park store for ice and charcoal and wandered out with a book that set my imagination on fire.<\/p>\n

I hadn\u2019t expected to encounter a literary masterpiece there in the trading post, den of Coleman lanterns and toy tomahawks and T-shirts and Deep Woods Off! and \u201cThe Best Burger in the World,\u201d but then, I hadn\u2019t looked for Beowulf<\/span> in the era of Charlie Goodnight, either.<\/p>\n

Canyon, Texas, author, poet, and quondam newspaperman Donald Mace Williams<\/span> had had achieved publication in the estimable Rattle<\/span> journal the previous year for his homage, in epic verse, to the classic Anglo-Saxon tale. Rattle<\/span> editor Timothy Green<\/span> laid out the long poem as a chapbook, and the author \u2014 clearly familiar with the canyon\u2019s natural and human history \u2014 persuaded the park store to sell copies.>>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>Texas Reads<\/span>Glenn Dromgoole<\/span><\/h1>\n

>> archive<\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

\u00a0\u2018Sawbones\u2019 is the first of a three-book western series<\/h1>\n

Sawbones<\/span> (Hachette, $14.99 paperback) by Frisco author Melissa Lenhardt<\/span> is a western thriller and the first in a three-book series that debuted in April. The second, Blood Oath,<\/span> hit bookshelves in May, and the third, Badlands,<\/span> came out at the end of June.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

When Dr. Catherine Bennett is charged with murder in New York City in 1871, she chooses to flee rather than reveal her alibi, which would ruin her fledgling career as a woman doctor. She decides to head to Texas and from there to Colorado and maybe California and resume her practice as Dr. Laura Elliston. Meanwhile, the murdered man\u2019s family is offering a $500 reward for the capture of Dr. Bennett.<\/p>\n

As she travels by covered wagon through the Texas frontier, an Indian attack changes everything, and Dr. Elliston has to come to grips with death, savagery, guilt, rejection, greed, and fear. She also finds friendship, respect, and love at the frontier Fort Richardson, near Jacksboro. However, as word gets out about a female frontier doctor \u2014 certainly a rarity in 1871 \u2014 Dr. Elliston\u2019s past is in danger of catching up with her.<\/p>\n

I zipped through the 405 pages of Sawbones in a couple of days, and it certainly whetted my appetite for novels two and three. The books flow easily from one to the next. Consider the series like reading one 1,200 page epic. Lenhardt also is the author of two murder mysteries featuring small-town police chief Jack McBride \u2014 Stillwater<\/span> and The Fisher King<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Read more on her website, melissalenhardt.com<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Movie in the works:<\/span> Tom Hanks<\/span> reportedly will star in a film version of the award-winning western novel News of the World<\/span> by Texas author Paulette Jiles<\/span>. The book, a National Book Award finalist, is now available in paperback (HarperCollins, $15.99).<\/p>\n

The story, set in 1870, revolves around two major characters \u2014 a seventy-one-year-old former soldier and printer who travels around reading \u201cnews of the world\u201d from big-city newspapers to information-starved frontier residents, and a ten-year-old orphan who has been freed from her Indian captives. She speaks no English, resents being taken from her Kiowa family and has no memory of her own parents, killed in an Indian raid four years ago.<\/p>\n

After a reading in Wichita Falls, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd is paid fifty dollars to deliver Johanna to an aunt and uncle near San Antonio, 400 miles away. Along the way, they develop a bond as they confront one adversity after another.<\/p>\n

Jiles is the author of another highly-acclaimed Texas frontier novel, The Color of Lightning.<\/span> Read more on her website, paulettejiles.com<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/h1>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

Glenn Dromgoole\u2019s<\/span> latest book is West Texas Stories<\/span><\/a><\/span>Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net.<\/p>\n

>> <\/span>Check out his previous Texas Reads columns in Lone Star Lit<\/a><\/span>erary Life<\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

2017 Kids’ Summer Reading: Check it out!<\/h1>\n

sponsored by Blue Wilow Books<\/a><\/span>hop<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

From read-to-me books to early readers,<\/span> chapter books to middle readers to YA, you\u2019ll find these terrific new titles at your neighborhood bookshop or online. >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

LONE STAR LISTENS interviews\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>>> archive<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

Kay Ellington, Editor and Publisher<\/span><\/h1>\n

7.2.2017\u00a0 Lone Star Lit turns the interview tables on books editor \u2014 and now book author \u2014 Michael Merschel of Dallas<\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A familiar name is making book news instead of writing it<\/span> at the Dallas Morning News.<\/span> Michael Merschel,<\/span> the newspaper\u2019s books editor, debuted his first novel this spring. Revenge of the Star Survivors<\/span> depicts middle-grades angst with a gentle wryness for young and older readers alike, and Merschel took time last week to visit with us via email about writing, books, book reviews, and more.<\/p>\n

LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE: <\/span>Where were you born, Michael, and where did you grow up?<\/span><\/p>\n

MICHAEL MERSCHEL:<\/span> I was born in California but we moved to Colorado when I was in preschool, then Louisiana when I was in first grade, then back to Colorado when I was in seventh grade. All of which might have had something to do with why I wrote a book about being a new kid.<\/p>\n

I see that you were one of the editors of the student newspaper at the well-respected William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas in the 1980s. When did you first become attracted to journalism and newspapers?<\/span><\/p>\n

I did have an unremarkable tenure as editorial editor at the excellent University Daily Kansan<\/span> (Rock Chalk, Jayhawk).<\/p>\n

I fell in love with the idea of being a writer in about fourth grade and fell in love with journalism soon after. I was on my junior high newspaper staff in eighth grade, but because I was the new kid in town, I was stuck with the one job nobody else wanted, which was sports reporter. You can imagine what a great match that was \u2014 scrawny new kid covering the world of jocks.<\/p>\n

But I ended up having fun with it \u2014 and made some friends because of my writing.\u00a0 >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Texas’s only statewide, weekly calendar of book events<\/h1>\n

Bookish Texas<\/span> event highlights\u00a0 7.2.2017
<\/span>>><\/span><\/a><\/span> GO this week\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Michelle Newby, Contributing Editor<\/span><\/h1>\n
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK: Kilgore, Nacogdoches<\/span><\/span><\/span>Mon., July 3<\/span>\u00a0 No public readings. Texas is preparing to barbecue.<\/span>Tues., July 4<\/span>\u00a0 Texas is barbecuing. Happy Independence Day, y\u2019all!<\/span><\/span><\/span>AUSTIN\u00a0 Wed., July 5<\/span>\u00a0 Bullock Museum, High Noon Talks: Roger Polson and Carol Dawson discuss Miles and Miles of Texas: A Celebration of 100 years of the Texas Highway Department, 12PM<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>SAN ANTONIO\u00a0 Wed., July 5<\/span>\u00a0 The Twig Book Shop, Joe Priest discusses and signs After Everybody Else Gave Up, 5PM<\/span><\/span><\/span>AUSTIN\u00a0 Thurs., July 6\u00a0 <\/span>BookPeople, PRICE AINSWORTH speaking & signing A Minor Fall, 7PM<\/span><\/span><\/span>AUSTIN\u00a0 Thurs., July 6 <\/span>\u00a0 The Long Center, An Evening with Neil Gaiman, author of Norse Mythology, 8PM<\/span>ALSO SIGNING IN DALLAS\u00a0 Fri., July 7<\/span>\u00a0 Winspear Opera House, 7:30PM<\/span>ALSO SIGNING IN HOUSTON\u00a0 Sat., July 8\u00a0 Brown Theater-Wortham Center, 8PM<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>SAN ANTONIO\u00a0 Thurs., July 6 Hotel Emma, First Thursday: Catherine Cooke will discuss Juan O’Gorman: A Confluence of Civilizations (hosted by The Twig Book Shop), 6PM<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>HOUSTON\u00a0 Fri., July 7\u00a0 Inprint House, 42nd Anniversary of The First Friday Reading Series, featuring Craig Butterworth, 8:30PM<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>HOUSTON\u00a0 Sat., July 8<\/span>\u00a0 Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, Introduction to Texas Wines with Dr. Russ Kane, author of The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine, 7PM<\/span><\/span><\/span>PORT NECHES\u00a0 Sat., July 8\u00a0 Fleur Fine Books, Meet & Greet and book signing with Andy Davidson, author of In the Valley of the Sun, 3PM<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>RICHARDSON\u00a0 Sat., July 8\u00a0 Chocolate Angel, Fresh Fiction presents Afternoon Tea with Rachel Caine, author of Stillhouse Lake, 3:30PM<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

News Briefs 7.2.17<\/h1>\n

Texas authors, performers featured at Texas Plains Trail Region Roundup, July 19\u201321, in Plainview<\/h1>\n

PLAINVIEW\u2014The 9th annual Tourism & Preservation Roundup,<\/span> a heritage tourism conference presented by the Texas Plains Trail Region, will feature authors Joe W. Specht<\/span> on West Texas music history and Ryann Ford,<\/span> creator and photographer of The Last Stop,<\/span> during its three days of programming, July 19\u201321, 2017, in Plainview.<\/p>\n

Destination marketers, museum workers, parks personnel, elected officials, and followers of Texas history are all welcome. Registration for the full conference, which includes:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Wednesday afternoon tour of the Jimmy Dean Museum and other museums on the Wayland Baptist University campus, 400\u20135:30 pm;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u2022 Wednesday evening reception (cash bar) and barbecue banquet at the Plainview Country Club, with a talk on West Texas music heritage by historian Dr. Joe W. Specht,<\/span> author of The Roots of Texas Music<\/span> and The Women There Don’t Treat You Mean: Abilene in Song,<\/span> preceded by Texas piano stylings of Lucy Dean Record<\/span> and cowboy poetry performances by students of Boys Ranch<\/span>, beginning at 5:30 pm;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u2022 Thursday morning and afternoon sessions on museums, historic highways, trails, and more, including a presentation by Ryann Ford<\/span> on The Last Stop: Vanishing Rest Stops of the American Roadside;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Thursday lunch with a program on the new Texas Music Trail;<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u2022 Thursday evening performance at the Fair Theatre, with actress Zoe Kirkpatrick of Post as Cynthia Ann Parker in the late Marybeth Little Weston\u2019s one-woman show \u201cThe Comanche with Blue Eyes\u201d, 7:00 pm;<\/p>\n

\u2022 Friday hands-on session on publicizing your community\u2019s music heritage, 9:00\u201311:00 am.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Vicki Hamblen,<\/span> author of the revised edition of E. Hamblen\u2019s<\/span> The Rim to Rim Road: Will Hamblen and the Crossing of Texas’ Palo Duro Canyon,<\/span> will also be on hand to sign copies of her book, publishedin 2014 by Texas Plains Trail Books.<\/p>\n

The all-inclusive registration fee (dinner and lunch included) is only $99.00. Tickets to \u201cThe Comanche with Blue Eyes\u201d are only $10 ($15 at the door). Special hotel rates are available at the Comfort Suites for overnight guests.<\/p>\n

A full schedule of all presentations, sessions, and activities is at \/www.TexasPlainsTrail\/Roundup<\/span><\/a><\/span>, along with online reservation and ticket reservations.\u00a0 >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Marfa to host first Poetry Festival Aug. 9\u201313<\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>The first annual Marfa Poetry Festival<\/span>\u2014organized by Canarium Books and friends and hosted by Marfa Book Company and Hotel Saint George\u2014will begin the evening of August 9 and end the afternoon of August 13, 2017. There will be readings, a book fair, film screenings, exhibitions, conversations, live music, and more. All events are free and open to the public. >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Cortez, Vanishing Points garner prestigious awards<\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>The National Federation of Press Women recently awarded First Place for Editing<\/span> to Houston poet Sarah Cortez<\/span> for Vanishing Points: Poems and Photographs of Texas Roadside Memorials<\/span> (Texas Review Press, 2016).\u00a0 The annual NFPW National Communications contest encourages and rewards excellence in communication in a wide range of categories, with entries judged by leaders in their fields of expertise. Prior to winning at the national level, Cortez won the Press Women of Texas 2016 Award for Editing, which qualified her for the national contest.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>Vanishing Points<\/span> was also named finalist in the poetry anthology category for the International Latino Book Awards (ILBA), the largest awards in the U.S. celebrating achievements in Latino literature.\u00a0 >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2014\u2014\u00ad\u2014\u2014\u2014 A D V E R T I S E M E N T \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Lone Star Listens compilation available Aug. 1, for readers, fans, and writers everywhere<\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>The present generation of Texas authors<\/span> is the most diverse ever in gender, age, and ethnicity, and in subject matter as well.<\/p>\n

Week in, week out, Lone Star Literary has interviewed a range of Texas-related authors with a cross-section of genre and geography. To capture this era in Texas letters, we’re pleased to bring you<\/p>\n

Lone Star Listens:<\/p>\n

Texas Authors on Writing and Publishing<\/p>\n

edited by Kay Ellington and Barbara Brannon; introduction by<\/p>\n

Clay Reynolds<\/p>\n

Available in trade paper, library hardcover, and ebook Fall 2017<\/p>\n

360 pages, with b\/w illustrations and index<\/p>\n

Featuring novelists, poets, memoirists, editors, and publishers, including:<\/p>\n

Rachel\u00a0 Caine \u2022 Chris\u00a0 Cander \u2022 Katherine\u00a0 Center \u2022 Chad S. Conine \u2022 Sarah\u00a0 Cortez \u2022 Elizabeth\u00a0 Crook \u2022 Nan\u00a0 Cuba \u2022 Carol\u00a0 Dawson \u2022 Patrick\u00a0 Dearen \u2022 Jim Donovan \u2022\u00a0Mac Engel \u2022 Sanderia\u00a0 Faye \u2022 Carlos Nicol\u00e1s Flores \u2022 Ben Fountain \u2022 Jeff\u00a0 Guinn \u2022 Stephen\u00a0 Harrigan \u2022 Cliff\u00a0 Hudder \u2022 Stephen Graham Jones \u2022 Kathleen Kent \u2022 Joe R. Lansdale \u2022 Melissa Lenhardt \u2022 Attica Locke \u2022 Nikki\u00a0 Loftin \u2022 Thomas\u00a0 McNeely \u2022 Leila\u00a0 Meacham \u2022 John\u00a0 Pipkin \u2022 Joyce Gibson Roach \u2022 Antonio\u00a0 Ruiz-Camacho \u2022 Lisa\u00a0 Sandlin \u2022 Donna\u00a0 Snyder \u2022 Mary Helen Specht \u2022 Jodi\u00a0 Thomas \u2022 Amanda Eyre Ward \u2022 Ann\u00a0 Weisgarber \u2022 Donald Mace Williams<\/p>\n

As a collection of insights into the writing and publishing life, the book will be useful in creative writing classes (not just in Texas alone) and other teaching settings, as well as for solo reading and study\u2014and a great Texas reference volume.<\/p>\n