Bluebonnet photo by Lynette Sowell
What makes a writer set a story in a place like Texas?
The enormity of possibilities! Countless writers have written about the state from the sprawling Texas by James Michener, to the nine novellas in The Texas Brides Collection.
The seven writers in this collection have a variety of links to the state, from Old Three Hundred descendant Kathleen Y’Barbo, through Michelle Ule’s ancestor’s arrival ten years later, and writers who live there still like DiAnn Mills and Lynette Sowell.
“You can find anything in Texas,” New England native Darlene Franklin explained. “Texas is a state of mind as well as a geographical place. Texans are proud of their home, and rightly so.” Click to Tweet
Another New England transplant agreed with her: “Texas has such a mystique about it. It’s a land of possibilities, open spaces, and big dreams, where you are your only limitation. The state is like a whole country to itself.” Lynette has lived there 21 years and is happy to stay put.
“I consider myself an ex-pat Texas because I’m living north of the border [in Oklahoma],” laughed Kathleen. “I love the beaches, the bluebonnets, the Texas music scene, Round Top and Gruene and the Central Texas towns like Fredricksburg, the wide open spaces, the friendly people, and the history.”
For Michelle, Texas became a center of interest while examining her genealogy. That’s where she learned her great-great-great-grandfather had first stolen into the land when it was part of Mexico. Her own grandfather always spoke with a twang she’d never quite located until she realized he’d been born in Palestine.
Darlene laughed at the accent stumbles. “I spent a summer in Mexico City as a missionary, and I traveled back by bus. When we crossed the border into Texas, a three-year old girl joined me. She chatted nonstop, but between her heavy accent and childish speech, I couldn’t understand a word. “Send me back to Mexico!” I thought. “At least there I can understand when people talk!”
For those who live in Texas, location and familiarity make it an easy way to do research.
Darlene knew she was writing specifically for The Texas Brides Collection and looked for a story line that linked Texas Rangers and outlaws. “I set the story in San Antonio, since the Rangers were headquartered there. I paired my Ranger with a reformed thief who plays the role of Robin Hood among the city’s poor.”
An early depiction of a group of Texas Rangers, c. 1845 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Michelle also knew the book’s title and just as she did with “The Dogtrot Christmas” in A Log Cabin Christmas Collection, she went to her genealogy for a pertinent story. Remembering how her great-great-grandfather was a surveyor in Anderson County following the Civil War, she looked for a tale that would fit the Piney woods of east Texas.
She combined him with a story from another family line about the 1867 yellow fever epidemic that claimed her great-great-grandmother’s husband eight months before Michelle’s great-grandfather was born. “An Inconvenient Gamble” also examines the spiritual way of dealing with temptation.
Kathleen went to the family history books for her stories as well. “Saving Grace” is set on the Brazos River between Galveston and Santa Fe. That’s where my family’s land was (some of it is still in the family). The basis of the story is true, although I decided to give Mrs. Escher a happy ending in the novella. In real life, she remained alone and raised her babies without a handsome Texas Ranger to help her.”
“When researching for Texas, I do a combination of onsite and in-person research,” Lynette said. “For “Reuben’s Atonement,” since it’s in a fictional town, I could make it any way I wanted to, but it had to stay true to late 19th century Texas.”
DiAnn Mills wrote two stories for The Texas Brides Collection and as one features a Texas Ranger, she researched at The Texas Ranger Museum in Texas and has also spent time at the Texas Historical Library near where she lives.
“I lived a bunch of my research, either through family stories or road trips,” Kathleen said. “Some of it came from historical sites. I love the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum in Austin. I could wander around there for days.”
Plenty of stories, plenty of friendly people and lots of great food. Who wouldn’t want to read an historical romance, or nine, about Texas? Click to Tweet
We used to live in Texas, and it left a lasting impression. We’d return in a moment, given the opportunity.
And I did set one novel – ‘Ringtones’, as yet unpublished – in Tyler (contemporary, alas).
The state’s history and traditions are so rich, and it’s really still the focus of the American Dream of independence and self-determination.
Long may the Lone Star wave!
I have been reading your blog for a long time and find your genealogy research fascinating. I borrowed your genealogical book (can’t remember name) through the inter-loan library system and was overwhelmed with the amount of research. I’ve never been to Texas and have no real connection but, my favorite book genre is American historical fiction. I know I would thoroughly enjoy “A Texas Bride’s Collection.” Would you please enter me in the contest for a copy of the book. Thanks, Gilda Weisskopf
My ancestors lived not farm from Tyler, Andrew. I’d love to visit there as well.
I’m so honored, Gilda, that you’ve enjoyed my posts. You probably were one of the first to request Pioneer Stock on interlibrary loan! I’m very pleased you appreciated the five years it took me to research and write it. It was pure joy most of the time, though I did get tired of the microfilm machines!
Of course, I’ll include you both in the contest! Thanks.
Can we enter the contest if we don’t have facebook or don’t know what “RSS Feed” means?
Of course, Peter! Especially since I know you’re in my old New England stomping grounds!
The fun thing about Texas (for me as a writer) is I don’t think I’ll ever run out of interesting book ideas– both historical and contemporary. I’m glad I live within a short drive of the museum Kathleen mentioned. It’s terrific.