Texas State University in San Marcos owns an interesting item, for an institution of higher learning, that is. It is an old, maple canoe paddle and is highly valued there. "The paddle, part of the university's Wittliff Collections of papers and artifacts from Southwestern literature, was used by John Graves on a trip down the … Continue reading Literary Texas: John Graves
Author: Brenda Ethridge Ferguson
I am a retired Army wife, English teacher, and professional librarian, as well as a mother and grandmother, living on a ranch in Central Texas with my husband and cat Brigit, named for the Gaelic goddess of poetry and cows. I hold an M.A. in English/Creative Writing and an M.S. in Library Science (Beta Phi Mu). I have done technical, professional, and creative writing, having managed to have a few stories, articles, poems, and several book reviews published. The thesis for my Master of Arts was a novel, and, now with a bit more time, I have recently completed another novel. I am involved in many church and civic activities and love to discuss literature and writing with anyone who has similar interests.
Where To Explore for Gold
I don’t often come across library book sales, but when I do, I’m in love. These book sales are to a bibliophile what the Seven Cities of Gold must have been to Francisco Vazquez Coronado, a promise of vast riches. I love “old” books and have closets full of them to prove it. Many, if … Continue reading Where To Explore for Gold
Literary Texas: Larry McMurtry, Part 2
The main building of McMurtry's famous bookstore Booked Up. Who would think that Larry McMurtry’s world and that of Chip Gaines’ (former star of HGTV’s Fixer Upper) would ever collide? But as of December 2022, it has. More about that later. Larry McMurtry left Houston and Texas in 1969. By this time, he had published … Continue reading Literary Texas: Larry McMurtry, Part 2
Literary Texas: Larry McMurtry
Archer City's "Last Picture Show." I have a confession to make as I write this piece. I have read only one book by Larry McMurtry and that a nonfiction book titled Paradise. I cannot now find the book (a common problem for me) nor can I remember it well. I did, however, see the movie … Continue reading Literary Texas: Larry McMurtry
Opening Doors
Not knowing when the Dawn will come, I open every Door, Or has it Feathers, like a Bird, Or billows, like a Shore— Emily Dickinson I It is a blessing to be associated with the Iota Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International, a group of supportive and talented women educators, active and retired, who … Continue reading Opening Doors
Literary Texas: Robert E. Howard, Part 2
The home of Dr. and Mrs. Howard and their son Robert. Robert Ervin Howard--creator of Conan the Barbarian and the Sword and Sorcery genre of fiction, a prolific writer of pulp fantasy, speculative fiction, extreme sport fiction, westerns, and other heroic narratives--also wrote poetry. It will likely surprise no one, therefore, that much of that … Continue reading Literary Texas: Robert E. Howard, Part 2
Exhortation of the Dawn
Happy Groundhog’s Day! It is always a special day for me. My parents were married on Ground Hog’s Day. I used to tease them about such a romantic choice for the occasion. I suppose Valentine’s Day was out of the question. To each couple their own, I suppose. I decided to take a brief break … Continue reading Exhortation of the Dawn
Literary Texas: Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard, another rural, small-town Texan born around the turn of the twentieth century, made a lasting mark on the fiction world. He was, though, quite different from both the high church architect of literary fiction Katherine Anne Porter and the son-of-the-Texas-soil Fred Gipson despite this fact of time and space, a space that … Continue reading Literary Texas: Robert E. Howard
Literary Texas: Fred Gipson, Part 2
Fred Gipson (1908-1973) published his most famous work Old Yeller in 1956. A prolific author of short stories, fiction and non-fiction books, articles, and movie scripts, he was born in the ruggedly beautiful Texas Hill Country. It was a place he loved and could never leave for long. When, after its publication in 1956, Walt … Continue reading Literary Texas: Fred Gipson, Part 2
Literary Texas: Fred Gipson
Bronze Sculpture of Old Yeller and Travis, in front of the M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library in Mason, Texas. "It was a wild, lonesome place, down in a deep canyon that was bent in the shape of a horseshoe. Tall trees grew down in the canyon and leaned out over a deep hold of clear … Continue reading Literary Texas: Fred Gipson
Story Mill Ranch 