I love to share tidbits of Texas history with our readers. There are so many that I would write a blog every day on them … but I’ll spare you all. Here’s a few I recently came across.
Some ranchers in the Panhandle of Texas were friendly with the wild bands of American Indians. Though countless settlers were raided and killed in the territory, friends of the Apache were spared. How could the Native Americans tell the friendly settlers? Geronimo told the frontiersman to wear white hat bands on their hats, and they not be bothered.
For this going to RWA in San Antonio this year, here are some goodies to consider.
The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum is filled with Texas oddities and paraphernalia.
First opened in 1881, the saloon catered to a clientele that didn’t always have enough money to pay the check. So the owner started accepting horns and antlers. The owner’s wife took jars of rattlesnake rattles. A museum adjunct was inevitable.
Today, the collection includes a world-record whitetail deer called the 78-Point Buck, a 10,000 year old Irish elk skull and antlers, and longhorns that measure more than eight feet across.
Not too long ago, the saloon added a second museum honoring the lawmen of the Texas Rangers, including a re-creation of San Antonio at the turn of the century, and a Bonnie and Clyde exhibit.
And, I can testify they have one of the best hamburgers I’ve ever eaten!
Here’s another little Texas tidbit. The Texas State nickname is “The Lone Star State” (and no it wasn’t named after Lone Star Beer, but the other way around) and the Texas flag has as a lone white star on a red, white, and blue flag.
So there can be no misinterpretation, the our Legislature spelled out the symbolism of each of those colors.
Red is for bravery.
White is for purity.
Blue is for loyalty.
My first book in the Kasota Springs Romance series from Kensington just came out. The Troubled Texan is set in Kasota Springs, which, if you’ve read any of our six anthologies you’ll recognize the name, since two are set in that town. In this series many fourth and fifth generation Kasotans will appear. I wrote a blog/post for Kensington and it’s on their website, so I thought I’d give you a preview of it and the link. So, if you have time, please go over to Kensington and read the full blog. I’m thrilled to let everyone know that The Troubled Texan along with its predecessor The Tycoon and the Texan are available in your favorite format, eBook and trade back at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.
The Birth of Kasota Springs
Phyliss Miranda
I got the story idea for The Troubled Texan from following a horrific mass murder trial in California. Given my experience in the legal field, I wondered how the plaintiff’s attorney handled months, even years, of being in the head of a murderer. And what if she settles in a small town under an alias without knowing that her long-lost classmate and former professional football player was the sheriff? It doesn’t take her long to recognize the sexy, hard-nosed, hunk when he stops her for a traffic violation. But a small town isn’t big enough for the both of them…or is it just right? They both have secrets and deep seeded ones they’re not ready to share…not yet!
To read all of my blog here’s the link: http://www.ekensingtonbooks.com/page.aspx/PhylissMiranda
For two lucky winners,
I will give you a copy of the eBook
The Tycoon and the Texan
or
The Troubled Texan
A native Texan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Phyliss Miranda still believes in the Code of the Old West and loves to share her love for antiques, the lost art of quilting, and the Wild West.
Visit her at phylissmiranda.com
“The Troubled Texan” sounds very interesting. You’re right, it would be interesting to find out what goes on in the head a of woman who is getting into the mind of a murderer. Now I want to read it. 😀
As I’ve never been lucky enough to visit Texas, it’s always fun to learn something about the history of this independent state.
Thanks for sharing!
I love all the tidbits in your post today. That’s what makes a book fascinating and believable- all the research authors do first, and then weave the facts into the story.
This is really interesting. I live in Texas and still don’t know that much about the state.
A 78 point buck?! I can’t even picture that! Wow, those would be fun places to visit and see the museums. I absolutely love Texas. It’s a place all its own. 🙂
Congratulations on the new release!!! That’s wonderful. I LOVE that cover. So pretty.
A very interesting blog. I hope I get to visit the Buckhorn Saloon when I’m in San Antonio for the RWA Conference in July. And I HAVE to see the Alamo. I’ve been to San Antonio several times but was only passing through so never stopped. Oh man, this is gonna be a great time for me. Loved your Texas tidbits. Those are always fun.
And thanks for the link to the e-Kensingon article. Wow! That turned out great. Loved it.
I love the red, white and blue reasons. This is also true of the American Flag
I’m going to be at RWA in San Antonio. I want everything you’ve got on what to do there. 🙂
As a Texas gal, I love this post and am excited to learn about the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum! I am definitely adding it to my must-visit list!
Congratulations on the release of The Troubled Texan! It sounds like a great story!!
Taking horns, antlers, and rattlesnake rattles in place of money… very interesting. I enjoy these little bits of facts & history… I get to “travel” and “see” things through your words. Thanks for sharing!
Much awesomeness today, Phyliss. Gorgeous covers and intriguing stories and great Texas tidbits. And guess what? I visited the Buckhorn and the museum when I was in San Antonio for a few days after my publishers retreat in Bandera a few years ago. Loved the history, the dead animals not so much, but…definitely a place to visit. My son is going to SA for a wedding next fall and I have that on the list of things for him to do. xoxx
Hi Faith, I’m glad you want to read “The Troubled Texan”. I found the premise so interesting and then she rents a store for an antique shop sight-unseen in a small town hundreds of miles from her home town, she believes she’s safe. But she’s not … at least her heart isn’t after the town sheriff stops her for speeding and she can’t miss him being her best friend in high school. They tangled like a kitten with a ball of yarn, and both have secrets! It’s the first of the Kasota Springs series, so I’m excited as I write book #2. Have a great day, Faith. Hugs from Texas, Phyliss
Laurie G, you’d love Texas. Every area is so different and each region has wonderful history. Hope you get here one of these days. Lots of people don’t realize that the Panhandle where I love (as does Linda B.)was only settled in the last quarter of the 1800’s. Like Kasota Springs, many of your founder families are still around and very active in our community. Come visit Texas and we’ll show you around the Panhandle. Hugs, Phyliss
Hi Linda H. Glad to see you at P&P. Research is my favorite part of writing. I’m also a huge believer in walking the walk. I think it’s okay to use a setting if you’ve researched it enough, but there’s still something special about walking the land. You’d be a great researcher, no doubt. Again, thanks for comment. Big hugs, Phyliss
So many tid-bits, so little time. Maybe all the tid-bits could go into one volumn, but then it wouldn’t be fun to find them in the most unlikely places. Would love to read your book. Actually, I don’t think I have any of your writings.
I love learning about Texas through your little tidbits. In fact it would be fun learning little tidbits from other states. Perhaps we could get other authors to share from their favorite state! Thanks Phyliss!
Janine, there’s so much to learn about Texas, not only because of its history, but the size of the state. You just can’t learn all of it. I remember one time on a loop a writer asked what type of living conditions would they have in Texas in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. It depends. If you lived in Galveston, you could live in a mansion, while you’d likely be a hidehunter and live in a dugout in the Panhandle. Where do you live in Texas? Hugs, Phyliss
Susan P, you are so right about Texas being a place of our own. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi sister Filly Linda. I hope you’ve gotten over being so tired from our trip this weekend. Glad you liked the Kensington blog. I’m so eager to know which order Kensington wants the next Kasota Spring Romances in. I’m also eager to hear what you’ve written on Rand’s story this week. So exciting. Much love, friend, Phyliss
Now, Fellow Sister Filly Mary, do you think I’m going to give you all my San Antonio places to go and see without me going along? LOL I’m looking forward to seeing you in SA and I’ll have brochures for everyone. Big hugs, P
Good to see you, Goldie! Hi, Britney, do add the Buckhorn to your list of things to do. It’s worth every moment you can spend there; and I wasn’t kidding about the hamburgers. They are really good! Hugs, Phyliss
Colleen, thank you for the compliment. I think that’s what all writers strive for … let the reader visit our places through our words and your eyes. I think you’ll enjoy “The Troubled Texan”. I’m dying to know which book my editor wants next. If you have time to go over to Kensington’s blog spot, you can learn more about Kasota Springs and a lot of it goes back to the anthologies and I’m fairly sure you’ve read every one! Good to see you. Hugs, Phyliss
Hi Sis Filly, Tanya, I hope you’re going to RWA. I missed seeing you and Charlene when I was in California for the holidays, but I can promise you that we’ll get together the next trip. The holidays are just too hectic for sure, plus it was colder than I ever remember out there. They said it was the coldest holiday they’ve had in thirteen years. Where my kids live on the central coast they have hardly any heating and no A/C, so I was really cold. Big hugs to my fun friend, Phyliss
Good to see you Mary J. Maybe you’ll win one of the eBooks tonight. Watch Barnes and Nobels because they are putting “The Tycoon and the Texan” on sale this week, along with a short introduction of one of my Sister Fillies’ newest book.
Connie J, that an excellent idea to have other fillies write tidbits about their states. What a great idea.
Have you both have a great evening. Hugs, Phyliss
I have every one of the anthologies and enjoyed each of them. I look forward to revisiting Kasota Springs and meeting the descendants of those earlier characters. I know I will enjoy the series.
We had a short visit to San Antonio and evidently missed way too much. The Buckhorn Saloon just went to the top of the list. Thanks for another interesting post. I am heading over to read the full blog.
Finished your blog post at Kensington. Enjoyed it. Looks like a reread of the anthologies are in order. Will have to follow your new series to see what happens.
Phyliss, better late than never, I say! Congratulations on your new release! I love your covers. And of course, always love what’s BETWEEN the covers, too! I’m anxious to have some time to just sit down and read.
Hugs, dear friend!
Cheryl