Category Archives: Texas

8 New Titles Now on BARD!

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Eight more locally produced books are newly available for download on BARD. There are now more than 1,600 Texas titles on BARD!

These books transport readers from corrals and hard rock mines to bridal boutiques, while spotlighting a bitter South Texas political feud and a passel of legendary, low-down Western scoundrels.

Cowboy up and savor these Lone Star offerings!

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MY MOTHER by Rosellen Brown (DBC 26252)

The strained relationship between a mother and a daughter, related through episodes from their past, culminates in a devastating final scene that marks an emotional turning point for them both. Explicit descriptions of sex. Strong language. Bestseller.

COWBOYS ARE PARTLY HUMAN by John R. Erickson (DBC 26395)

A collection of anecdotes about cowboys by an author who was one. Erickson has a pervasive sense of humor, and his use of colloquial language puts the reader right in the corral and out on the range.

DREAM DRESS by Janice A. Thompson (DBC 18376)

A lowly seamstress at a swanky bridal boutique, Gabi Delgado dreams of doing more than ripping out seams and fitting dresses to doe-eyed brides. She wants to see her own original dress designs gracing the young women of Texas. But when Jordan Singer, reporter for ‘Texas Bride’ magazine, visits the shop to do a feature, Gabi is humbled in his influential—and unnervingly handsome—presence.

HARDROCK STIFF: A KURT MULLER MYSTERY by Thomas Zigal (DBC 26268)

Ned Carr is an old hard rock miner who has stubbornly held on to his acres of what has become prime real estate in the heart of Aspen’s popular ski slopes. He has made plenty of enemies over the years from the militant environmental activists called the Green Briars to the even more dangerous property-rights group known as the Free West Rebellion. When a mine explosion blows old Ned to bits, Sheriff Kurt Muller finds a long list of motives for murder. Some violence and some strong language.

HISTORIA DE LA REVOLUCION MEXICANA by Jose Mancisidor (DBC 26409)

Written in Spanish by renowned Mexican historian, professor and writer Jose Mancisidor, Historia de la Revolucion Mexicana (History of the Mexican Revolution) has fifteen chapters from the pre-revolutionary period to the post-revolutionary, roughly from the 1860’s to the 1930’s.

THERE WAS A TIME by Taylor Caldwell (DBC 26235)

Character study of an early twentieth-century English writer as she struggles for success and happiness in America.

WARM WEATHER & BAD WHISKEY: THE 1886 LAREDO ELECTION RIOT by Jerry D. Thompson (DBC 26234

This engaging account of political corruption fills a gap in the history of South Texas and U.S.-Mexico border politics. According to the author, “The feud was not sheepmen against cattlemen, homesteaders against ranchers, the unscrupulous against the righteous, or the powerful against the weak. It was a feud between several closely related and powerful families over domination of Laredo and border politics.”

WILD, WILD WEST: FOR THE DISCRIMINATING READER: A CHILLING ILLUSTRATED HISTORY PRESENTING THE FACTS ABOUT A PASSEL OF LOW-DOWN MISCHIEVOUS PERSONAGES INCLUDING JOAQUÍN MURIETA, WILD BILL HICKOK, JESSE JAMES, BAT MASTERSON, WYATT EARP & BILLY THE KID by Peter Lyon (DBC 26274)

An exposé of several 19th century Western heroes, depicted as worthless drifters, robbers and killers. Includes stories of Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James and Wyatt Earp.

12 New Texas Titles Now on BARD!

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The Texas Talking Book Program is pleased to announce 12 more locally-produced titles that are newly available on BARD. There are now 1,598 Texas titles on BARD!

You can learn more about TBP’s stellar Volunteer Recording Studio here: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/vrs.html.

This installment of Texas titles is a vibrant mixture of biography, romance, history, and folklore. Travelling from Manhattan speakeasys to savage wilderness, we meet admirable heroes Lorenzo de Zavala and Chester Nimitz, while cuttin’ beddin’ with infamous outlaw Henry Starr.

Read, on, Texas. Read on!

ALY’S HOUSE by Leila Meacham (DBC 18834)

Aly Kingston has only ever loved one man: Marshall Wayne. But she put all of those childish dreams behind her ages ago when the Waynes left town. Her father’s victory at foreclosing on the Wayne family farm, the betrayal written all over Marshall’s face—it all still lingers in her mind and in her heart. But now, years later, when he comes back home to Claiborne, Aly realizes so much has changed since Marshall’s been away…and so much remains the same. Some strong language. Commercial audiobook.

CHESTER W. NIMITZ, ADMIRAL OF THE HILLS by Frank A. Driskill (DBC 26275)

From his boyhood days in the Hill Country of Central Texas to the apogee of his career as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific, Chester W. Nimitz reflected the best qualities of his German-European heritage and the frontier society of his native land.

CUTTIN’ BEDDIN’: MORE PECOS TALES by Paul Patterson (DBC 26226)

Cuttin’ beddin’ in old cowboy terms means sharing a bunk or bedroll. These anecdotes by cowboy poet Paul Patterson describe a wide variety of ways in which cuttin’ beddin’ can make for strange bedfellows.

DEATH IN THE SILENT PLACES by Peter Hathaway Capstick (DBC 26236)

Adventure writer Capstick, author of the thrilling classic DEATH IN THE LONG GRASS (DB 12610), turns from his own exploits to those of some of the greatest hunters of the past. Karamojo Bell, the elephant hunter, Colonel Jim Corbett and Sasha Siemel, who tracked killer jaguars in the Mata Grosso armed only with a spear are included.

HELLO, SUCKER!: THE STORY OF TEXAS GUINAN by Glenn Shirley (DBC 26238)

True life story of the outrageous Prohibition-era actress, showgirl, and night club owner Mary Louise Cecilia Guinan, better known as “Texas” Guinan.

LAST ADVENTURE OF CONSTANCE VERITY by A. Lee Martinez (DBC 18840)

Granted a wish at birth, Constance Verity has become one of the world’s great adventurers. A master of exotic martial arts and a keen detective, she is in possession of a collection of strange artifacts, which are mostly kept in unlabeled boxes in her apartment. Constance has spent the past twenty years saving the world, and she’s sick of it. She wants an office job and a boyfriend who isn’t going to get killed by who knows what, and she’s figured out the way to get them: she’s going to kill her fairy godmother—Grandmother Willow—who granted the wish and reset her life. The problem is, saving the world is Constance’s destiny. She’s really good at it, and there are forces at work to make sure she stays in the job. Then again, it’s also her destiny to have a glorious death. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. Book #1 of the “Constance Verity” series.

NORTH TO THE RIO GRANDE: LORENZO DE ZAVALA, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS by Fay Venable (DBC 26233)

Biography of Lorenzo de Zavala, who was a supporter of the revolution, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first vice-president of Texas. For grades 4-7.

PECOS TALES, II by Paul Patterson (DBC 26227)

This collection of humorous musings by cowboy poet Paul Patterson is a pleasant blend of folklore and history. Some strong language.

THE SEARCH by Grace Livingston Hill (DBC 26365)

In the midst of a desperate world war, spirited Ruth Macdonald helps a lonely soldier find the love he longs for. Commercial audiobook.

TEXAS SPLENDOR by Lorraine Heath (DBC 18726)

Five years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit–that’s how long Austin Leigh has waited to clear his name, and to be reunited with his beloved Becky. But when he is finally released, Becky is married to another. Now Austin is determined to find the killer who destroyed his life and ruined his one chance for love. He is searching for justice—and for revenge. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. Book #3 of the “Leigh Brothers” Texas trilogy.

THRILLING EVENTS: THE LIFE OF HENRY STARR by Henry Starr (DBC 26247)

This small history was written by the noted Cherokee Indian outlaw, Henry Starr, while he was serving a sentence in the Colorado penitentiary. It reviews his exploits as one of the boldest of bank robbers, a career he managed to pursue for almost 30 years. Starr was killed during his last attempt, in 1921. Violence and strong language. Notes: Originally published: 1914.

XIT RANCH OF TEXAS AND THE EARLY DAYS OF THE LLANO ESTACADO by J. Evetts (James Evetts) Haley (DBC 26229)

Formed in the eighteen-eighties, the XIT ranch became the largest single operation in the cow country of the Old West and covered more than three million acres, all fenced. The state of Texas granted the land to the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company of Chicago in exchange for funds to erect the state capitol building in Austin. This is the story of the ranch and its role in the history of Texas.

10 MORE TEXAS TITLES NOW ON BARD!

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Ten locally produced books are newly available for download on BARD. Registered BARD users throughout the United States can now access these titles.

As wide and diverse as Texas itself, they are sure to satisfy fans of both HANK THE COWDOG and HENRY DAVID THOREAU. Saddle up with the cowboys of the XIT Ranch and help Sheriff Dan Rhodes wrangle ghosts. Texas Ranger Cody Hart is ensnared by the Yellow Rose, while magical dressmaker Harlow Jane Cassidy sews up a murder case by not minding her beeswax.

Get the Big Picture and check ’em out!

6,000 MILES OF FENCE: LIFE ON THE XIT RANCH OF TEXAS by Cordia Sloan Duke (DBC 26228)

This is the story of the cowboys who worked on the XIT Ranch of Texas. It is also the story of cowboys, in general, since it includes many tales from the times before they started working for the ranch.

BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD by Bill Crider (DBC 18335)

When Sheriff Dan Rhodes is called in the middle of the night to investigate gunshots at a haunted house, he finds the body of meth dealer Neil Foshee. Recently released from jail, Foshee has his fair share of potential murderers, including former girlfriend Vicki, her new boyfriend, the nephew of Clearview’s mayor, and Foshee’s criminal cousins Earl and Louie. Complicating matters is Seepy Benton, the community college math professor who has a new summer job. He is founded Clearview Paranormal Investigations and wants to solve the murder by communing with Foshee’s ghost. But when Benton connects with something else instead and a second body is found, Rhodes is left with more questions than ever. Who is the dead person? How long has the body been hidden? Is Benton really able to communicate with ghosts? And, most important, what, if anything, does the body have to do with Neil Foshee’s death? Some violence and some strong language.

BIG PICTURE: A KATIE PARKER PRODUCTION (ACT III) by Jenny B Jones (DBC 18685)

Dumped by her possible boyfriend at a drive-in theater, Katie returns home to find that her mother, a former convict and current addict, wants to take her away from her foster family, friends, and church, and Katie must make important decisions as she considers what family and home really mean. For senior high readers.

CHEIRO’S LANGUAGE OF THE HAND: A COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL WORK ON THE SCIENCES OF CHIROGNOMY AND CHEIROMANCY CONTAINING THE SYSTEM AND EXPERIENCE OF CHEIRO by Cheiro (DBC 26230)

A complete practical work on the science of palmistry.

GHOST FEVER = MAL DE FANTASMA by Joe Hayes(DBC 26198)

In the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Elena Padilla and her father move into a haunted house in Duston, Arizona, where only Elena can see and help the ghost of the young girl who died there. Bilingual: English and Spanish. Bluebonnet Award Winner, 2007.

HANK THE COWDOG 71: CASE OF THE MONSTER FIRE by John R. Erickson (DBC 18817)

After his many years as a typical bachelor cowboy, Slim Chance is convinced—against his will—that he needs to build his own herd of cattle and invest in the future. So, he takes the plunge, takes out a loan, and takes his newly bought heifers to a pasture on Viola’s father’s ranch. But, just about the time his new herd is calved-out and his investment is beginning to look promising, the dry and windy weather conditions put the entire county on High Alert for fire-danger. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2018.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU; A CRITICAL STUDY by Mark Van Doren (DBC 26293)

The personality of the hermit of Walden Pond, the plain-spoken representative of transcendental New England, is here examined objectively based on his Journal. The result is a true evaluation of his philosophy.

LOST TRIBES AND PROMISED LANDS: THE ORIGINS OF AMERICAN RACISM by Ronald Sanders (DBC 26250)

The author traces the roots of American racism back to the Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French colonial movements of the Age of Discovery.

MANO A MANO: CODY’S LAW BOOK 5 by Matthew S. Hart (DBC 18400)

She is known as the Yellow Rose, a singer with the voice of an angel and the beauty of a goddess. But her sensual powers conceal a secret and dangerous past—one which draws Cody into a deadly contest beyond the Texas frontier. Violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex.

SEAMLESS MURDER by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez (DBC 18368)

Any garment Harlow stitches together has the power to grant the deepest desire of whomever wears it. When she is asked to sew aprons for a local women’s group, Harlow must get to know each member. First up is Delta Lee Mobley, who does not care much for Harlow’s family—or anyone else in Bliss, for that matter. Granting Delta’s wish could only lead to trouble. But trouble finds Delta all the same. The day after Harlow delivers her apron, Delta’s body is discovered in the cemetery. It seems one of the townsfolk harbored ill will toward one of their own. Harlow’s sleuthing skills are a cut above the rest, and with a few magical tricks up her sleeve, she is determined to cuff this killer once and for all.

11 New Texas Titles Available on BARD!

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As summer approaches and temperatures creep steadily upward, beat the heat by dipping into these cool Texas titles recently added to BARD.

From Panhandle longhorns and Lone Star swimmin’ holes to “The Last Picture Show,” these Texas titles are an oasis from the heat and humidity.

Jump in, the reading’s fine!

FAR GONE by Laura Griffin (DBC 18373)

Andrea Finch is a rising star in the Austin police department until a split-second decision derailed her career. On leave from her job, she gets an urgent call from her younger brother. Andrea’s search for answers takes her to a dusty Texas border town where nothing is quite what it seems. FBI agent, Jon North, is working undercover in west Texas investigating an unsolved murder that may be linked to a broader plot. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.

JAKE by J.J. Pickle (DBC 18761)

Jake Pickle tells his own story of a lifetime of public service, most notably his thirty-one years in the U.S. Congress representing Texas’ Tenth District. A born raconteur, he begins with his youth in Big Spring, Texas, then his lean (in every sense) student years at the University of Texas during the Depression, followed by U.S. Navy service in World War II. The heart of the book is former Representative Pickle’s stories of political life—in Washington, D.C. and on the campaign trail back home in Austin, Texas.

JEFF MILTON, A GOOD MAN WITH A GUN by J. Evetts Haley (DBC 26248)

Jeff Milton was a cowboy, Texas Ranger, adventurer, and Arizona Border Patrolman. For seventy years he was known as a western gunman of great ability who followed a rigid code of honor.

LAST CAVALIER: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN A. LOMAX, 1867-1948 by Nolan Porterfield (DBC 26307)

John Avery Lomax considered himself a Texan even though was born in Mississippi. His belief in betterment through education led him to enroll at the newly established University of Texas in 1895. He is best known as a pioneering American folklorist although his colorful life included stints in academia and business. He is credited with collecting and preserving cowboy songs and African American folk songs that would otherwise have become a lost part of the rural culture of this nation.

For more information about Lomax, visit the Texas Center for the Book’s John A. Lomax Literary Landmark page: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/literarylandmark/Lomax.

ORILLA OSCURA by Jose Maria Merino (DBC 18765)

A Spanish professor who lives in the United States travels to Central America on sabbatical. During a visit to a museum, he discovers a portrait of a man who looks remarkably like his late father, a discovery that causes the professor to re-examine his youth and the events of his past. The “dark edge” of the novel’s title refers to the fine line between past and present, fantasy and reality, dreaming and waking.

Variant title: Title in English: DARK EDGE

REVOLUCION ES UN SUENO ETERNO by Andres Rivera (DBC 18766)

Winner of Argentina’s Premio Nacional de la Literatura in 1992, this novel re-imagines the life of a true military hero of Argentina’s Revolutionary War against Spain in 1810. In real life, Juan Jose Castelli died in poverty and disgrace but fate is kinder in fiction.

Variant Title: Title in English: Revolution is an eternal dream.

SAM HOUSTON WITH THE CHEROKEES by Jack Gregory (DBC 26254)

This tale covers Houston’s exile among the Cherokees after his resignation of the governorship of Tennessee. Includes many previously undiscovered pieces of information.

SHORT GRASS & LONGHORNS by Laura V. Hamner (DBC 26231)

Stories of the Panhandle area of Texas in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s. Strong language.

STRANGE FRUIT by Lillian Eugenia Smith (DBC 26267)

Regional novel of the deep South. It is the story of the love of an educated black girl for a white man, and the tragedies of murder and lynching which are the fruit of that love. Strong language. Explicit descriptions of sex.

SWIMMING HOLES OF TEXAS by Julie Wernersbach (DBC 18378)

Nothing beats a natural swimming hole for cooling off on a scorching summer day in Texas. Cold, clear spring water, big old shade trees, and a quiet stretch of beach or lawn offer the perfect excuse to pack a cooler and head out with family and friends to the nearest natural oasis. Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or an unforgettable summer vacation, let The Swimming Holes of Texas be your guide.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JACY FARROW? by Ceil Cleveland (DBC 18762)

Daughter of pioneer Texas ranchers, Ceil Cleveland grew up in Larry McMurtry’s hometown of Archer City, fictionalized in his novel “The Last Picture Show.” Among the locals, Cleveland has long been assumed to be the model for the novel’s beautiful, bitchy character Jacy Farrow who was portrayed in the film version by Cybill Shepherd. In this memoir, Cleveland recalls a girl’s life in small-town Texas during the same era described by McMurtry from a boy’s point of view.

African American Women Authors from Texas

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Since February is Black History Month and Women’s History Month is right around the corner in March, we decided to highlight five award winning African American women authors from Texas. Whether you enjoy historical nonfiction, romance, or mysteries, these women writers have something for you.

Reshonda Tate Billingsley

Reshonda Tate Billingsley is the national bestselling author of more than 50 books. She writes both adult and teen fiction, as well as nonfiction, and is she is known for her Christian Fiction series SAY AMEN and GOOD GIRLZ. She currently lives in Houston.

More information can be found at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com

Anita R. Bunkley

Anita Bunkley was voted one of the 50 favorite African American authors of the twentieth century by the on-line African American Literature Book Club. Currently a resident of Houston, she writes across several genres with romance, historical fiction, and mysteries she’s written in our collection.

More Information can be found at: https://www.anitabunkley.com/page/page/1042006.htm

Annette Gordon-Reed

Born in Livingston, Texas, Annette Gordon-Reed, is currently a history professor at Harvard University and was awarded the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in Nonfiction for her work about Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemmings.

More information can be found at: https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/10329/Gordon-Reed

Attica Lock

Houston native, Attica Locke, is an award-winning author of the suspenseful Highway 59 series featuring Black Texas Ranger Darren Mathews as well as the Jay Porter Series, a legal thriller.  

More information to be found on her website, www.atticalocke.com

Angela Shelf Medearis

Known as “The Kitchen Diva,” Angela Shelf Medearis is a chef and successful children’s book author. After she realized that there were very few cookbooks that illustrated the contributions of African American culture and cuisine she decided to write her own.

More information can be found at: https://www.kitchendiva.org/about-us

January 2022 Book Club Title Announced!

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Please join us on Thursday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. CT for our Book Club discussion of THE TIME IT NEVER RAINED by Elmer Kelton (DB 49217, LB 03803).

We host our Book Club meetings via toll free phone-in. All you need to participate is a telephone!

To RSVP, please reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.  (RSVP preferred by January 6).

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you the digital cartridge, send a large print copy, or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

We request that everyone remember the following:

  • Keep external distractions to a minimum.
  • Be courteous and respectful of differing opinions.
  • Keep discussion points concise and relevant to the book.

NLS Annotation:

A cantankerous, independent-minded Texan, Charlie Flagg, fights to save his medium-sized ranch in Rio Seco during a drought. His problems are compounded by ineffectual federal aid programs and difficulties with Mexican ranch workers. Some strong language. 1973.

DB   49217, LB 03803

We look forward to having you join us on January 27!

Coronavirus Resources

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Here are some helpful resources about COVID-19 and the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines:

Combat COVID

https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/

Combat COVID-19 features resources about prevention trials and treatment trials, as well as information on donating plasma if you have recovered from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/whats-new/

This site from the National Institutes of Health contains the most up-to-date information on what treatments are available for people who contract COVID-19.

Coronavirus in Texas

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus

The Department of State Health Services has established this web site for Texans who need information about the virus and about vaccine distribution. You can also contact your County or City Public Health Department for more details about vaccine distribution.

V-Safe

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html

V-Safe is a smartphone app that helps you track any symptoms you may experience after taking a COVID-19 vaccine. The app will also remind you when a second dose of the vaccine is needed, if applicable.

COVID-19 Accessible Resources

https://cidi.gatech.edu/covid

The Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation at Georgia Tech has set up a microsite for people with disabilities who need resources about COVID-19. Individuals can request information in alternative formats such as braille and accessible PDF’s. The site also features coronavirus-related articles, and the Center is producing a series of webinars for people with disabilities about topics related to COVID-19. Past webinars are archived on the site.

Accessible Hiking in Texas State Parks

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Five Texas state parks now offer accessible all-terrain wheelchairs for people with physical impairments for use in the park. These wheelchairs are not motorized and require arm strength and mobility to propel the chair. The five parks that feature these wheelchairs are: Lake Corpus Christi, San Angelo, McKinney Falls, Estero Llano Grande, and Palo Duro Canyon.

Here is a video of these all-terrain chairs: https://youtu.be/q4rDMXdkxLA

People who want to borrow the wheelchair must sign a waiver and view the video first.

For more information, send an e-mail to: accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov

NEW TEXAS TITLES AVAILABLE ON BARD!

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An interesting mix of locally-produced Texas titles were recently added to the National Library Service’s BARD collection.

Fiction readers can ride alongside Texas Rangers, follow the exploits of Sheriff Dan Rhodes, sample an early Larry McMurtry novel, and discover Louisa May Alcott’s sequel to LITTLE WOMEN.

Nonfiction titles explore Lone Star history, from Texas’ earliest days through the Korean War and beyond.

BARD users can download these and other Texas titles at https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login/TX.

AMONG THE VALIANT; MEXICAN-AMERICANS IN WW II AND KOREA

Morin, Raul

This is a true, hard-hitting saga of the role of the Mexican-American soldiers in World War II and Korea.

DBC 17909

BOOK OF INSULTS, ANCIENT & MODERN: AN AMIABLE HISTORY OF INSULT, INVECTIVE, IMPRECATION & INCIVILITY (LITERARY, POLITICAL & HISTORICAL) HURLED THROUGH THE AGES & COMPILED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE

Selection of impudent, verbal abuse with information about the author and the circumstances surrounding each quip.  Contains nearly 1000 ranging from Arab and Irish curses to vintage Mencken, Oscar Wilde, and George Bernard Shaw.

DBC 17915

BURN DOWN THE GROUND: A MEMOIR

Crews, Kambri

In this memoir, a daughter looks back on her unconventional childhood with deaf parents in rural Texas while trying to reconcile it to her present life, one in which her father is serving a twenty-year sentence in a maximum security prison.  As a child, she wished that she had been born deaf so that she, too, could fully belong to the tight-knit deaf community that embraced her parents.  Strong language and some violence.  2012.

DBC 17914

CAMINO SENCILLO

Teresa, Mother, 1910-1997

La Madre Teresa conocida alrededor del mundo por su trabajo incansable a favor de los pobres, los enfermos, y los moribundos, ha dedicado su vida a darles esperanza a los sin esperanza en mas de ciento veinte paises.  “Un camino sencillo” es una guia espiritual singular tanto para los catolicos como los no catolicos: esta lleno de sabiduria y esperanza de la persona que nos ha otorgado el mejor modelo de amor en accion en nuestros dias.  En espanol.

DBC 17913

CASTLE GAP AND THE PECOS FRONTIER

Dearen, Patrick

The Pecos River country of West Texas lies between San Angelo and the Pecos River and runs west to the edge of the Davis Mountains.  Six stories preserve some of the history, legends and folklore of an area known for Comanche raids, historic cattle drives and hidden treasure—sought after by so many generations.

DBC 17923

DIRTY SALLY: A NOVEL

Simon, Michael, 1963-

Austin, Texas in 1988 is a boomtown gone bust, blistering in the heat of a six-month summer.  Someone murdered a prostitute and parts of her body are turning up all over town.  Detective Dan Reles, a displaced New Yorker with a chip on his shoulder and a dead partner on his conscience, is the cop on the case.  As he follows the trail of the corpse nicknamed “Dirty Sally,” he finds himself crossing the lines between crack-ridden ghettos and the watering holes of the moneyed elite – lines it doesn’t pay to cross.  Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex.  2004.  (Book #1 of “Dan Reles Mystery” series.)

DBC 17921

GHOST OF A CHANCE: SHERIFF DAN RHODES #10

Crider, Bill, 1941-2018

Sheriff Dan Rhodes of Blacklin County, Texas, knows that times may change, but people are still people, some good, some bad, and most things can be explained with a little common sense—even the ghost haunting his jail.  Could it be the same ghostly culprit looting the local cemetery?  When Ty Berry, the president of one of two feuding historical societies, is found shot dead in a freshly dug grave, Rhodes decides the crime is of a more earthly nature.  2001.

DBC 17919

GOOD WIVES: LITTLE WOMEN, PART II

Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888

Three years after the ending of “Little Women” we again take up the story of the March girls and discover what has happened to them in that time.  For grades 5-8 and older readers.

DBC 17924

HOUND-DOG MAN

Gipson, Fred, 1908-1973

This book, appealing to children and adults alike, tells the story of friendship between Cotton, a frontier boy undergoing the huntsman’s rites of passage, and Blackie (the hound-dog man), who is corralled by the love of a good woman.  For grades 6-9 and older readers.

DBC 17910

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Stroup, Herbert Hewitt, 1916-

The author provides a first-hand study of the Jehovah’s Witnesses—their history, their leaders, their beliefs and their attitudes.

DBC 17927

LEAVING CHEYENNE

McMurtry, Larry

McMurtry’s second novel, written when he was only 27, and said to be “… the starkest, most truthful, most terrible and yet beautiful treatment …” of the Texas ranching country and one which will “… offend many who prefer the glamour treatment …” It is the story of a 40-year love affair between a woman and two men—one reckless, the other cautious and careful.  Some profanity and descriptions of sex.

DBC 17926

MURDER MOST FOWL: SHERIFF DAN RHODES #7

Crider, Bill, 1941-2018

Mystery set in a dusty, dying Texas county where emu rustling, beer drinking, and cockfighting are the major recreational activities.  A murder victim is found floating down a creek in a porta-potty by a bunch of drunks, but it’s no joke to Sheriff Dan Rhodes, who has not one but two bodies on his hands.  Lige Ward, a local fellow who’s lost his hardware business to the big new Wal-Mart is found in the toilet and a few days later the body of Ward’s wife, Rayjean, is discovered in a cockfighting ring.  Rhodes thought he knew what went on in his town, but he discovers that not only did the locals hold illegal cockfights, but darned if they haven’t been covering up a whole bunch of other nasty secrets.  Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex.  1994.

DBC 17918

PASTORAL

Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960

A wartime romance, between an English bomber pilot and a pretty WAAF officer.  The men and women of the Royal Air Force fought daily for their lives and their country, while preserving the decencies and oddities of English country life on the rural airfields where they were based.

DBC 17912

PECKER’S REVENGE AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE FRONTIER’S EDGE

Van Pelt, Lori, 1961-

This is a collection of fourteen historical short stories featuring a variety of characters including miners, rodeo riders, railroad construction workers, young settlers, and others struggling with the conflicts and hazards of the nineteenth-century frontier.

DBC 17931

PISTOLS FOR TWO, AND OTHER STORIES

Heyer, Georgette, 1902-1974

These eleven Regency short stories by Georgette Heyer include: “Pistols for Two,” “A Clandestine Affair,” “Bath Miss,” “Pink Domino,” “A Husband for Fanny,” “To Have the Honour,” “Night at the Inn,” “The Duel,” “Hazard,” “Snowdrift,” and “Full Moon.” These stories are about affairs of honour between bucks and blades, rakes and rascals; and affairs of the heart between heirs and orphans and beauties and bachelors.

DBC 17922

RANGERS’ REVENGE

Miller, Jim, 1945-

They were once members of Texas’ proudest legion—Texas Rangers, men willing to fight and die to bring justice to the harsh frontier.  Will Carston lived the Ranger creed as he staked out his ranch and defended a raw new town.  And the tough Ranger spirit helped his hard-fisted sons survive the Civil War and left them a legacy they could neither deny nor forget.  Strong language and some violence.  (Book #1 of “Ex-Rangers” series.)

DBC 17934

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE MURDER: SHERIFF DAN RHODES #12

Crider, Bill, 1941-2018

County commissioners in Texas wield extraordinary influence, controlling the purse strings for all roads and public works.  Even in rural Blacklin County, that’s serious money.  Grat Bilson was a county commissioner, at least until someone whacked him over the head and set him on fire in his isolated hunting cabin.  Blacklin County Sheriff Dan Rhodes knows that where murder’s concerned, it’s either love or money.  Bilson’s roving wife has an alibi, which turns the focus to money, and sure enough, Rhodes quickly finds something rotten in the world of Blacklin’s county commissioners.  Some strong language.  2003.

DBC 17920

REVOLUTION REMEMBERED: THE MEMOIRS AND SELECTED CORRESPONDENCE OF JUAN N. SEGUIN

Seguín, Juan Nepomuceno, 1806-1890

Edited by Jesús F. de la Teja

Here is a wealth of information for serious historians as well as a readable, informative account for anyone interested in early Texas history and the influence of the Mexicans who settled in Texas generations before the Americans.  Violence.

DBC 17917

WILD COW TALES

Green, Ben K.

In thirteen stories full of rope burns and brush scratches the author of “Horse Tradin’” tells of the days when he made a speciality of catching wild cows that roundups couldn’t corral.  1969.

DBC 17911

NEW TEXAS TITLES AVAILABLE ON BARD!

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The Texas Talking Book Program is justifiably proud its recording studio in Austin.

The quality of the audio books produced by our studio is evident in the number of their titles that are available to download on the National Library Service’s BARD (Braille and Recording Download) service.  Patrons throughout the United States are able to enjoy these books.

The following six Texas titles were recently added to the BARD collection.  Give them a listen!

ARGONAUTAS DE LA SELVA: LOS DESCUBRIDORES DEL AMAZONAS

Benites Vinueza, Leopoldo

More than a historical biography, the book attempts to give life to a character, an adventure, and an era.  Novel and drama, and yet true and rigorously documented history, it relives the life of one of the greatest captains of the era of conquest and one of the most singular adventures in history: the life of Don Francisco de Orellana and the adventure of the discovery of the Amazon River.  Spanish language.

DBC 17905

AROUND THE WORLD WITH LBJ: MY WILD RIDE AS AIR FORCE ONE PILOT, WHITE HOUSE AIDE, AND PERSONAL CONFIDANT

Cross, James U. (James Underwood)

LBJ’s personal pilot–one of the few to fly Air Force One and simultaneously hold a full-time job in the White House–offers vivid recollections of the thirty-sixth president.  Some strong language.

DBC 17907

DUEL OF EAGLES: THE MEXICAN AND U.S. FIGHT FOR THE ALAMO

Long, Jeff

In a comprehensive history that removes the myths from the battle for Texas, the author gives us the true story of what led to the Alamo and what followed it by examining accounts from both sides.

DBC 17893

HAUNTED TEXAS: FAMOUS PHANTOMS, SINISTER SITES, AND LINGERING LEGENDS

Williams, Scott Allen

Texas history buffs and travelers have an eerie need for this book, which offers an unusual twist to seeing the sights in the Lone Star state.  Organized by region–Gulf Coast, Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, Central Texas, North Texas, and West Texas—this book is the complete guide for both hardcore ghost hunters and more earthly tourists seeking to add some spirited fun to their travels.

DBC 17908

JESS SWEETEN, TEXAS LAWMAN

Lindquist, Allan Sigvard

Known as the “Law East of the Trinity,” Jess Sweeten served as sheriff between 1929 and 1954, an era when violence was the order of the day.

DBC 17906

NOCHEBUENA.  EL PAÑO DE LA VERÓNICA

Lagerlöf, Selma

The author recalls two stories told by her grandmother, one short tale on the birth of Christ and a longer story concerning Veronica’s veil. Spanish language. For grades 4-7.

DBC 17903