Synopses & Reviews
Texas -- a land that has given the U.S. astronauts, writers, artists, and presidents. It is also a land whose myths and legends have been told and retold in novels and films. Historians Mike Blakely and Mary Elizabeth Goldman assemble the men and women who created the Texas mystique so they may tell their own stories in their own words.
Forever Texas shows the birth, liberation, and statehood of the Lone Star State. Mike Blakely presents the history of Texas from the viewpoints of the state's Hispanic, African American, and Native American residents, and also from oilmen, dustbowl survivors, and those who witnessed the great depression.
Mary Elizabeth Goldman shows the continuing glory of Texas, with essays from a wide range of celebrities in politics, entertainment, and literature. These essays show that no matter how far away its children go, Texas will always be home.
Review
"
Forever Texas...would be a fine Christmas gift, especially to a foreign friend, collector of Texana, or to a history student. I tip my hat to Blakely and Goldman for developing this material."--
The San Angelo Standard Times
Synopsis
Texas: a place that triggers the imagination of Americans and the world as much today as it did when the Spanish explorers arrived nearly four centuries ago.
Forever Texas features the writings of remarkable Texans--Texans by birth, or by circumstance--including President George W. Bush, H. Ross Perot, and the state's most famous historical figures: the likes of Sam Houston, David Crockett, Stephen F. Austin, and Lyndon Baines Johnson.
Through the most informative collection of personal essays to date, Forever Texas explains the undeniable Texas mystique while, at the same time, perpetuating the proud legacy of the state and its people. From the conquistadores to the Presidents to its greatest writers, Forever Texas explored the images, strengths, and desires that make up the Lone Star State's colorful and exciting history.
About the Author
A native of Texas,
Mike Blakely grew up working on the family ranch. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He is the former president of Western Writers of America and has taught fiction writing at numerous workshops nationwide. He is a winner of the Spur Award for Best Western Novel. Also a singer/songwriter, Blakely tours all over the U.S. and in Europe with his band and records his original songs on his own independent record label. He currently lives on his horse ranch near Marble Falls, Texas.