The Texas Author and Reader Con on July 19th was a great event with a pretty big turnout! I had an amazing time on the Western panel, and it was an honor to share that stage with Ronnie Ashmore, Phil Mills Jr., Chris Mullen, and RJ Hanson. I learned a lot from these guys, and it energized me to push forward with my writing. It was such a great pleasure to meet and talk with so many great people! These kind of events just breathe new life into me every time I attend. I’m really looking forward to next years’ event. This con is getting bigger every year, and if you weren’t able to attend this year, come out next year! It promises to be an even bigger event! Special thanks to the Irving Community Television Network for coming out and doing a story on the event!
Family Adventure Part 4: The Black Cowboy Museum
We had a good time on our trip, learned a lot, and before long we were on our way to our last stop from the High on the Hog series (on Netflix, Season 1 Episode 4), and the Black Cowboy Museum didn’t disappoint. When we walked in we were immediately greeted by Cowboy Larry Callies, who was for sure a cowboy through and through! He stands with a presence, almost larger than life, but with a strong kindness about him. Larry looked every bit the cowboy and you could tell he lived it as well. No window dressing here. As he told us, “I am a Christian first and a cowboy second!”
While the museum was small, there was an enormous amount of history there, and he proceeded to take us through it, imparting knowledge about how the Black cowboys survived, and in some cases, thrived. This also included Larry’s life as a Western musician before vocal Dysphonia took his vocal cords. He was also involved in the rodeos and showed us pictures of his own bull-riding exploits of him and his contemporaries. He also showed us actual sheriff and marshall badges, and one I had never seen before: badges worn by men whose job it was to round up escaped slaves. We also got to see a myriad of old west pistols, including a replica of Wyatt Earp’s Peacemaker, which for the life of me I couldn’t see how he could shoot it with how long the barrel was. We surmised the pistol was more ceremonial than anything else, and not something he would wear day to day.
Larry was very open to questions, and we peppered him with many of them, and he was gracious and patient with us. The day ended with Larry showing my son how to use a lasso, and in return was shown how to do the griddy!
Larry proved he could hang tight on the dance floor too! Larry and I spoke at length about Bass Reeves, Nat Love and others, and their recognition in pop culture. We spoke about my novel The Girl With Strawberry Hair and the next book in the series, and of course, I had to give him a copy! I also expressed an interest in writing non-fiction accounts of some of the history he knows. We agreed to talk some more down the line. That was where our fun pre-thanksgiving adventure ended, but wait! I was delighted to find, on Christmas Day, my wife had an additional present for me: Larry’s book, “ Here Comes Larry Callies, Stepping Out In Faith”!
We had an amazing time, and it was the right way to end our family adventure. I can’t recommend enough taking a day and just going out and about, learning things you didn’t know. Go with family, or friends, to the places you see on TV, or read about. You’ll have a great time, and expand your mind all at once! I would also recommend reading the book High On the Hog, which you can purchase here, or watch the Netflix series of the same name, and if you happen to find yourself in the Houston area, how about a trip to the Black Cowboy Museum?
Family Adventure Part 3: Gatlin’s BBQ
So the first place on our list from High On the Hog was Gatlins’ BBQ. We stood in a long line but it moved very quickly. I had my heart set on a Smoked Bologna Sandwich but they were out of the bologna when we got to the front! It stood to reason as we were there mid-afternoon. We stood with some patrons who gushed about the place, many coming there since the beginning. I satisfied myself with a Rib sandwich, which was insanely tasty, and I have to admit, my son had the Mac n’ cheese, I took a taste and was disappointed I didn’t order it myself! My wife had a sausage plate, and that was excellent as well! If you are in Houston head over to this place for some magnificent BBQ!
After a moment Momma Gatlin herself came by our table and talked to us for a while, and she was gracious, kind, and we felt like part of her family before we left! Of course, I had to give her a copy of my book, and I hope she enjoyed it! I promised her whenever I return to Houston, which I will, several times in 2024 in fact (stay tuned!), that I would stop by. This is a promise I intend to keep!
Family Adventure Part 2: The Negro Green Motorist Handbook
One of the reasons for our 4-hour excursion to Houston was to see the museum exhibit The Green Negro Motorist Handbook at the Holocaust Museum before it moved on to other pastures (in this case Los Angeles, CA). For those who don’t know, during the Jim Crow days the Green Negro Motorist Handbook was a way for Black people to travel the country with grace and dignity, and just live with the freedom that car travel provides, despite the laws that restricted our rights. There is an interactive display where you can navigate a trip to grandma’s house, and you can choose to use the handbook or go without, to your own peril.
The exhibit is divided into regions, North, South, and West. The ingenuity of what it took to survive was, frankly, genius, such as many black men drove their own cars with chauffeur hats next to them, so in case the police stopped them they could claim they were driving their employers’ car, and taking the help home ( if your wife happens to be in the car with you). If you get a chance to see this please don’t hesitate. You can go to the website to see when the exhibit reaches your town here: https://negromotoristgreenbook.si.edu/
There was a lot my 9-year-old son didn’t understand, but a lot he did. It was worth it to expose him to a part of the history of his people. We also explored the Holocaust museum, and it was a sobering experience to say the least. There was much to digest and think about, and anyone who denies it happened is simply insane.
Next in Part 3: Time to Eat! (and time to meet someone from the show!)
I’ll be at the Tulisoma South Dallas Book Festival on August 19th!
It’s been a fun summer, meeting new and fantastic people and getting my book out to them! As things wind down for summer festivals, I have a few more appearances, and here is the first one! It’s a free event, so come out and take in the fantastic history present, and learn so many things you didn’t know about, and stop by and buy a signed book from me! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Upcoming Appearances in Texas!
It’s that time, everyone! Check out my upcoming appearances, and I hope to see you all there! This list will be updated as more appearances are booked!
TBA
TODAY’S THE DAY!!!!!
Today is the release day for The Girl With Strawberry Hair! You can purchase the western adventure ebook or the softcover version right now from Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon! If you live overseas, I gotcha covered! Bibliotheca, Tolino, Vivlio, and more are available to purchase the book on as well! Of course, also ask your local bookstore to carry the book!
The Release Date for The Girl With Strawberry Hair! Plus: The date to Pre-Order!
So here it is!
For those overseas you aren’t forgotten! Biblioteca, Borrow Box, Tolino, Vivlio are also available to buy the book as well!
Popcorn Western Friday: Blazing Saddles (1974)
What’s it About?
In order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black Sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary. (To say anything further would be a crime)
Who’s in it?
An amazing cast led by Cleavon Little, with Gene Wilder, Harvey Corman, Mel Brooks, Sam Pickens, and Madeline Khan. One of the few major Hollywood releases to star an African-American lawman (which is a joke in the film and was regarded that way by the audiences but we now know there were some). This movie is one of the greatest comedies of all time, never to be duplicated, it never pulls its punches in regards to racism and the utter stupidity of it, and so many comedy bits shine. Here’s one of my favorite scenes:
It’s a shame Cleavon Little didn’t have a bigger career than he did. He gave a great performance, especially with the other actors in his orbit. Everyone else seemed to do quite well afterward except for Little. This film is always a standout for showcasing a Black sheriff in a major western that would not be made today.
Where can I watch it?
You can stream it on Hulu and HBO Max, and can rent it from virtually everyone else, and I do mean everyone.
Popcorn Western Friday: The Professionals (1966)
What’s it About?
Four men, all of them with different skillsets, are brought together by a wealthy businessman with one mission: cross the border into Mexico to rescue his wife who has been kidnapped by a Mexican revolutionary. But this simple rescue mission is far more complex than they realize…
Who’s in it?
This is the great Woody Strode, one of the few black actors to play a major character in these early westerns, playing the expert tracker Jake. What I loved about this is that the question of race only comes up one time. Lee Marvin’s Fardan is asked by his employer if he has an issue working with a Black man. He says he doesn’t, and THAT’S IT. No one ever questions his expertise, and no one doubts what he can do, ever. As with the rest of them, he’s a pro at being a tracker, and doesn’t make mistakes. He’s treated the same as every other member of the team, as it should be.
It was still something even in 1966 to see a western with a Black character treated as an equal among his white team members. Particularly since the others were major actors in Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster and Robert Ryan.
Warning!
The Professionals is a really fun Mission-Impossible style western featuring grand vistas and some really great suspenseful set pieces. The only negative is Raza, the main “villain”, a Mexican character played by the very not Mexican Jack Palance. He does a good enough job, but in todays’ world that casting isn’t going to fly. Your mileage may vary with that.
Where To Watch:
You can find The Professionals on DVD or Blu Ray on Amazon.
You can also stream on Netflix for free or rent through Google Play or Amazon Prime Video.
If you give it a watch let me know what you thought of the film in the comments below!
Liberty Saints Press 