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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

TEXAS TIDBITS by PHYLISS MIRANDA



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 would not be bothered.

For those 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 by 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! Be sure to comment and leave your contact information!

13 comments:

  1. Phyliss: I loved going to the Buckhorn when I was in San Antonio.....Actually there is so much to love about San Antonio!! What a fascinating place and filled to the brim with artifacts to look at :-) I think it's great that you have such a wonderful landscape and history against which your stories can be set!

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    1. Thanks Gail. My kids lived in San Antonio for about ten years, so I really enjoyed doing things there. There is so many opportunities to visit history and of course the Buckhorn is only one. I love the Alamo at Christmas. Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you at RWA! Hugs, Phyliss

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  2. Woo-Hoo!! Congrats on the new release. I LOVE that cover! Just beautiful. An interesting blog. I can't imagine 8 feet Longhorns and a 78 point buck. Oh my Lord! I've got to see that when I go to San Antone for the RWA Conference in July. And can you believe I haven't seen the Alamo? Seems almost sacrilegious with me a Texan. Gotta rectify that. Every time I've passed through San Antonio we were in a hurry to get someplace and didn't stop.

    I can't wait to read The Troubled Texan in it's entirety. I know it's a great story that has suspense and romance oozing from it.

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    1. Thanks, Linda, for stopping by this morning. Oh, I'll drag you around San Antonio when we're there for RWA. Don't forget that Eric's sister and family still live there, so we'll have wheels. The Riverwalk at night is absolutely beautiful. You'll love the Buckhorn, especially the Texas Ranger part, although we've seen a lot of the museum in Waco, right? I still can't believe that our anthology "Give Me a Texas Ranger" is in their literary display (unless they've rotated it out or something). I'm so eager to get a copy of The Troubled Texan in my hands! Love you friend, P

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  3. Phyliss, I have not had a chance to read The Tycoon and the Texan, but I just love that name. I have it on my kindle, just have had no time. I did not know some of these tidbits. I've heard of the Buckhorn Saloon but never have been there. I DID get to finally go to the Alamo. I didn't know what the colors were for on the Texas flag--I love the symbolism. Awesome stuff--your covers are wonderful, too.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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    1. Thanks friend for stopping by and thanks for helping me get my post up. The first thing my editor said when I turned in my MS was that the name would be changed, but they decided not to change it. I wrote it out in California for the Desire formula, so it reeks of a cat romance, although my H/H end up in Texas on her family ranch outside Kasota Springs and the Jacks Bluff which are two of the threads of "The Troubled Texan". I love tidbits and Texas has so many. Thanks, dear friend. I hope to see you at OWFI and RWA. Big hugs, P

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  4. San Antonio was one of my favorite places to visit when I lived in Texas. I enjoyed your commentary on the Buckhorn Saloon. It sounds like a fascinating place.
    Congratulations on your new releases. They sound like marvelous stories. I wish all the best for you.

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  5. Hi Sarah, thanks for dropping by today. The Buckhorn is really a neat place and a must if you go to RWA. I'm excited about my new release which is really the first of the Kasota Springs Romance series. I'm working on the next book and excited about it. You know how it is when sometimes it's so hard to get that burning feeling in your gut about a book and other times you want to write all of the time. I have such a good feeling about the series. Hope you have a good day and also hope to see you in San Antonio, if you go to RWA. Hugs, Phyliss

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  6. How have I not heard about wearing white hat bands? What a great Texas tidbit. The burger photo really called to me. Might have to give up the gluten free diet for one day and head to San Antonio.

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  7. Livia, good to see you. I thought the white hat bands was interesting. I don't know that for a fact, but likely the white hat for the good guys and the black for outlaws may have come from that. You can owe the hamburger and fries to your partner and friend, Miss Cheryl. Yummy! Big hugs from the panhandle, P

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  8. Love tidbits. That is where the fun is. Thanks Doris

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  9. PHYLISS'S WINNERS ARE:
    SARAH MCNEAL -- THE TROUBLED TEXAN
    and DORIS MCCRAW--THE TYCOON AND THE TEXAN!!!!!!!
    I'm standing in for Phyliss as she's out of town for the moment, but I've sent her your e-mail addresses and you should be hearing from her very shortly.

    Cheryl

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  10. Yeehaw! Thank you so much. I know I'm going to really enjoy reading The Troubled Texan. I'm feeling mighty lucky right now.

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