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!