Unidentified Texas Objects: Tales from the Weird, Wild West Review!

“Unidentified Texas Objects: Tales from the Weird, Wild West” is Carol Walt’s latest book (AuthorHouse, $16, softcover).

The novel is a collection of short stories and a novella set in the fictional town of Brangus which has certain similarities to the West Texas town of Cross Plains.

“The stories are meant to be amusing, perhaps thought provoking, and some of them have a little surprise for the reader,” she writes.

This is Walt’s fifth novel, and if you read one of her books, you will probably go back for more. She is that good.

“Unidentified Texas Objects” begins with a story set at an Abilene Air Force base (called Dugeness instead of Dyess). Tillie, from Brangus, has an appointment with a general to tell him about these weird sightings she has witnessed.

He seems to take her seriously, and in fact he takes her more seriously than she is led to believe. Meanwhile, all evidence of her visit to the base is obliterated.

“Buck and Sissy” is a tale of two lovers who turn out to be — well, let’s not spoil the story.

Walt even features herself as the main character in one story, “Stranger Than Fiction,” that involves investigators from the Department of Public Safety and the federal Homeland Security office.

Walt will sign copies of her books from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, during ArtWalk in downtown Abilene at Texas Star Trading Co., 174 Cypress St.

Unidentified Texas Objects: Tales from the Weird, Wild West

Things are not always as they seem around the small town of Brangus, Texas. The citizens see strange lights in the sky, and Tillie Brooks reports them to the Air Force. Tiffany Hardamon has a talk with God, and Vessie Lou Culpepper finds a flaming meteorite that seems to be growing in her pasture. A brilliant child named Alpha concerns her parents because she appears interested only in science and galaxies far away. A mysterious ape-man lives at Mabry Clifford's ranch. A novella that ends the book introduces us to "Charlie" Goodnight Myers, a woman who dislikes Christmas but who goes all out to make it a time her neighbors will never forget. The stories are amusing and have an unusual twist to surprise the reader. Welcome to Brangus, Texas!

Assisted Living

Vonnie Morrow is the last surviving member of her nuclear family except for her ninety year old mother Elizabeth. Vonnie has assumed full responsibility for the care and well being of this aging and very difficult woman. As the story begins, Vonnie enters the office of a middle-aged psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Koontz. She seeks help with the anxiety attacks that are being triggered by her dealings with her mother. The reader sees Vonnie's childhood through flashbacks that give us a glimpse of the home she grew up in and her reasons for psychological difficulties now. Dr. Koontz himself is also dealing with the issues of aging and elder care. His father is showing signs of Alzheimer's Disease. Dr. Koontz and his brother must come up with a plan to care for him even though he resists. Dr. Koontz himself is beginning to doubt his professional and personal choices in life. He wonders if a dramatic career and lifestyle change is warranted. Dr. Ed Wallace is Dr. Koontz's friend and mentor. As Dr. Wallace faces imminent retirement, he is faced with this alone. For all his wealth and social connections, Ed Wallace is a solitary widower and one who has developed some very poor coping mechanisms to deal with loneliness. The strand that holds the story together is Elizabeth, now in nursing home care. Vonnie struggles to overcome the influences of her past in order to function in the present. Doctors Koontz and Wallace seek to help her as does her husband Frank. Each individual must come to terms with the problems of aging for themselves and for those in their families. Aging Americans make up such a significant and growing part of our population. The theme of "Assisted Living" is a timely one. It is one that may strike a chord of truth for those readers who find themselves in the role of caretaker for aging relatives.

West Texas Book and Music Festival

September 22-27, 2008

Presented by Friends of the Abilene Public Library & the Abilene Reporter-News

New events, new authors, great music and more at the annual West Texas Book & Music Festival, Sept. 22 through 27 in downtown Abilene. From the opening Poetry Fest to the Gospel Hymnfest on Saturday afternoon, it’s a full week of activities honoring local and area authors and musicians.

Featured authors include: Don B. Graham, author of a new book on Texas movies as well as editor of the acclaimed anthology Lone Star Literature; Elmer Kelton of San Angelo, Joaquin Jackson of Alpine, and Mike Cox of Austin, who have all written books about the Texas Rangers; Kathy Patrick of Jefferson, author and organizer of The Pulpwood Queens reading club featured on Good Morning America; Dixie Cash, the irrepressible West Texas fiction-writing sisters, and Amarillo novelist Jodi Thomas, whose new book Twisted Creek is being touted for community-wide reading programs.

The festival begins on Monday, Sept. 22, with the first West Texas Poetry Fest ‘open mic’ program at noon for local poets to showcase their work. The Brown Bag series begins Tuesday, Sept. 23 at noon with local authors Robert Pace and Steve Butman on Abilene Landmarks and Barbara Rollins, Ginny Greene, Becky Haigler, and Kerin Riley-Bishop talking about their books, Silver Boomers and Freckles to Wrinkles. People are welcome to bring their own lunches to the library auditorium and drinks will be provided, or a light sandwich lunch will be available in limited quantities for $4 a plate.

Tuesday evening, local authors who have published in the last year will be honored at a 6 p.m. reception at the library, 202 Cedar in downtown Abilene. Many of these authors will be featured throughout the week speaking in school classes

Wednesday, Sept. 24, the Brown Bag series continues at noon with Rosanna Herndon telling stories from The Line from Here to There: A Storyteller’s Scottish West Texas. Novelist Carol Walt will discuss her newest books, Aloha, Texas and Assisted Living.

Thursday, Sept 25, featured cookbook authors Tom Perini, Rebecca Rather and Marie Hejl will talk about their books and the menu to be served at that evening’s Texas Cookbook Gala fund-raiser at the Abilene Country Club.

Friday, Sept 26, Austin singer/songwriter Terri Hendrix, accompanied by Lloyd Maines, will play some of her latest works and talk about the creative musical process.

The free Texas Songwriters Concert at the Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, will spotlight Hendrix & Maines, as well as area singer/songwriters Victoria Moore, Amanda Dunn, and Kina Lankford.

Saturday’s program at the Abilene Civic Center will include the Hall of Texas Authors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and panel discussions on self-publishing, Texas Rangers, and Texas Women Authors: Fiction, Fun & Romance.

Dr. Don B. Graham, a distinguished writer and teacher specializing in Texas and Southwest literature, will be the 2008 recipient of the A. C. Greene Award, given each year to a distinguished Texas author for lifetime achievement. The award will be presented at the Boots & Books luncheon on Saturday. Reservations are $25 each or $250 for a table of ten and can be made by sending a check to 130 Lawrence Circle, Abilene 79605. Abilene songwriter Greg Young will perform at the luncheon, and the other featured authors will make brief comments.

The festival will conclude with the West Texas Gospel Hymnfest from 3-4 p.m. The singing will be led by Judge Lee Hamilton and pianist Sharon Leyerle

This is the eighth year for the festival, which began as the West Texas Book and Author Festival and expanded three years ago to include music. It is presented by Friends of the Abilene Public Library and the Abilene Reporter-News and is supported by a number of generous sponsors, including the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Dodge Jones Foundation, the Dian Graves Owen Foundation, the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Community Foundation of Abilene. Over the years the festival has helped raise more than $150,000 for library programs and activities, including some of the funding for the new Mockingbird Branch Library.

For more complete information, see the festival web site at http://www.abilenetx.com/apl . Click on the Boots & Books logo.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin mention

January 13, 2008

Isle Pages

New book releases from Hawaii authors

"Aloha, Texas"

Written by Carol Walt, Xlibris. $19.99
This paperback book is the story of Tessa Marlowe, ex-travel writer and now widow of wealthy Texas rancher Clarke Marlowe. After the death of her husband, Tessa decides to go back to work as a feature writer for a travel magazine. Her first assignment takes her to Kauai.

Here is the link - The Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Aloha, Texas!

Aloha, Texas! Is now available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders and Xlibris!

Announcing Publication of ALOHA, TEXAS!

This contemporary romance takes place on the plains of Texas and the tropical paradise of the Island of Kauai, Hawaii. Tessa O’Dell, a young travel writer, meets and marries rich oil/ranching magnate Clark Marlowe. Their marriage is idyllic for ten years. He dies suddenly, and Tessa’s grief is deep and protracted. Her mother-in-law Jonita, a crusty old Texas ranching lady, along with her ex-boss, editor of a travel magazine, finally persuade Tessa to go back to work for the magazine. Her first assignment is to cover the Pacific Polo Matches on the island of Kauai.

Tessa meets Armand Buteaud, captain of the French polo team and an international “play boy”. He sweeps her off her feet. She also meets Gil Dobson who is staying with his daughter and grandchildren in the resort compound where Tessa is housed. Gil is middle aged and a talented architect and developer who is moving his ecologically oriented business to Hawaii. Over time, Tessa is drawn more and more into her infatuation with Armand who romances her, but she finds she trusts him less and less. Gil shares his love of nature with her and takes her on several adventures on the island: sailing, flying a biplane in the canyons, beach trips with his granddaughters, dancing the night away. Tessa is drawn to him but senses that he and his family have some secret that they are not sharing with her.

A near fatal accident causes Tessa to face her fears...of the water, of the past, and of new relationships. Tessa is finally able to bid “aloha” to her life in Texas.

Currently you can order Aloha, Texas from Xlibris.com or order autographed copies of books directly from me by contacting me at erwalt@bwoodtx.com.

Book reviews for a good cause

I've just started some volunteer work with a very worthy project. It's the Heart of Texas Center for Literature. I'm doing book reviews for "The Lorgnette" the publication for this organization that reviews childrens' books and makes recommendations about them for use by schools and libraries. This is a fun activity, and, best of all, local libraries benefit by getting books and funds for their childrens' programs.

Abilene Reporter News

Mention by Glenn Dromgoole:
Abilene Reporter News, Sunday, June 10, 2007..."Texas Reads"
"Texas Authors Fill Your Summer Reading Lists"
"Carol Walt has written her second book, 'Dreaming in Italian', (PublishAmerica, trade paperback), a lighthearted romance that she says she was inspired to write while on a trip to Italy. In the story, two young women--Dallas schoolteachers and roommates--go to Italy for the summer, and it changes their lives. Walt lives on a ranch in West Texas and her first book was 'West Texas Classified'. For more on her books see carol.walt.blogspot.com"

Upcoming Events

July 6-7, 2007
After a fun time at the North Texas Book Fair in Denton, I'm looking forward to the Dallas International Book Fair sponsored by the Dallas Public Library on July 6 and 7. I'll be signing and selling books, so stop by and chat.

July 17, 2007
The Cross Plains Library will be hosting a fund raiser and "meet the author" evening on July 17. This will be an Italian themed evening showcasing "Dreaming in Italian". An Italian dinner, a drawing for door prizes, and lots of laughs are in store. I'll be talking about my book, and I'll be signing and selling books afterward. This is shaping up to be a really fun evening. I hope all of you who support the Library or who enjoy my books will be there.

Dreaming in Italian is here!

My novel "Dreaming in Italian" is now out. It is set in the Eternal City of Rome, Italy. Andrea "Andy" Carter and her roommate Graciela "Gracie" Castillo are high school teachers in Dallas, Texas. Andy is a reserved, conservative young woman who has never seen herself as special or talented. Gracie is gregarious and glamourous, and she lives to party. Andy's six year relationship with boyfriend Doug is going nowhere. On a whim, the girls sign up for a cultural exchange program that takes them to live in Rome for the summer. There, Andy learns to sing, talk and dream in Italian. Romance finds both young women. Andy also finds that the true home of her heart may not be in Dallas where she was born.
I researched the book while I was in Rome. That city is one of my favorite places in all the world. Perhaps, by reading the book, you'll be inspired to go there, too.
Get the book via Amazon.com or publishamerica.com or, if your local bookstore does not have it in their "trade paperbacks", ask them to order it.