  TEXAS IN HER OWN WORDS (Second Edition) by Tweed Scott Genre: Texas / General Interest Publisher: Tejas Publishing Date of Publication: June 16, 2016 Number of Pages: 336 Texas in Her Own Words is a peek into the Texas psyche. It explains why Texans are the way they are . . . where all that attitude comes from. This work is the result of a statewide search for what author Tweed Scott calls the “T-Chromosome.” Texans are different but why? Scott went statewide to find the answers to three basic questions. 1) What makes Texas special? 2) Why is this place so different than anywhere else on the planet? 3) If and when it applied, what does it mean to you personally to BE a native Texan? Scott shares some remarkable answers with you throughout the book. In the end, he learned that all Texans share four traits or attributes. When you finish this book, you will understand why Texans are the way they are. IF you are a native Texan, chances are you will find some of yourself between the covers of this book. It’s a fun read. CLICK TO PURCHASE Amazon * Texas Trading Post * Tejas Publishing Author InterviewHow has being a Texan influenced your writing? That is an interesting question. I can’t say I have ever really thought about it until now. Texas has had an unmistakable influence on my writing. I spent most of my adult life in several locations throughout Texas. The thing that has influenced me the most is the people. It is the spirit of the people that I was immediately attracted to. If you really want to get something done, just tell a Texan it can’t be done and then just get the heck out of the way. Some action WILL be taken. Granted, it may not be particularly well thought out at the moment (particularly if there’s alcohol involved) but some action is about to take place. These are people of action. They are problem solvers and are HOW thinkers and not IF thinkers—“If” never enters into the equation. It is that can do attitude that has influenced me and my writing. I like to portray that in my writing. Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? I got introduced to Texas through no choice of my own, I joined the US Navy to see the world. Before I knew it I was stationed at VT-22 at NAAS Kingsville. I began to assimilate almost immediately because I knew I was going to be there at least three years so I might as well make the most of it. As I learned more about Texas, the more taken and enthralled I became with every aspect of this great state. When I began writing professionally, I found myself working for a Texas country life style magazine (CountryLine Magazine in Austin) writing about Texas. I loved every assignment and felt like I found my niche and have pretty much stayed there. I love writing about Texas. Where did your love of books, reading, and writing come from? I have always loved books and reading. My mom taught me a great respect for books. I think I read every biography in the Children’s Library growing up. I have always possessed a vivid imagination and sense of humor. Both have served me well. I chose radio for my first career and it was a great vent for my humor. Over the course of those 30 years I also developed a real kinship with writing. So when I retired from the broadcast industry, writing appeared to be the next out let for my creativity and humor. What cultural value do you see in writing/reading/storytelling? I believe it is through the collecting and relating of these stories conveys an insight to a period of time or era. I learned back when my stepfather passed on about the dwindling numbers of WWII Veterans, of which he was one. It was in 2004. At that time, America was losing WWII veterans at a rate of some 1,300 a day. Today it is closer to 500 or so a day. We are on the backside of the curve. There are fewer of those folks every day. Just think of all those stories that are gone forever. Once they are gone, those stories will be lost. I know because my father shared some of his stories with me. Each of these veterans had his or her own personal perspective and feel he need to share them for posterity if nothing else. These were experiences lived by real, living, breathing individuals and should be shared. How does your book relate to your spiritual practice or another life path? I’m not sure I would think of this book in a spiritual way other than to say it was somewhat of a spiritual journey—the process of learning what I was supposed learn. I simply wanted to share my curiosity and passion for Texas. It really was never any more complicated than that for me. What do you think most characterizes your writing? I think I like to write to discover new things and share what I have learned with others. I think of writing as a form of sharing. What did you enjoy most about writing your book? This is an easy question to answer. As much enjoyment that my readers might derive from reading this work, I can assure you no one can touch the enjoyment and joy I got from sitting down across a table or park bench and talking with these people. I got to peer into their eyes and got to see a glimpse of their soul while they explained what Texas, personally, meant to them. I actually had two men well up with tears telling me what Texas meant to them. At times, the work was quite emotional. It meant a great to me that people would unselfishly open up their minds, hearts & souls to me. For that, I could never repay them enough. I certainly saw the human side of Texas. What projects are you working on at the present? I am working on three separate writing projects. In no particular order another Texas book: Texas 50 Over 50. It is about 50 Texas homegrown companies that are least 50 years old. These old line companies have some great stories to share. I have toyed with the idea of writing about The Texas Bucket List…What’s on yours. I contend chances are you’d never complete that list. Finally, I am working on my radio memoir. “Dispatches from the Radio Wars.” It is a recounting of my 31 years in the broadcast industry. About The Author Tweed Scott is a laugh-out-loud funny motivational speaker and corporate entertainer. He retired from broadcasting after 31 years. His broadcasting accomplishments include operating the highest rated FM station in America and later the 5th highest rated AM station in America. Tweed is an award winning speaker and the author of the three-time national award-winning book, Texas in Her Own Words. His book is sold at the Alamo, the state capitol gifts shops in Austin, the San Jacinto Museum & Battleground, and the Sam Houston Statue & Visitor’s Center in Huntsville. He is the past president of the board for the Writers’ League of Texas serving some 1,300 members. Tweed now writes for several magazines and has built his own writing and speaking company, Tejas Publishing, LLC. He is a graduate of Lamar University and a US Navy veteran. He continues to write and spread what he calls, “The Gospel of Texas.” FACEBOOK TWITTER WEBSITE ENTER TO WIN ONE OF THREE SIGNED COPIES! |
