Tales with a Texas Twist: Original Stories and Enduring Folklore from the Lone Star State - Paperback

by Donna Ingham (Author), Paul G. Hoffman (Illustrator)

With this compilation of Texas--and Texanized--favorite myths and legends, award-winning tale teller Donna Ingham applies her own unmistakable voice to traverse her home state through such stories as:
"The Coming of the Bluebonnet"--an oft-collected Commanche myth about love and sacrifice and the origin of the Texas state flower
"The Story Behind the Story"--about two early cattlemen and the basis for an episode in Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove"
"The Life and Times of Pecos Bill"--a selection of tales about this legendary folk hero
"Diamond Bill"--about an east Texas rattlesnake who fought in the Civil War
"Cupid Was a Mama's Boy"--a Texanized classic Greek myth

Back Jacket

Reading line: A humor-filled collection of Texas-sized tall tales Sit back and prepare to be thoroughly entertained by award-winning writer and speaker Donna Ingham, who has earned the title of "Biggest Liar in Texas" in spirited competitions with other professional storytellers. From truth-stretching yarns about Lone Star State legends to Texanized retellings of age-old myths, Ingham pulls readers in with a voice so distinctive you can nearly hear the friendly Texas drawl pour out of every page. Stories include: -"Old Blue," about rancher Charles Goodnight's longhorn steer that cheated death so many times it seemed nearly indestructible. -"See You Later, Alligator," a tall tale about an oversized trained alligator that swam up the Rio Grande, making stops along the way to entertain onlookers. -"The Lobo-Girl of Devil's River," the tragic story of an orphaned baby rumored to have been raised by a pack of wolves in the wild, remote Texas brush country. These tales are beautifully illustrated by artist Paul Hoffman, whose evocative artwork stirs the imagination and brings to life the characters in each lively chapter. Donna Ingham is an award-winning tale teller and author from Spicewood, Texas. She has written six books about the Lone Star State and performs as a professional storyteller all over the country. She also has the dubious distinction of having been named the Biggest Liar in Austin and the Biggest Liar in Texas. Artist Paul Hoffman trained in painting and printmaking, with his first extensive illustration work on assignment in Egypt, drawing ancient wall reliefs for the University of Chicago. His work graces books of many genres: children's titles, textbooks, short story collections, natural history volumes, and numerous cookbooks. He lives in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Author Biography

Donna Ingham is an award-winning tale teller and author from Spicewood, Texas. She has written six books and produced five CDs and performs as a professional storyteller all over the country. A recipient of the 2007 John Henry Faulk Award selected by the Tejas Storytelling Association and the 2015 National Storytelling Network ORACLE Regional Excellence Award for the South Central Region, she also has the dubious distinction of having been named the Biggest Liar in Austin seven times and the Biggest Liar in Texas three times. She is on the Touring Artists Roster of the Texas Commission on the Arts. For more information, visit www.donnaingham.com.