October 25, 2015

Celia Yeary-Welcome to Texas



I am an author and all of my stories, whether historical or contemporary, take place in Texas. Why? Because I am a native Texan and I have ancestors that go back to the Alamo and the war with Mexico to win our independence from that country. So I stick with what I know.

In the early days of Texas settling, the Comanche literally owned half the state. The Spanish had come and gone, leaving their mark, yes, but they never found real success in Texas. Thus, they moved on to California leaving the horse behind, which the Comanche embraced as no other native tribe did. With the Spanish gone, the Comanche dominated and spread over a huge area...just as does any conquering peoples.

When white settlers began to pour into Texas, the Comanche ‘greeted’ them. Other tribes lived here, too, but the Comanche were the Lords of the Plains, and that included half of Texas and much of the Great Plains to the north. Settling soon proved to be extremely arduous and deadly, but instead of running away or moving on, most pioneers stayed, staking their own claim in Comanche territory.

These settlers are my ancestors. I feel a kinship with them, knowing what they endured makes me proud. These same pioneers also fought the Mexicans to take what they saw as rightfully theirs--Texas.

I live in San Marcos which is the county seat of Hays County. Texas Ranger Jack C. Hays was one of the founders of our city by the river. As a very young man, he fought in the revolution against Mexico and was one of the first Texas Rangers. He came and went to some degree, and when the area settled down, he moved to California and made his mark there, too.

How could I not be inspired? Many other authors, not from Texas, use the state for a setting, too. Maybe they don’t feel as deeply as I, but I do believe they understand the power and the mystique of Texas, as well.    

Here are a few lesser known bits of interest about Texas.
*Texas was once called New Philippines, named by a Franciscan missionary who hoped to gain favor from King Philip V. This was in 1719 when the Spanish had colonized the Philippines. The name was used for forty years. 

*The Red River boundary, which forms the state line between Texas and Oklahoma, was not determined legally until the year 2000. 

*In 1836, a young woman in Georgia actually created the Lone Star flag, designed for the Macon Volunteers who were going to Texas to help the "Texians" win their independence from Mexico. 

*In the mid-1800s, an English gentleman, the Earl of Aylesford, moved to Big Spring in West Texas and built himself a castle. He also bought a meat market when he could not get the right cut of steak, he bought a hotel when he could not get a room, and he bought a saloon in order to always have the right amount and the right brand of whiskey on hand. 

*Women have always played a major role in the settling and development of Texas. I would need a two-book volume to write only a portion of their accomplishments. From the first lady governor, to the first wife and mother who made a home in a dugout on a lonely plain, the women of Texas have stood, not behind their men, but beside them.

THE PROS AND CONS OF BEING A WRITER: I'm often asked about my life as a writer, such as: How do you think up all these stories? Did you always write?
No. Sometimes I forget I actually taught biology to teenagers in a private military boarding school in San Marcos, Texas. Teaching means being surrounded by other humans all day, and often in the evening at ball games and plays, and sometimes on the weekends.

Writing is a solitary task.

Of the two, I could not choose one over the other, because both jobs brought unique accomplishments and enriched my life.

Writing fulfills some need I knew nothing about. But with my first contract, I realized this was a form of self-gratification—not particularly a form of public recognition. Oh, yes, I love the attention, but in the end, I’m doing all this for myself.

I've written twelve full-length novels, nine novella length stories in three series, several short stories, and a few articles for a Texas magazine. I feel as though I'm just getting started.

I would love for you to visit my Amazon author page   or my Barnes and Noble On-line author page, and take a look at my books.
This might be your lucky day! Leave a comment and we'll choose a winner to receive a copy of one of my books.

My newest release is set in a North Texas farming community at the close of WWI. It is titled BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

BLURB-Beyond the Blue Mountains.
Guymon Reynolds arrives home to Grove's Point, Texas in February 1919, the end of WWI.  Knowing he's lost his parents and two young brothers to the Spanish flu, he's anxious to see his grandpa at the family farm. But nothing is right upon his arrival. He faces more death and destruction that resembles the battlefields where he fought in France.

Young widow Teresa Logan lives near the depot. She, too, grieves for her husband who died from the flu. Alone on a farm with two baby girls, she struggles with loneliness, back-breaking work, and sometimes, fear. But Teresa is strong and determines to care for her family and her farm alone. 

Guy and Teresa meet and they easily bond, sharing grief and sorrow.
Both dream of a better life in Grove's Point, or perhaps a new beginning beyond the Blue Mountains.
LINK to Beyond the Blue Mountains on Amazon.
http://tinyurl.com/q2psoq6   

The winner of this book may have an ebook gift for the Kindle, or if you live in the US, I will mail a paperback copy to you. Leave a comment and your contact info for your chance to win.

Thank you so much for visiting!
Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

My Website: http://celiayeary.com
Sweethearts of the West Blog: http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com

19 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your little known factoids about Texas--none of which I had known before now.
    I am in the middle of reading Starr Bright, another of your wonderful Texas stories, and I find it is my favorite so far. I thought I had Beyond the Blue Mountains, but I don't yet. I love all your stories and your unique characters.
    All the very best of everything to your corner of the universe, Celia.

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  2. I've been to Texas many times. The amazing thing is the variety of local cultures all within the bigger notion of being Texan. In all honesty, I can't say that I love Texas, but it sure is a place with personality.

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  3. Celia, this cover is my favorite of yours. Best wishes for continued success. I'm eager to read this book!

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  4. Celia, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this bit of Texas history. And I related to your statement about loving both your teaching career and later now your writing career. Both have enriched both of our lives immensely. Don't put my name in your drawing as I have read all of your wonderful books and you already know my all-time favorite but every one is equally good reading and all show your love of all things Texas. Keep writing about those strong Texas women and their heroic Texas men!

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  5. Sarah--I'm always so happy to see your comment. Yes, Texas is filled with factoids, and I've barely scraped the surface. I'm glad you like Starr Bright. It's one of the stories that "wrote itself." You know what I mean. Very easy.
    Your name will be entered in the drawing.
    Thanks!

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  6. I've never been to Texas, but my great-aunt loved San Antonio and spent half of every year there. I've always wanted to go.

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  7. Ken--that's a great compliment, that Texas is a place with personality. And remember, this is a free country and you are not required to love Texas! I thank you so much for reading and commenting.
    Your name will be entered in the drawing.

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  8. Caroline--I love the cover, too, and I'm happy you like it. But I fear it does not draw the eye, or at least something is holding this story back. And I consider the story the second best of all of mine (the first being Crystal Lake Reunion, a contemporary, which has been returned and now sits in my files waiting for its turn to be re-released--which I hate to do.)
    I think the decade is hampering readers...anyone who reads it loves it...but I think the era just after WWI makes many readers just scratch their heads.
    Thanks for commenting. Your name will be entered in the drawing.

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  9. Celia, Your books are a testament to your love for Texas. Also, it's wonderful you're so knowledgeable about your state's history.

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  10. Interesting post, Celia. Best of luck with your writing.

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  11. Hi, Linda--I feel like I've lost you in the crowd--your crowd. You're so busy! You know I always look for your support and comments. And thanks from the bottom of my heart for reading all my books--that's a lot of reading.
    Yes, you and I do have so many similar experience, one being going from teaching to becoming an author. Both are fun and exciting and worthwhile.
    Thank you so much.

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  12. Jaden--you could come to Texas if you want. Just about everyone would say Howdy. But..I should say we so many newcomers, they have not learned the proper way to say this yet!
    Thank you for visiting. Your name will be entered in the drawing.

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  13. Thank you, Morgan. You know what they say--write what you know.
    Your name will be entered in the drawing.

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  14. Thanks for stopping by, John.

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  15. Celia, it was fun learning more about your Texas roots. No wonder you feel so deeply about this great state. I'm not a native although my dad was, and I've live in the Lone Star State for 30 years. Guess you could call me an adopted native.

    Beyond the Blue Mountains sounds really good. Love the title!

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  16. Great post Celia. Loved your facts about TexasGreat post Celia. Loved your facts about Texas.

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  17. Thanks for stopping by, Susan. I appreciate the comment. Your name will be entered in the drawing.

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  18. I moved to San Antonio in 2010 when I had just started THE HELIOS RAIN. San Antonio boasts easy traffic patterns with an inner and outer loop main highway system. Even though they were wide circles I needed to get details for my book which takes place in San Antonio. I would park in the breakdown lanes and write my chapter describing the particular environmental attributes. One day, writing Chapter 43, a Deputy Sheriff came tapping at my car window and asked me, "Are you all write sir?" and seeing me at my computer asked further, "What are you doing, sir?"
    "Writing a chapter in my book officer," I replied.
    "This is the breakdown lane, sir. You're going to have to move your car...now." His tone was assertive.
    "Officer, may I please finish my thought?" I ran my fingers over my keyboard.
    "Finish, my thought," he replied with the "sir" gone. "If you're not outta here in one minute, I'll write something in the form of a citation for you."
    I wanted to ask him to show me the law that says an author can't write a chapter of his book in a Texas breakdown lane, but he took out his ticket book and I complied.
    Other than that, I've had no adverse events in San Antonio. I love it with it's diverse personalities and fertile writer venue. I'm a co-host of the San Antonio writer's meetup where we write 2 short stories a month and I meet segments of our large (over 800) membership. I'm a retired physician and love turning my life's experiences into novels.
    THE HELIOS RAIN began as an idea I had during the Iraq War when I had to learn about treating a chemical agent that Saddam Hussein had. That fact plus a 2012 statement by the Iran president that Iran would never use nuclear weapons—it wanted to destroy people, not structures—provided my story line of the next 9/11 being a chemical attack.

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  19. http://sbpra.com/peterglassman/October 22, 2017

    THE HELIOS RAIN is offered FREE October 27 and October 28. http://sbpra.com/peterglassman/

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