Elmer Kelton Tells the Truth
His Best Talks on the Old West, Cowboys and Writing
4 CDs: 4 hours 10 minutes total
ISBN 9781880717-509
Price: $49.95
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OR
2 Cassettes: 3 hours total
ISBN 9781880717-417
Price: $17.95
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Whatever Elmer Kelton says is worth listening to. Here are five of this famous author’s best speeches, recorded live. Known for his award-winning fiction, Kelton, who in 1995 was named the greatest Western author of all time by Western Writers of America, was highly sought after as a keynote speaker until his death in 2009. His vast knowledge of and passion for the subjects he used as backdrops for his novels is evident in these finely-crafted, humorous talks:
- Fact, Fiction & Folklore
- A Study of Cowboys
- Politically Correct
- A Texas Author’s View of the Old West
- Writing the Western Novel
This title was a finalist in AudioWorld’s 2004 Golden Headsets Awards for Best Self-Help/Inspirational Audio.
Reviews
The Texan drawls out plain-spoken, humorous remarks on fiction, contemporary mores and the history of the Southwest. A pleasant and informative listen. ~ AudioFile Magazine
The Best of Texas Folklore
Volumes 1 & 2
6 CDs: 6 hours 5 minutes total
ISBN 9781880717-493
Price: $69.95
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Hear the funny, inspirational papers that were spoken at annual meetings of the legendary Texas Folklore Society (TFS). These collections put the listener in the audience to hear Society members talking up a Texas tempest on the state’s wide-ranging folk and lore. The East Texas String Ensemble entertains between speakers. Volume 1 is introduced by singer/songwriter Michael Martin Murphey. Volume 2 is introduced by a TFS member and a legend himself, Elmer Kelton, who in 1995 was named the greatest Western author of all time by Western Writers of America.
Reviews
The members of the Texas Folklore Society believe that everybody has a tale to tell and every tale is as big as Texas. Some of the best are in this collection. ~ AudioFile Magazine
To paraphrase the old advertising slogan for Levy’s rye bread, you don’t have to be Texan to enjoy this. . . . This is nostalgic, often funny, frequently poignant material. . . . The listener is in the audience, hearing the various speakers. While some are better and more interesting than others, all have something to contribute. Among the various topics are medicine and spice salesmen, burial customs, grandparenting, babies, the uses of cow chips (known as grass-olene), peddlers and windmills that "steal air." The East Texas String Ensemble entertains between speakers. . . . For relaxing listening. ~ Kliatt Magazine
Writing the Western Novel
1 Cassette: 70 minutes
ISBN 9781880717-240
Price: $12.95
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Sink into his easy Texas drawl as the son of a Texas cowboy and a six-time Spur-award winner covers literary prejudice against Westerns. He suggests ways to find a fresh slant and create unusual characters and reviews trail drive novels.
Fiction Writers Are Liars and Thieves
1 Cassette: 45 minutes
ISBN 0-87565-148-8
Price: $12.95
Publisher: Texas Christian University Press
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Envelop yourself in his west Texas voice as legendary author Elmer Kelton talks about his work and reads from his award-winning books, including The Day the Cowboys Quit, The Time It Never Rained, The Good Old Boys and Manhunters.
Here is Kelton’s opening confession: "Someone has said that fiction by definition is a lie. By extension this means that fiction writers are liars. In that context, I will admit to it, and go a step further. I will say that fiction writers are liars and thieves." Kelton, who for over 40 years was an agricultural journalist, discusses the relationship between his two careers and the way in which his journalistic writing served as a source for his novels. To illustrate, he contrasts historical incidents with actual passages from his novels.
The Best of Texas Folklore 1999
ISBN 9781880717-400
Price: $17.95
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Winner of the Violet Crown Nonfiction Audiobook Award from the Writers’ League of Texas
Here are ten of the wise and witty papers presented at the 90th annual meeting of the legendary Texas Folklore Society. Special tribute to teacher, writer, and Pecos cowboy Paul Patterson by Elmer Kelton and two others. Hear spoken word performances on peddlers, early radio DJs, cow chips, funeral homes, crazy women in the rafters, and much more.
The Best of Texas Folklore Volume 2
2 Cassettes: 3 hours 5 minutes total
ISBN 9781880717-455
Price: $17.95
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MORE spoken word performances by 13 Texas Folklore Society members. Subjects include fly control, horny toads, Texas kitsch, bread lore, travel lore, uppity women, Jesse James and much more.
Texas Writers on Writing
Making a Living by the Written Word
1 cassette: 90 minutes
ISBN 9781880717-233
Price: $12.95
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In his heyday, historian A.C. GREENE, author of 900 Miles on the Butterfield Trail and A Personal Country, was known as the Dean of Texas Letters. In this audio memoir, he admits to wearing out dictionaries by using them so much, and offers insight, advice and good humor on making it over the long haul as a writer.
You Meet Such Interesting People
ISBN 9781880717-257
1 cassette: 90 minutes
Price: $12.95
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In this audio memoir of the first 102 years of her life (she lived to age 107), Bess recalls going to college “on a pair of mules” and remembers Clark Gable, Lyndon Johnson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Her determination, courage and hard work, plus caring family and friends, propelled Bess past enormous obstacles, including poverty and a hearing impairment. She became a pioneering Texas newswoman, taught journalism, wrote screenplays and ran an ad agency. She is a member of the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
Two scholarships are awarded in her name annually, one to an upper-level journalism major and another for writers age 40 and older. See bwsfund.org for more scholarship information.