Interview With T. Jensen Lacey
Introduction
T. Jensen Lacey is the author of the Amazing America series, including Amazing North Carolina and Amazing Tennessee. A former newspaper columnist, Lacey has published over 700 magazine & newspaper articles. In addition to writing her series, the author is a journalist and teacher in Fairhope, Alabama.
This third volume of the Amazing America series enumerates fascinating facts, entertaining tales, bizarre happenings, and historical oddities that give the Lone Star State its intriguing and distinctive character.
What can you tell us about the writing of Amazing Texas? What inspired you to add Texas to your Amazing America series?
I love the series I began some years ago, and Texas just seemed a natural for the next in the series. To be more specific, though, Texas as a state has a culture all its own. Visitors from all over the globe are touched by their visit to Texas, and seem to take a bit of the Lone Star State with them. There was so much to write about Texas--so many fascinating stories and historical tales, my problem was when to STOP! Finally, half my growing-up
years were in Texas--I attended Belle Aire Elementary School in San Antonio--so I developed a love for Texas early on.
There are a lot of bizarre things in Texas--but what one especially stands out in your mind as a really unique and bizarre sight?
The lights in Marfa would be one, but my early years were colored with beautiful and fascinating things, like time spent fishing in Galveston and camping in the Big Bend area. I grew up hearing stories of Judge Roy Bean and some of our family, Cynthia Ann Parker and Bonnie Parker (of Bonnie-and-Clyde), so these were starting places for me.
Also, I’d like to stress here that my “Amazing America” series isn’t about merely the bizarre--you’ll find no story of a two-headed cow. My books are what I
like to refer to as “Tourable History”. You can read about where something interesting happened, then go visit the site, since I also tell you what’s there now.
I also like to capture the fascination of a culture--as a state, Texas has a charm like no other.
As you researched Amazing Texas, what was your biggest challenge?
Texas has such a unique history--that, and its SIZE! I was daunted by both! (But, since I WAS half-raised in the Lone-Star State, like every other person from Texas I dealt with it. The Texas Rangers would have been proud).
In talking to Texans and travelers very familiar with Texas, what facts that you uncovered in the writing of this book seemed especially surprising to them?
My editor was surprised by quite a few facts and tales as she read the book, and asked me about them. (Her job was not to question me, but to make sure of facts). Raised in Texas herself, and a bit of a Texas history buff, I think she was surprised to learn quite a few
things she didn’t know before.
A lot of Texans I spoke with were surprised to learn about stories of vast amounts of buried treasure in Texas. Others were surprised by the famous football player who donated an organ to another player so he could live a fuller life.
The stories that touched me personally were of disasters and how Texans coped with them. The Texas City explosion made world headlines, and decades later, the people of Houston helped reunite Hurricane Katrina refugees with their pets.
Amazing Texas sounds like a great armchair travel book for readers who might be watching the gas budget these days. What other readers will especially enjoy this guide?
Anyone who loves trivia would enjoy it, as I have created some little games within chapters, and have thrown in some Q&A for those who love quizzes. Chapters include those on the paranormal, the Civil War, prehistory, flora and fauna (as well as natural phenomena), sports, etc. One of my favorite chapters, though, is on culture--I have recipes indigenous to Texas, such as some great recipes for cooking cactus. My godmother gave me a few authentic recipes, and a friend from San Antonio gave me a great recipe for tamales. I cooked them all while working on the text. What a delicious way to write a book! So I guess you could say that trivia buffs, history lovers, and even cooks would
enjoy it.
Southern Living hailed a previous Amazing America release as a gem. I think Amazing Texas will be a diamond.