Debra Holt Takes Over the Tule Blog!

Thank you to the wonderful ladies at Tule for the invite to blog. The best place for me to begin is to introduce myself, and explain why I write the books I do. I won’t rehash my official ‘bio’ from the website. I am a Texan. Many people will understand all there is to know by those four simple words. For those who might not, allow me to elaborate.

I was born and raised in this country… sorry, this state. (Texas was a country first, but I digress.) My ancestors fought and died in the Alamo. Another relation led the defeat of Santa Anna and became the first President of the Republic of Texas. When I say I have pride in my heritage and state, that is an understatement. According to some friends, the slogan, ‘Don’t Mess with Texas’ will be on my headstone.

When I chose to write novels, I followed the best advice for any author… write what you know and love. I write about Texans… tough cowboys and feisty heroines. Their backdrop is a land immense in size and encompassing prairies, hills, mountains, lakes and rivers, and a gulf. Their secondary characters are country gentle-folk and chic city movers and shakers… but all Texan to the core.

I have lived in every section of the state from the High Plains to the Rio Grande, Big Bend to the Piney Woods. But as many readers know, if only by looking at the covers of my books or my webpage, I find my heart draws me back to the hills and cold, spring-fed streams and rivers of the Hill Country region. My idea of Heaven is an unending field of brilliant Bluebonnets, sprinkle in a few stately pecan trees, add a dash or two of sprawling vistas of hills and crystal-clear rivers, with a bright, cloudless sky over all of it and I am home. Add a shady porch with a rocker or two or better yet, a porch swing, and I could be happy forever.

Growing up, often after a huge Sunday lunch of the best home-cooking ever… supplied by my grandmother, I would often spend hours seated at the feet of a retired Texas Ranger, listening enthralled to stories of legendary bad guys, famous politicians, heroic cowboys and cases right out of the history books. One day, he asked me, “little honey, what is it you plan to be when you grow up?” I immediately said, “A ranger.” Well, he laughed outright at that one. “Honey, there aren’t any female rangers.” I was crushed. But, am pleased to say, there are indeed a few females in those hallowed ranks today. I can imagine his response to that one. LOL

Cowboys always capture the imagination… and trying to describe the ‘why’ of it would soon become too long-winded. They are good people. They can be depended upon when all others fail. They give their word and it is still good as gold in many places. They stand tall and shoot straight… in word and deed. They work from before sunup to after sundown. They make us all feel ‘protected’. They take care of their loved ones, and their family and the land are always their most treasured possessions. They represent a part of history that is still to be found today. Cowboys will never fade away… they live still on remote vistas, in small country towns, and in the hearts of those who love what they represent.

Until we meet again, I will continue to write about those heroes. I do hope you will give my stories a read and meet some of these contemporary cowboys.

Ya’ll come visit for a spell.
Debra


Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers.  Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most.  She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).

 

3 Comments

  1. Hi Debra, just finished Lawman Apache Moon, loved it and I would love to see your story board for it, especially how you saw Jace and Angie and Jaces Home and back yard/ patio where he bar b qued do you think you could show us Tule girls over at the Tule VIPs site?

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