Stories, comments, observations and opinions by a Texan who is happily retired in Sonoma, California. Once a Texan....always a Texan.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

READERS' BOOKS, SONOMA, SAVING EL CHICO LAUNCH PARTY

It was an exciting evening for Saving El Chico. A standing-room-only crowd
appeared to hear me read from the novel. The first of what I hope will be 
a number of such events around the country.  















Thursday, March 17, 2016

FROM THE NOVEL, SAVING EL CHICO


Rocks tumbled down the mountainside as horse and rider made their way over a dry creek bed. Jake Johnson squinted, pulling down his large, sweat-stained Stetson to avoid the blinding sunlight. Crowds of buzzards circled then feasted on small animals dead from dehydration. There was not a cloud in the sky or a sign of water anywhere on the ranch. The cowboy thought of past times when massive cattle herds grazed here in deep grass. He sighed, turned his horse and galloped across the barren, mesquite-dotted prairie, leaving a cloud of dust.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

GRAYSTONE'S SHIRTS


El Chico's character, Nicholas Graystone, must have to make some serious decisions each morning when he goes to his closet to select the day's wardrobe. Here are some of the possible shirts he could wear. I'm wordering if you agree or have more suggestions.









Monday, March 7, 2016

GRAYSTONE'S BOOTS

I've been having some fun looking at cowboy boots that Graystone might have in his collection.  Maybe you have some ideas or opinions about his wardrobe.

(If you don't know Nicholas Graystone, he's one of Saving El Chico's main characters.)







Sunday, March 6, 2016

Reader Review


"Saving El Chico" reminded me so much of two other books. Neither of which were actually in the so-called novel format but more a kind of journalistic or diaristic style. These two wonderful works were "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle and "Tales Of The City" by Armistead Maupin (which originated as an ongoing tale serialized in the SF Chronicle and later published as a book). For all intents and purposes, Meta has created a tale equal in spirit and literary value to these two small but gigantic books in their own rights. As far as I'm concerned the only thing left to say is... Welcome to the pantheon Ms. Strauss––great job!”


Butch Engle


Sunday, February 28, 2016

Last October's Reading in Sonoma



Archives



Suspense, please hold

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Sonoma Valley Sun 

Jaime Love
Jaime Love overhears a murder plot in the noir classic “Sorry, Wrong Number,” a script originally performed on CBS radio in 1943. (And the basis of the 1948 film with Barbara Stanwick and Burt Lancaster).


A staged reading of what Orson Wells called the greatest single radio script ever written is part of “Fright Night,” a presentation by Sonoma Readers’ Theatre on Tuesday, October 27.
Butch EngleThe evening of haunting tales to set the mood for Halloween includes Butch Engle (at right) performing Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
Additionally, five members of the Sonoma Writers Alliance – Dave Lewis, Robyn Makaruk, Joan Shepherd, Meta Strauss, and Jean Wong – will read their own original works reflecting the Halloween theme. 7 p.m. $15 at the door. Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center. Sonomaartslive.org

Butch Engle will be the voice and personality reading Saving El Chico on the audio version - due to be released in the summer of 2016.


Photos by Owen T. Orsertober 15, 2015 by Sonoma Valley Sun 




Thursday, February 25, 2016

BOOK SIGNING PARTY - MARCH 2 - READERS' BOOKS





YOU ARE INVITED TO A BOOK SIGNING EVENT

SAVING EL CHICO
With Author, Meta Strauss

This entertaining, character-driven debut novel is a marvelous, laugh-out-loud funny yet revealing story of a small present-day Texas town dying from drought. Inspired by real Texans, history and geography, Saving El Chico is a story of the rugged courage, imagination, good humor and inspiration recognized as belonging to Texans since the founding of their beloved state.  

Wednesday, March 2, 2016
7:00 PM
READERS’ BOOKS
130 East Napa Street
Sonoma, California


The author will read from the newly released novel.  Saving El Chico is available for purchase at Readers’ Book Store.