Tales with a Texas Twist: Original Stories And Enduring Folklore From The Lone Star State - Paperback

by Donna Ingham (Author), Paul G. Hoffman (Calligrapher)

Storytelling is both an art form and a means of passing on significant elements of a culture--the history, the traditions, the humor, the pathos. It is a way of entertaining and being entertained. With this compilation of Texas--and Texanized--favorite myths and legends, award-winning tale teller Donna Ingham applies her own unmistakable voice to traverse her home state through such stories as:
>"The Coming of the Bluebonnet"--an oft-collected Commanche myth about love and sacrifice and the origin of the Texas state flower
>"The Story Behind the Story"--about two early cattlemen and the basis for an episode in Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove"
>"The Life and Times of Pecos Bill"--a selection of tales about this legendary folk hero
>"Diamond Bill"--about an east Texas rattlesnake who fought in the Civil War
>"Cupid Was a Mama's Boy"--a Texanized classic Greek myth
>And much more!

Back Jacket

Everything is bigger in Texas . . . including the myths and legends. In this engaging folklore collection, award-winning storyteller Donna Ingham introduces you to the larger-than-life characters who help define the Lone Star State. Meet Pecos Bill, who used a rattlesnake as a rope; Mollie Bailey, a circus pioneer and Civil War spy; Bigfoot Wallace, a retired lawman who called his rifle Sweet Lips; and others whose lives are a fascinating mix of fact and fiction. Ingham also recasts myths from other cultures, giving them the Texas twist that only a native could (did you know that Cupid was a mama's boy?), and shares some of the original tales that earned her the title of Biggest Liar in Austin three years running. Complemented by Paul G. Hoffman's inspired illustrations, these stories are sure to entertain readers of all ages.

Author Biography

Donna Ingham leads workshops and training sessions on storytelling and has taught storytelling classes at the University of Texas in Austin. Her repertoire includes original stories and tales based on history, folklore, and outrageous lies. She has five audio recordings and is listed as a Texas Touring Artist by the Texas Commission on the Arts and a Heartland Arts Fund Regional Artist through the Mid-America Arts Alliance. As a humorist and folklorist, she takes the ancient art of storytelling and gives it a Texas twist to entertain audiences of all ages. She lives in Spicewood, Texas, with her husband, Jerry, and has one son, Christopher.