Texas Books

In Colorado we have the PLACE Exam for Principal licensing. However there are no official study guides for the test. I purchased this book after failing the PLACE and found that the TExES Domains are almost identical to the PLACE. Dr. Wilmore also gave great test taking strategies that were extremely helpful. I used these strategies on the provided practice test, and two PLACE Practice test (one for Principal and one for Superintendent) and scored a passing grade. Then I applied them to the actual PLACE Exam and passed!

Dr. Wilmore's Book Passing the Principal TExES Exam is a great help to the students working towards their Principal (mid-management) certification. The text is built around the Domains and Competencies set by SBEC and will guide you to achieve your personal best score!

This book was very helpful in preparation for principal certification.
I highly recommend this book.

Down to earth and very practical. A real eye openner for all students preparing for the Principal's test.

The information was valuable, but the practice test was way too easy. The real test is much harder.

My uncle has done painstaking research into our families background to flesh out our notorious relative's past while filling in all the blanks which were left by earlier tales from O.C. Fisher, our cousin.
Not a fan of westerns, this story has mystery, romance and a large dose of history interwoven together. This book should be on the Texas Education Boards required reading for Texas History courses.
I highly recommend this story to any and all who enjoy westerns.
Kay Fisher Vaul, niece of E Lee Fisher, cousin of King Fisher.

       King Fisher was an endearing character. The author developed his personality from childhood in a believable way and it is obvious he liked him. This book was very well written, kept my interest. and I liked the matter of fact, non-judgmental style. I found it quite interesting that my grandfather was stationed in the Rio Grande area during World War I, not that many years after King Fisher rode those trails. It was believed that the Germans had given funds to Mexican vigilantes to cross the Rio Grande and cause problems to keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe. Ah, if only King Fisher had been alive they wouldn't have needed thousands of U.S. Troops to settle the unrest! I hope this author writes another book as he is a gifted writer.

Pendencia Creek is like watching a favorite old western. Its main protagonist has all the requisite bravery and coolness beftting "the handsome hero". Based on a true story, this historical novel moves along effortlessly, as it chronicles the life and times of King Fisher and the growth of mid-19th century Texas. The hardships and complexities of life on the Texas frontier come vividly alive in this studiously detailed account.

This is the life story of a late 19th century gunfighter and cattleman named King Fisher. The author has thoroughly researched the history of Southwest Texas, and the growth of the towns, railroads, and local governments.
Many of the names which show up in this novel will be familiar to readers. Bat Masterson, John Wesley Hardin, and and Wild Bill Hickok to name a few. The unsung heros of the early Texas Rangers feature heavily in the story.
This book can be read for the rich detail about the lives of the cattle ranchers, saloon keepers, lawman and outlaws. The account of a cattle drive from Goliad to Abilene seems so real you can feel the dust in your face.
History buffs who enjoy a good story and would like to enrich their knowledge of 19th century Texas will find this to be a good read.

E. Lee Fisher has created an absolutely fabulous piece of work in his novel, Pendencia Creek: The Life and Times of a Texas Gunfighter. You'll get so wrapped up in the story of John King Fisher that you'll easily forget this is the author's first attempt at writing. And let me say, you'll question that thought over and over as you anxiously continue to turn the pages of this exceedingly well written book. You will go from feeling sorry for the titled character as a young boy, to cheering him on as he establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the wild and untamed Texas frontier. No matter what John King Fisher may, or may not, have done in his life...you will soon put aside the fact that history considers him to have been a gunfighter and, I dare say, an outlaw. In the process you will see a very likable young man whose future was quite possibly determined by circumstances and luck of the draw, rather than an inherent need to do the wrong thing. And nestled comfortably amidst all this action and adventure, the author melds a little romance into the story...and he does it quite nicely, too. John King Fisher's unwavering love for Sarah is but one factor that will endear him to the reader. In this reviewer's opinion, E. Lee Fisher has created a wonderful story filled with action, adventure and even romance, as he paints a very realistic picture of what life was like in the early days of Texas, and even our country. There is no doubt in my mind that many years from now, Mr. Fisher's book will be immortalized and at the top of every students reading list for both American History and American Literature.

This is a great book for anyone who loves to ride PWCs and a must-have for anyone new to the sport. The detailed information on specific locations tells what to expect there, as well as hotel and campsight names and phone numbers. I found the chapters on Equipment and Planning and Preparation especially helpful in evaluating how ready we are for a trip. The whole book is packed with useful information. We refer to it often.

This is a great book, I just got done reading it just before the season starts and water gets warm. I found this book very informative and it gave me many NEW ideas for places to go this summer. Intra-Coastal Waterway and Caddo are places that I had never heard of riding and after reading this book I know how to get there, were the best place to load and unload, were to eat, were to get gas and what to expect. It also gives the Texas Water Safty Act which is also very helpful so this year I won't get a $150 ticket. I would suggest this book to anybody that has PWC's or is planning to buy one.

Today I read your book ont he plane while returning from Portland, Oregon. I cannot tell you how long it has been since I read something so pleasurable as your book. I found your advice so valuable. You grought up things that i haven't even begun to think of. What a great resource. My greatest challenge is deciding which trip to do first! Thank for all the research, time and effort you must of put into this fine book.

Patrick Fitzgerald Genreal Sales Manager Federal Signal Corporation

Thom wrote this book in a language everyone can understand. He includes everything you would want to know about each location he covers. Very user friendly.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about the safe use and enjoyment of personal watercraft. It is especially handy for Texas watercraft enthusiasts because it contains so much useful information on places to go in the state and what to expect when you get there. The author also does an excellent job in the areas of preparation and planning, equipment, maintenance, and rules and regulations.

I bought the book three weeks ago and have already been on three of the author's recommended adventures. They were terrific! This book will add a whole new dimension to your personal watercraft experience.

I hope that Thom Bell will follow this guidebook with another one full of even more fun trips and adventures!

Pitching Tents. By Gail Mount. Huntsville: Texas Review Press, 2005. Winner of the 2004 George Garrett Fiction Prize: Novel

Where is Aaron Spelling when you need him? This rollicking novel needs a sitcom venue. Gail Mount, a Fort Worth native, Rice graduate, UT teaching fellow, and experienced short story writer and playwright, tosses sedate novel-writing aside, and gives us Ezekiel and Vida, two seniors with a love of life and devil-may-care schemes.

To the small town of Burro, Texas, Vida returns and immediately Ezekiel falls in love with her a second time. Mount's fast-paced plot and the characters fast-paced plotting make the story fast reading, delightful reading. Ezekiel is a painterly artist who even derives an income there from; Vida is a burning individualist, now 80-years-old. The town's citizens have long categorized both as trouble makers. They start off caring for Mad Betty's dead, naked body, he prepares an art show, she organizes a school for rebels, he deals with his mother, she deals with philosophy, and they touch each other gently. It is one rollicking scene after another. They wander apart and re-unite.

Finally, after a year or so, they decide to really get wild. They marry and drive off into the sunset. If the concept of two creative oldsters making love and being in love with raucous language and civilly unacceptable behavior offends you, die young or sad. This couple does neither.

Gail Mount clearly and consistently portrays an elderly man and woman who do what they want to do without violating the right of others to do what they want to do. Against community standards in central Texas, the man is much younger than the woman; they ardently make love (in their own way); and they want no place to call home. Nevertheless, they contribute to the social good, wherever they pitch their tent, through their artistic talents and human decency. They are more than aged hippies; they are exemplars of Mill's "Essay on Liberty."

I recently read and was thoroughly captivated by a fast moving and enjoyable story by Gail Mount, called PITCHING TENTS. It's about two hippies who become reacquainted and fall in love in their later years in small town Texas. Mr. Mount weaves a wonderful portrait of the two main characters, Vida Singer and Wayman (don't call me Ezekiel) Scott describing with clarity and humor how they meet life's continuing challenges, including getting to know each other, while maintaining their integrity. Each additional character introduced in this story is quite memorable. Some are likeable and some not very likeable, but all very real. The story has a nice ending. I was unable to put the book down until I had finished it. A second reading a few days later was just as rewarding as the first.

Joseph Erwin

I found Pitching Tents by Gail Mount to be very entertaining and easy to read. Having lived my whole life in Texas, I related to the surroundings and the people. The main characters show a lot of the 1960's spirit. They are very humorous and really seem real. When you think about the book, the people become real and the morals become real.

I picked this book up on a Sunday evening and did not put it down until I was done. It was a page-turner. My husband had to leave our bedroom and seek silence elsewhere because of my laughter. By page 40, I had been laughing so much I was crying and my diaphragm ached. It was a real joy to read. Write more Gail Mount. Write more.

This book provides an excellent overview of the evolution of human knowledge about the Solar System from the first observations in recorded history to the latter 1990s. Its emphasis is on communicating a basic understanding of planetary astronomy rather than focusing on scientific details. This makes the book an outstanding introduction to a complex and fascinating subject. The general public rather than astronomers and space scientists are the primary audience for this work, but conceivably specialists in the field could read this book with profit. Jurgen Rahe, NASA's late director of Solar System exploration, sponsored this work as a formal effort to provide general readers with a reliable, well-written overview of planetary astronomy. He succeeded in that objective as author Ron Schorn has published a fine entree to comprehending the breadth of the subject.

Of course, planetary astronomy is generally categorized as consisting of the outer planets and inner planets of the Solar System. Schorn begins with a discussion of the nighttime sky and what one may view there. While he discusses the possibilities for origins of the universe, and the galaxies on view every night, his focus is on what planets one might view with the naked eye, relatively simple telescopes, and then more complex instruments. At that point he journeys back in time to the earliest observations by the ancients and how they constructed their understanding of the universe based on astronomical observations. He then quickly moves forward to the twentieth century when understandings of planetary astronomy changed rapidly in response to ground and airborne observatories and especially space probes sent to the various planets of the Solar System.

Schorn discusses at some length the many spacecraft that have been sent to the inner planets by the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as European and Japanese consortia, traveling to Mercury, Venus, and particularly Mars. This book explains well the story of such missions as the Mariner series that journeyed to these planets, the two Viking spacecraft that landed on Mars in 1976, and plans for future explorations of the red planet. Some spacecraft have been sent, but far fewer, to the outer planets. Visits to the gas giants of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and the small distant rock known as Pluto have been largely the province of the United States' efforts. NASA, for example, sent Pioneer 10 and 11 on a "windshield" tour of Jupiter and Saturn in the 1970s; following soon thereafter with Voyagers 1 and 2 that flew past the gas giants beginning in the latter 1970s through the 1980s. This activity, Schorn asserts, represents a golden age for Solar System exploration.

Schorn is at his best in discussing the decline of planetary astronomy in the early twentieth century--as astronomers led by Edwin Hubble focused their attention on galaxies beyond the Milky Way rather than on the Solar System--and its recovery in the 1960s as NASA reenergized planetary exploration with the first probes to Venus and Mars. This reemphasis on planetary astronomy was actually quite practical. The recently created NASA held a mandate to undertake exploration of the cosmos with both human and robotic spacecraft. Since the technical capability for planetary exploration existed, NASA's scientists focused their attention there. Even more important, according to Schorn, these scientists also emphasized lunar exploration as an adjunct of NASA's Apollo program to humans on the Moon. These efforts revitalized scientific study of the Solar System and yielded an enormous harvest of understanding about our immediate corner of the universe.

Easy to read and dased on a wealth of sources, both oral and written, "Planetary Astronomy" is a wonderful introduction to an enthralling subject. Enjoy!

This is a fascinating history of the field of planetary astronomy written by an insider. Dr. Schorn was once head of planetary astronomy for Nasa. As such, he's known most of major figures of the field from the last half of the 20th century. What distinguishes this book is it's very literary style. Dr. Schorn not only knows the field, he writes of it in an engrossing style that the layman can understand. If you have any curiousity about how study of the planets has grown, then languished for decades, only to re-emerge during the space age, then this book is for you.

This book is a good read for anyone who has a limited knowledge of astronomy, especially from a historical perspective. I would have rated it five stars, however I would have like to have seen a little more discussion about celestial mechanics (the movement, alignment, and rotation of the planets) along with illustrations. I found it somewhat cumbersome to intereperet some of the early models of the universe without charts or other illustrations. Overall though a very well written book.

This book is a must as a historical reference. It offers a fresh insightful look at Planetary astronomy as it happened. Schorn has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat at the turning points of discovery (i.e. Newton... sunlight through a prism... but spectroscopy wasn't to be discovered for another 2 centuries...), minutes, purpose and impact of the US/USSR space race...

This book is surprisingly well written and very engrossing. The author never gets ahead of himself--each new nugget of knowledge about the heavens above is evaluated using the science of the day, not with a modern bias. Consequently, you never feel that ancient astronomers were somehow stupid for missing things that are so "obvious" to us, such as the heliocentric model of the solar system or the nature of comets. The very first chapter is an especially good gem--it puts you in the shoes of someone two thousand years ago and asks "what could you logically deduce from looking at the heavens above?" Utterly captivating and a must-read.

This book is a great new twist on the Horatio Alger stories of decades past, but much, much more satisfying. The difference here is that the author creates characters of incredible depth, making even the bad guys interesting. I still cannot believe this is his first book.

This cannot be a first novel. Already waiting for the next one, and the movie! This is what I call "A GOOD READ" from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to our Library patrons.

This story line is captivating and Mr. Clidienst obviously knows the industry which serves as the backdrop to his book. It was refreshing to read a book with an original plot and excellent character development. Fantastic book!!

Would the next John Grisham please come forward...Introducing George Clidienst! The Protege marvels with twists and turns that rival no other. The reader is gripped as they follow our fellow Protege through an intense path of corporate corruption, a racey relationship, and the struggle for more, more, more. The Protege is a must read for those who love suspense in the combination of greed, wealth, and power.

This is one that I could not put down. Just when I thought I knew what direction it was going in, I was taken by surprise. Remarkable ending and very unpredictable... I can't wait to read Mr.Clidienst's next novel. GREAT WORK!

I have read and enjoyed all three books in this trilogy about a family, through two generations,from Tennessee who make their way to Texas in the early 1800's. It is well researched with accurate historical facts mingled with the storyline. It is well written and caused me to stay up past my bedtime more than once! I only wish this was an ongoing series.

The Raiders: Sons of Texas (Sons of Texas Series)

This was a great series. I picked up the first book in the series by mistake thinking if another author. Was very glad that I did. I ordered the rest of the series from Amazon, along with several other books by Elmer Kelton. I have not had time to read the other books that I purchased but expect they will be everybit as good as this series was. I would recommend these books for anybody that likes stories about pioneer life.

I really like following the familys. I can't wait for the third in the series.

Another Kelton masterpiece. It fleshes out the early settlers of Texas and fills in the history.

In book two of the Lewis family trilogy, THE RAIDERS: SONS OF TEXAS, veteran author Elmer Kelton delivers a finely wrought western set in the early days of Mexican-ruled Texas. To keep their land in Stephan Austin's colony, Michael and Andrew Lewis battle the elements and raiding hostiles. Michael's frequent wanderlust causes hardships for his wife, Marie, and small son. Andrew works Michael's land in his brother's absence, but Andrew's apparent fondness for his sister-in-law drives a wedge between the brothers. Their lives are endangered by the appearance of old enemies, the Blackwood brothers.

In an effort to ease tensions Marie suggests that Andrew should leave for a while and use the time away to hunt for a wife. While on his journey, Andrew visits Stephan Austin who sends him to Nacogdoches to ascertain if rumors of a revolt are true. Andrew meets a lovely young woman named Petra, but he is very confused about his feelings for Marie. During his travels Andrew makes a sworn enemy, Tolliver Beard.

Elmer Kelton's skillful narration exposes the resilience of love intertwined with gutsy determination. This second volume is rich in detail and strong characterization. I'm certain that the third book in the Lewis trilogy will be excellent reading.

I read this on a Plane and it made the trip go by quickly. Could not put it down. David Robbins has done a great job once again.

The town of Nowhere is in No Man's Land, an area yet to be given a name or statehood. A place where the only law is that dealt out by a one-handed Marshal, which aint alot.
A small town struggling to survive. Then Black Jack and his outlaws decide to make Nowhere home.

At first it works well, the uneasy peace between outlaws, citizens and the cowboys who work in the surrounding area. Eventually the peace becomes unease and then the violence erupts.

David Robbins provides us with a top notch tale here, tough, gritty and at times brutal. A story that dosen't contain a central character, rather revolves around the actions of many, both law abiding and not. Characters that'll have you urging them on, sharing their happiness and sorrows, or just plain despising them.
The events of the story weave together to build strongly to the final violent confrontation.

This book grabbed me from the opening sequence and from then on just begs not to be put down until you've finished it.

Very highly recommended, buy it now!

NOWHERE, TX - A Ralph Compton novel by David Robbins Genre: Western

This was a great book, one of the best stand alone Westerns (i.e. not a series) I've read IMHO. The way it was written was very effective and original, in fact I can't remember a book being written this way before. You had to judge people in the book by their actions, reactions or what they said or didn't say, You never got to know what the character's were thinking as no thought processes were detailed in the narrative i.e. there was never anything like "he thought", "she wondered" etc. It reminded me of watching a movie in some regards where you had to judge a character by what they did or said as you couldn't know what was in their minds.

The basic story revolves around the town of Nowhere which is on the cusp of the states Texas and Oklahoma but belongs to neither so it is in effect in "No Man's Land" and totally lawless as no state statutes apply there, A gang led by Black Jack Shelton take over the town gradually without the citizens noticing as the profit by the money the Outlaws are spending in the business, before they know it the town in a wild and lawless place. The story builds to a brutal and bloody outcome but I won't detail the whole story here as I don't want to ruin in for other readers. The whole pace of the book is very quick and I couldn't put the book down once I started it. The violence at times in the book is shocking as it comes totally out of the blue most of the time as you don't know what the character is thinking about before they trigger the violence, Billy Braden is a good example of this when he kills two innocent traveller's at the start of the book. What I also found interesting is that there isn't really a central hero figure in this book and this made it more life-like to me as there wasn't one good guy putting everything to right at the end of the tale.

This is a must read Western IMHO, fantastic.

This is a must read for David Robbins fans and everyone else. I sat down to read a couple of chapters and ended up reading the whole book because I could not put it down. It had some unexpected events that literally take your breath away. Wonderfully crafted, don't miss it!

David Robbins does a picture perfect job of recreating the old West and Terry Evans does a great job of giving it voice from the outlaws, cutthroats, and thieves to the outraged townspeople to our hero.

Nowhere, TX is precisely that - nowhere, a tiny town perched on the border between Texas and the Oklahoma Territory. Nowhere is also a way station for all running from the law and for those who simply want to make trouble.

Obviously, life isn't easy for any law abiding citizen when they're overrun by desperadoes who think there's no law they can't break and set out to prove it. But, enough is enough, the town folk want the killers and thieves out of their town.

The tale of how this is accomplished is a breakneck listen from start to finish.

- Gail Cooke

HA! big blond creep? - a jerk? ------- and Samantha [not a good girl]is excused for her part in the misunderstandings?
Someone didn't read the same book I did --
RANSOM MY HEART by Gayle Wilson!
And who the devil is Jim Wilson - at least get the author right, you guys! Gayle Wilson as is on the book!
Please get this book listed under Gayle Wilson's book list.

The two McCuller brothers are very close. An then Mac is killed.
Chase is convinced that Rio Delgado is responsible. I guess that is known as "Kill the messenger." It turns out that Rio is his half-brother.
Chase is a man of honor, at least he tries to be until Samantha seduces him. Her father has demanded that Chase stay away from her.
Chase has been in love with Samantha since she was 17 but he is older than her. At 21 she seduces Chase and then they sure get their wires crossed, as he deals with Mac's death and his determination to put Rio in jail.

Now Samantha knows she is pregnant but refuses to inform Chase - yup, bull-headed and stubborn just like her daddy. He still has no use for Chase. So many little things lead to their estrangement.

Ah, but Sam Kincaid wants the best man for the job, when his granddaughter is kidnapped. Lucky for Samantha that it turns out to be Chase. He would do anything for her.

Now to deliver the ransom money, which takes Chase and Samantha on practically a wild goose chase. They get ambushed and suddenly Samantha finds out that Chase still wants her and maybe she had gotten things all wrong about him. Yup! just like all women who operate on their emotions.

It turns out that Samantha and Chase dealing with a true Mexican gentleman as a kidnapper. But then who wants to kill them??

Finally these two learn to follow their hearts and make a family. Chase is still willing to give Sam what he wants. A grandson!

"HOME TO TEXAS" series is starting out with a bang and I hope it just keeps getting better. This is definitely a keeper!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- Even though Samantha is a twit.
Now onto Rio's story - "Whisper My Love" - 5 years in prison, UGH!

We have read almost all of the Harlequin books, and this one interested us the most!!! We thought that Samantha should have told Chase in the beging about Amanda being his daughter.We can understand why Samantha loves him, but why did he have to be such a Jerk to her?! Ugghhh!

"Ransom My Heart" is a great book, except for one BIG problem: the hero is a complete jerk. In the prologue that sets up the story, he has sex with the heroine, then casts her to the side for reasons that really don't hold any water for anyone with a brain. We move ahead five years, where the man, Chase McCullar, is hired to find the kidnapped daughter of his one-time love, Samantha Kincaid. Although Samantha is mysterious about the girl's father, the reader already knows who it is the whole time. That doesn't detract from the story, though, as they have to struggle through a danger-fraught trip through Mexico to find the girl, only to discover secret dangers lingering back in Texas... Wilson's action sequences are great, I liked Samantha (especially for putting up with the Big Blond Creep, Chase), but he ruined the book for me. Arrogant, condescending, and insufferably rude, I wanted her to knock him over the head through just about all of the book. Frankly, I couldn't understand why Samantha would even want him, considering the way he treated her, but I guess if the cover art is any indication, she thought his looks were good enough.

This is the first book of Wilson's "Home to Texas" trilogy, and it makes for a good beginning. Unfortunately, Chase plays a prominant role in the other two, "Whisper My Love" and "Remember My Touch," and he's a jerk in both of those too. Fortunately, a development in that last book takes him out of most of it, something that we all can be grateful for. All three books are worth checking out.

right up to the last page. I fell in love with Chase and Samantha's romance. This book, the first in a three part McCullar series, was the perfect mix of romance and drama. I've already started the second book, Whisper My Love and can't wait to get to Jenny's story in Remember My Touch. Gayle Wilson is going on my permenant to be bought list!!

This was definitely the best book I've read in ages! While some readers might feel that Chase is a jerk, if you read carefully, you'll know that he didn't mean the things he said, and he knew from the beginning that he loved Samantha with all his heart. This is one of those books where I couldn't wait for the end, and then when it came, I wanted more! Please, Gayle, write another book about Chase, Samantha and Mandy!

When I ordered Bill Jacobson: Photographs the Rocky Schenck book was automatically recommended by Amazon. I am so glad it was.

These images are simply haunting and beautiful, a kind of nostalgia for a memory you've never had.

Highest recommendation.

Excellent work from a photographer not known enough in Europe. Only seen in real, by me, in Paris-Photo fair. A book to have, for argentic pictures lovers, fond of plastician photographs.

Rocky Schenck is a gifted photographer, the images within this book are dark, moody, melancholy, and hard to take your eyes away from. Schenck has been a long-time influence in my own work, so I was excited with this purchase. Just be aware that this book is 99% images, with very little explained about the artists inspirations or techniques. I was hoping to find a little more insight into his processes...BUT, this book is still a keeper. Keep it up Rocky!

As an owner of one of Rocky Schenck's photographs, I was thrilled when I saw that there is a book published that is dedicated solely to his phtography. And what a book it is! This beautiful book, documenting Rocky's work from the mid ninties through the present, is a work of art in and of itself. Since the price was so reasonable I never expected such high quality production. The paper used is perfect, as it has a great "hand" and a subtle glossiness. Each plate has it's own page as well it should for a book of photographs. Rocky Schenck's work is just so beautiful! Even if you are not familiar with his dreamlike and brilliant compositons you would be safe to treat yourself to this book sight unseen.

Rocky is one of the most interesting fine art photographers at work today. While there is a little of the turn-of-the-century Pictorialist sensibility in these pictures, he warps that tradition in sophisticated and surprising ways. In addition, he shows how powerful suggested narrative can be in the right hands. Stories are everywhere in these images--but the photographer leaves them open-ended, the mystery intact. This is work that gives one hope for contemporary fine art photography.