Writer's AudioShop

Elmer Kelton Tells the Truth: His Best Talks on the Old West, Cowboys and Writing By Elmer Kelton Introduction & Music by Mike Blakely 4 CDs: 4 hours 10 minutes total ISBN 1880717-506 Price $49.95 [Download this title from Audible.com] [Order this title from Amazon.com] 2 Cassettes: 3 hours total ISBN 1880717-417 Price: $17.95 [Order Now] Whatever Elmer Kelton says is worth listening to. Here are five of this famous author's best speeches, recorded live. Known for his award-winning fiction, Kelton, who in 1995 was named the greatest Western author of all time by Western Writers of America, is highly sought after as a keynote speaker. His vast knowledge of and passion for the subjects he uses as backdrops for his novels is evident in these finely-crafted, humorous talks: "Fact, Fiction & Folklore" "A Study of Cowboys" "Politically Correct" "A Texas Author's View of the Old West" "Writing the Western Novel" Finalist in AudioWorld's 2004 Golden Headsets Awards for Best Self-Help/Inspirational Audio. Reviews The Texan drawls out plain-spoken, humorous remarks on fiction, contemporary mores and the history of the Southwest. A pleasant and informative listen. ~ AudioFile Magazine

The Best of Texas Folklore Volumes 1 & 2 By By Elmer Kelton and other Texas Folklore Society members Introductions by Elmer Kelton & Michael Martin Murphey 6 CDs: 6 hours 5 minutes total ISBN 1880717-492 Price $69.95 [Download this title from Audible.com] [Order this title from Amazon.com] Hear the funny, inspirational papers that were spoken at annual meetings of the legendary Texas Folklore Society (TFS). These collections put the listener in the audience to hear Society members talking up a Texas tempest on the state's wide-ranging folk and lore. The East Texas String Ensemble entertains between speakers. Volume 1 is introduced by singer/songwriter Michael Martin Murphey. Volume 2 is introduced by a TFS member and a legend himself, Elmer Kelton, who in 1995 was named the greatest Western author of all time by Western Writers of America. Reviews The members of the Texas Folklore Society believe that everybody has a tale to tell and every tale is as big as Texas. Some of the best are in this collection. ~ AudioFile Magazine To paraphrase the old advertising slogan for Levy's rye bread, you don't have to be Texan to enjoy this. . . . This is nostalgic, often funny, frequently poignant material. . . . The listener is in the audience, hearing the various speakers. While some are better and more interesting than others, all have something to contribute. Among the various topics are medicine and spice salesmen, burial customs, grandparenting, babies, the uses of cow chips (known as grass-olene), peddlers and windmills that "steal air." The East Texas String Ensemble entertains between speakers. . . . For relaxing listening. ~ Kliatt Magazine

Writing the Western Novel By Elmer Kelton 1 Cassette: 70 minutes ISBN 1880717-247 Price $12.95 [Order Now] Sink into his easy Texas drawl as the son of a Texas cowboy and a six-time Spur-award winner covers literary prejudice against Westerns. He suggests ways to find a fresh slant and create unusual characters and reviews trail drive novels.

Fiction Writers Are Liars and Thieves By Elmer Kelton 1 Cassette: 45 minutes ISBN 0-87565-148-8 Price $12.95 Publisher: Texas Christian University Press See Writer's AudioShop title "Writing the Western Novel" by Elmer Kelton [Order Now] Envelop yourself in his west Texas voice as legendary author Elmer Kelton talks about his work and reads from his award-winning books, including "The Day the Cowboys Quit," "The Time It Never Rained," "The Good Old Boys" and "Manhunters." Here is Kelton's opening confession: "Someone has said that fiction by definition is a lie. By extension this means that fiction writers are liars. In that context, I will admit to it, and go a step further. I will say that fiction writers are liars and thieves." Kelton, who for over 40 years was an agricultural journalist, discusses the relationship between his two careers and the way in which his journalistic writing served as a source for his novels. To illustrate, he contrasts historical incidents with actual passages from his novels.

The Best of Folklore 1999 By Elmer Kelton and Texas Folklore ISBN 1880717-409 Price $17.95 Publisher: Writer's AudioShop [Order Now] Winner of the Violet Crown Nonfiction Audiobook Award from the Writers' League of Texas Here are ten of the wise and witty papers presented at the 90th annual meeting of the legendary Texas Folklore Society. Special tribute to teacher, writer, and Pecos-cowboy Paul Patterson by Elmer Kelton and two others. Hear spoken word performances on peddlers, early radio DJs, cow chips, funeral homes, crazy women in the rafters, and much more.

The Best of Texas Folklore (Volume 2) By Texas Folklore Society members Introduction by Elmer Kelton 2 Cassettes: 3 hours 5 minutes total ISBN 1880717-409 Price $17.95 [Order Now] MORE spoken word performances by 13 Texas Folklore Society members. Subjects include fly control horny toads, Texas kitsch, bread lore, travel lore, uppity women, Jesse James, and much more. 2 Cassettes/ 3 Hours

Texas Bound Stories by Texas Writers, Read by Texas Actors Host: Tess Harper ISBN 0-87074-369-4 Price $15.95 2 Boxed Cassette Tapes in Dolby Stereo Playing Time: Approx. 3 Hours Publication Date: November 1993 [Order this title from Amazon.com] Host TESS HARPER has starred in Daddy's Dying . . . Who's Got the Will?, Far North, Tender Mercies, and Crimes of the Heart, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She lives in Dallas. Larry McMurtry's "There Will Be Peace in Korea" read by Tommy Lee Jones William Goyen's "The Texas Principessa" read by Doris Roberts Robert Flynn's "The Midnight Clear" read by Tess Harper Reginald McKnight's "The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas" read by Tyress Allen Lynna Williams's "Personal Testimony" read by Judith Ivey Tomas Rivera's "Picture of His Father's Face" read by Roger Alvarez Annette Sanford's "Trip in a Summer Dress" read by Norma Moore Lawrence Wright's "Escape" read by Randy Moore "Texas Bound Contains some bang-up stories people will enjoy reading—and hearing. For the special nature of this collection is that eight of the stories are also available on audiotapes. It's a real treat, for example, to hear Tommy Lee Jones reading Larry McMurtry's ‘There Will Be Peace in Korea' or William Goyen's actress-widow, Doris Roberts, reading her husband's grand ‘The Texas Principessa.'"—Don Graham "Texas Bound—readings of Texas stories by Texas actors—seems to me a wonderful idea and should by obligatory reading and listening for anyone interested in the increasingly impressive output of Texas writers."—Horton Foote.

Texas Bound II: More Stories by Texas Writers read by Texas Actors Various Authors and Readers; Host: G.W. Bailey ISBN 0-87074-394-5 Price $16.95 Publisher: Southern Methodist University Press [Order this title from Amazon.com] Recorded live at the Dallas Museum of Art, here are eight short stories by Texas writers - chosen for the quality of the writing and their entertainment value - read by Texas actors. Perfect for listening to in the car, or anywhere. Please be advised that explicit language is used in some selections on these tapes. Janet Perry's "What the Thunder Said," read by Kathy Bates; Larry L. King's "Something Went with Daddy," read by G.W. Bailey; Matt Clark's "The West Texas Sprouting of Loman Happenstance," read by Brent Spiner; Mary K. Flatten's "Old Enough," read by Julie White; Arturo Islas's "The King of Tears," read by Octavio Solis; Tom Doyal's "Uncle Norvel Remembers Gandhi," read by Randy Moore; Miles Wilson's "On Tour with Max," read by John Benjamin; and Hickey Hermine Pinson's "Kris/Crack/ Kyle," read by the author. Reviewers' comments: "A superb series" (Fort Worth Star-Telegram); "Great actors meet great stories" (Dallas Observer); "Wildly popular" (The Dallas Morning News); "Hugely successful" (Houston Chronicle).

Texas Bound III: More Stories by Texas Writers read by Texas Actors Various authors and readers; Host: Barry Corbin ISBN 0-87074-425-9 Price $16.95 Publisher: Southern Methodist University Press [Order this title from Amazon.com] Recorded live at the Dallas Museum of Art, here are seven short stories by Texas writers - chosen for the quality of their writing and their entertainment value - read by Texas actors. Perfect for listening to in the car, or anywhere. Please be advised that explicit language and adult subject matter is used in some selections on these tapes. Tom Doyal's "Sick Day,", read by Barry Corbin; James Lee Burke's "The Convict," read by James Black; Robert Olen Butler's "Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot," read by Octavio Solis; Marshall Terry's "Angels Prostate Fall," read by Randy Moore; R.E. Smith's "The Gift Horse's Mouth," read by Peri Gilpin; Barbara Hudson's "The Arabesque," read by Marcia Gay Harden; Donald Barthelme's "The School," read by Raphael Parry. Reviewer's comment: "Stories about people coming to terms with love, race, myths, time and honor, in towns that transcend Texas even as they evoke it. . . . Barry Corbin brought the house down, Texas style." (The New York Times)

Texas Bound IV: More Stories by Texas Writers Read by Texas Actors Host: Marsha Gay Harden ISBN 0-87074-458-5 Price $17.95 2 Boxed Cassette Tapes in Dolby Stereo Playing Time: Approx. 3 1/2 Hours Release Date: February 2001. [Order this title from Amazon.com] Marcia Gay Harden won a 2001 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Pollock." "Stories about people coming to terms with love, race, myths, time and honor, in towns that transcend Texas even as they evoke it."—The New York Times