This is actually me about a year ago at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

It’s nearly the end of January 2025 as I write this. Last week I was immersed in a writing class for writers who want to learn to write better space operas. I learned that I can write a 3,000 word short story in three days! One I am proud of. (Still waiting on opinion of the teacher). But that’s good to know. That I can write that much. I plan on using some of that determination on finishing my in-progress mystery novel. If I could do it with the stories, I can do it with the novel. Yay me! Maybe I’ll start posting my progress,

I just finished reading Robert Harris’s novel CONCLAVE. I pretty much didn’t want to put it down. Hope the movie is as good.

Hoping for a very good year in 2025.

We are attempting a non-traditional Christmas tomorrow. Happy Panda (that’s our name for Panda Express) Chinese food and movies, movies, movies. Since Ben Hur is an Easter movie and The Ten Commandments doesn’t fall into either category, and they are the only religious movies we own, we are going with Godzilla Minus One, Die Hard, and IF. We just finished watching Jumanji 2, a really entertaining movie right up there with Galaxy Quest.

Have a peaceful day, folks.

What I learned while on vacation last month.

I was reminded that the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, TX is one of the best zoos in Texas. We accidentally went there the day it was opened to trick-or-treaters in costume. Hundreds of kids and their parents went from station to station in Halloween costumes gathering candy and having fun. The entire zoo was decked out with spiders and ghouls and skeletons and spiderwebs.

My sister and I were astonished by how helpful and nice everyone in the crowd was. A stranger even paid for our admission to the park ($17.00 each) with a smile and a God Bless in parting. Have never had that happen before. After the zoo we headed to Lindale and the Lindale Candy Shop who kept their doors open for us after closing time. A fun place to just look at. Barbie Dolls dressed in candy gowns!!!

What I learned while on vacation last week.

I learned that Franklin, Texas was a good stopping point for a long trip, (Austin area to Tyler.) We’d originally planned a trip I-35 to Waco and to Magnolia for lunch, but there were no hotel rooms to be had anywhere near Waco. Figured it was an important Baylor University football night and was right.

On another topic, I finally finished reading Gai-Jin by James Clavell. The five-pound (my estimate) 1000-page small-print hardbound epic that goes after Shogun and before Noble House.

Never again. I could hardly hold it and I cheated by skimming. Halfway through I only read the European side of the story. I’m sure the Japanese side of the plot was the more interesting. Maybe they’ll make it a mini-series.

We took a drive all over the older neighborhoods of Lockhart looking at Halloween decorations. Was fun. Some people have been very creative. We didn’t take pictures.

The poster above is for the Audible version of my comic horror series of stories about a species of dangerous WALKING trees. It’s a fun book to read, it’s an even more enjoyable experience to have Bill read it to you.

Happy Halloween (in advance).

Illustration by Streetlight Graphics

I have pictures of our dogs throughout the years

And my other cats

But not of the little (actually he’s pretty big) cat who lives with me now. He’s recovering from dental surgery this week and hasn’t turned back into his true self yet.

On another note I’m writing a short story for a mystery anthology, if they accept it of course.

For buying my books this weekend. Hope you will enjoy them. Even though we sat at our sales table three days straight (meaning we didn’t go to any of the panels or other fun things) we really enjoyed our weekend at Armadillocon (Austin, TX). Had fun. Felt welcomed. And sold enough of my books to make us happy.

The picture above was what I used as the cover of my very first book The Cowboy’s Baby. (Changed it later on).

Hello Armadillocon!

I didn’t realize I’d given out the link to my not so interesting blog instead of my book website Rix Cafe Texican until this morning . Roxanne and I are looking forward to meeting you all tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Armadillocon is a fun convention. We’ve been vendors selling my books for about ten years (or maybe less).I write entertaining novels and short stories.

This year we are bringing at least one copy of everything I have ever published.

The Cowboy’s Baby and The Cowboy’s Baby Goes to Heaven are PG rated romance novels about a miniature longhorn bull. The Cimarron Bride and The Safari Bride are women’s adventure romance novels and are not PG. Brown and Browner are light mystery novels set in San Antonio. Talking to the Dead Guys and Tea With A Dead Gal are light mysteries set in Lockhart written about our dog Boo Radley.

The Goodall Mutiny and The Goodall Manifest and The Goodall Marauders are space opera and almost my favorites. A Resurrection of Starlings take that spot. Took me twenty years to write and is a Western horror novel set on stalled train near Palestine, Texas that just might have Jack the Ripper on board.

I’ll stop right here. I think I have twenty different books to offer. Come see us in the dealer’s room.