T. Boone Pickens, legendary Texas oilman and infamous corporate raider from the 1980s, climbed the steps of the Reeves County courthouse in Pecos, Texas in early November 2016. He entered the solitary courtroom and settled into the witness stand for two days of testimony in what would be the final trial of his life.
Pickens, who was 88 by then, had made and lost billions over his long career, but he’d come to Pecos seeking justice from several other oil companies. He claimed they cut him out of what became the biggest oil play he’d ever invested in—in an oil-rich section of far West Texas that was primed for an unprecedented boom. After years of dealing with the media, shareholders and politicians, Pickens would need to win over a dozen West Texas jurors in one last battle.
To lead his legal fight, he chose an unlikely advocate—Chrysta Castañeda, a Dallas solo practitioner who had only recently returned to the practice of law after a hiatus borne of disillusionment with big firms. Pickens was a hardline Republican, while Castañeda had run for public office as a Democrat. But they shared an unwavering determination to win and formed a friendship that spanned their differences in age, politics, and gender.
In a town where frontier justice was once meted out by Judge Roy Bean—“The Law West of the Pecos”—Pickens would gird for one final courtroom showdown. Sitting through trial every day, he was determined to prevail, even at the cost of his health.
The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens is a high-stakes courtroom drama told through the eyes of Castañeda. It’s the story of an American business legend still fighting in the twilight of his long career, and the lawyer determined to help him make one final stand for justice.
“Think you know T. Boone Pickens, the larger-than-life business titan,
energy trader, and corporate raider? Think again. The attorney representing
Pickens in his final major court battle and the business writer who covered him
most over the decades reveal a whole other T. Boone that few people outside his
bubble could have ever imagined.” —Joe Nick Patoski, author of Austin to ATX and host of the Texas
Music Hour of Power
“Chrysta Castañeda and Loren Steffy have accomplished the
remarkable. They’ve taken issues most familiar to lawyers and judges, woven
them into an incredible story and presented to all an enjoyable journey through The
Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens.” —Craig Enoch,
Former Texas Supreme Court Justice and founder of the Enoch Kever law firm
CHRYSTA CASTAÑEDA is a Texas trial attorney specializing in oil and gas disputes. She formed her own boutique law firm in 2014 after more than twenty years as a partner and associate in some of the world’s top law firms.
LOREN STEFFY is a journalist and author of four other nonfiction books: Deconstructed: An Insider's View of Illegal Immigration and the Building Trades (with Stan Marek) (Stoney Creek Publishing, 2020), George P. Mitchell: Fracking, Sustainability and an Unorthodox Quest to Save the Planet (Texas A&M University Press, 2019), Drowning in Oil: BP and the Reckless Pursuit of Profit (McGraw-Hill, 2010) and The Man Who Thought Like a Ship (Texas A&M University Press, 2012). His first novel, The Big Empty, was published in April 2021.
By PRESTON LEWIS Categories: Western / Historical Fiction Publisher: Five Star Publishing Pub Date: August 18, 2021
Pages: 336 pages
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With Lincoln County teetering on the edge of lawless
turmoil, small rancher Wes Bracken avoids taking sides, but his goal is
complicated by his devotion to what he sees as justice and by his friendship
with William H. Bonney, who’s developing a reputation as Billy the Kid. As Lincoln County devolves into explosive violence, Bracken
must skirt the edge of the law to guarantee the survival of his family, his
spread, and his dream. But dangers abound from both factions for a man refusing
to take sides. Before the Lincoln County War culminates on the banks of the Rio
Bonito during a five-day shootout in Lincoln, Bracken is accused of being both
a vigilante and a rustler. As the law stands idly by, Bracken’s ranch is
torched, and his wife is assaulted by the notorious outlaw Jesse Evans.
Survival trumps vengeance, though, as Bracken tries to outlast the dueling
factions aimed at destroying him. At every turn Bracken must counter the devious ploys of
both factions and fight against lawmen and a court system skewed to protect the
powerful and politically connected. Against overwhelming odds, Bracken
challenges the wicked forces arrayed against him in hopes of a better life for
himself, for his family, and for New Mexico Territory. And throughout it all,
Bracken stands in the growing shadow of his sometime pal, Billy the Kid.
Preston Lewis is the Spur Award-winning author of 40
westerns, historical novels, juvenile books and memoirs. He has received
national awards for his novels, articles, short stories and humor.
In 2021 he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters
for his literary accomplishments. Lewis is past president of Western
Writers of America and the West Texas Historical Association.
His historical novel Blood of Texas on the
Texas Revolution earned a Spur Award as did his True West article on the Battle
of Yellow House Canyon. He developed the Memoirs of H.H. Lomax series,
which includes two Spur finalists and a Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award for
western humor for his novel Bluster’s Last Stand on the battle
of Little Big Horn. His comic western The Fleecing of Fort
Griffin and two of his YA novels have won Elmer Kelton Awards for best
creative work on West Texas from the West Texas Historical Association.
He began his writing career working for Texas daily
newspapers in Abilene, Waco, Orange and Lubbock before going into university
administration. During his 35-year career in higher education, he
directed communications and marketing offices at Texas Tech University, Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center and Angelo State University.
Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor
University and master’s degrees from Ohio State in journalism and Angelo State
in history. He lives in San Angelo with his wife, Harriet.
From the author of the award-winning book A Delightful Little Book on Aging comes a new self-help memoir Creatrix Rising: Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women. In her new book, Stephanie Raffelock liberates mold-defying midlife women, tired of the oft-inaccurate characterization of the “old crone,” to amplify the resounding strength within. Ever since Eve was banned from the garden, women have endured the oftentimes painful and inaccurate definitions foisted upon them by the patriarchy. Maiden, mother, and crone, representing the three stages assigned to a woman’s life cycle, have been the limiting categories of both ancient and modern (neo-pagan) mythology. And one label in particular rankles: crone. The word conjures a wizened hag—useless for the most part, marginalized by appearance and ability. None of us has ever truly fit the old-crone image, and for today’s midlife women, a new archetype is being birthed: the Creatrix.
In Creatrix Rising, Raffelock lays out—through personal stories and essays—the highlights of the past fifty years, in which women have gone from a quiet strength to a resounding voice. She invites us along on her own transformational journey by providing probing questions for reflection so that we can flesh out and bring to life this new archetype within ourselves. If what the Dalai Lama has predicted—that women will save the world—proves true, then the Creatrix will for certain be out front, leading the pack.
Author Stephanie Raffelock reads an excerpt from Creatrix Rising
PRAISE FOR CREATRIX RISING:
“The perfect topic at the perfect time, Stephanie Raffelock’s self-help memoir, Creatrix Rising, identifies a new archetype, the Creatrix, that transcends the old archetype of Crone. Her stories and insights about how far women have come is nothing short of inspirational. A must-read for any woman who wants to embrace the strength and creativity of midlife.” -Marci Shimoff, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Happy for No Reason and Chicken Soup for the Women’s Soul
“Poetic and philosophical, Creatrix Rising will inspire readers to claim the courage and confidence that already lives inside of them. An intimate story of transformation, of journeying through life on your own terms without apology.”
-Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet and author of How to Love a Country
“The new archetype Stephanie Raffelock assigns to midlife women underscores the assets and wisdom older women bring to our culture and to the greater good. Creatrix Rising is an affirmation and celebration of the feminine story taking place in leadership and creativity throughout our country.”
-Gabby Reese, volleyball legend, Nike’s first female spokeswoman, and New York Times best-selling author
Stephanie Raffelock is the author of Creatrix Rising, Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women, (She Writes Press – August, 2021). She also penned the award winning book, A Delightful Little Book on Aging.
A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, Stephanie was a contributor to The Rogue Valley Messenger in Oregon. She has blogged for Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, as well as SixtyandMe.com.
A former i-Heart Radio host, she is now a popular guest on podcasts, where she inspires women to embrace the strength and passion of their personal story. Stephanie continues to build her speaker’s resume by giving presentations for groups like The Ashland Literary Arts Festival, Breaking the Glass, WINS at Charles Schwab and Southern Oregon University, Friends of the Hannon Library. Her commitment to uplift women extends to teaching personal development classes for incarcerated women and non-profits, including Dress for Success, Austin.
A recent transplant to Austin, Texas Stephanie enjoys an active life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Mickey Mantel Raffelock.
