Showing posts with label Photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Photos. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

100 Things to Do in Dallas Fort Worth Before You Die ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours promo, review, & giveaway!


100 THINGS TO DO 
IN DALLAS FORT WORTH
BEFORE YOU DIE
2ND EDITION
by
TUI SNIDER

  Genre: Non-Fiction / Texas Travel
Publisher: Reedy Press   Twitter   ⎸  Facebook
Date of Publication: September 15, 2018
Number of Pages: 160 with black & white images

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Have you ever drawn a blank when a friend or family member asks, “What do you want to do today?” Maybe you have visitors to show around the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex, or perhaps you’ve lived here for years but feel like you’re in a rut rather than experiencing anything new.

If so, Tui Snider’s new book is for you! If you live in, or are visiting, the DFW region, this list will inspire you to start exploring. If you’re hungry, flip through the Food & Drink section. Looking for entertainment or want to get outdoors? Dig into the Music & Entertainment or the Sports & Recreation sections. Want to barter for antiques or see a museum? Check out the Culture & History or the Shopping & Fashion sections.

This book is a playful bucket list of suggestions meant to spark ideas: everything from family outings, date nights, and solo excursions, to simply hanging out with friends on your day off.







✪✪✪✪✪
HALL WAYS BONUS REVIEW:
Final score: the book wins 57 to 43. Time to expand my local horizons.

100 Things to Do in Dallas-Fort Worth Before You Die is a fabulous guidebook that gives concise but informative overviews of one hundred plus places and activities in the DFW Metroplex. By the way, the DFW Metroplex, I learned, is a 9,286 square MILES area! Wow! Author Tui Snider's travel writing skills are on point as she shares the places and tidbits about each that make north Texas so unique.  

As a Fort Worth, Texas-born gal, I was raised in a family where my momma was always seeking-out and taking us to the cool, off-the-beaten-track places and festivals. Even with that upbringing and the majority of my fifty plus years lived in DFW, I found over half the one hundred places in the books are sights and activities (57 of them, to be exact) I have never experienced -- and a bunch I had never even heard of!

An awesome aspect to 100 Things is that it really is an excellent resource for locals to not only have on hand for visitors but to use as a source for new ideas and a lot of reminiscing.  Some of my favorite childhood memories and restaurant experiences were made at places mentioned in the book (like Burger's Lake Fossil Rim, and the National Cowgirl Museum, and Bonnell's, Ol' South Pancake House and Edelweiss). After reading 100 Things, I realize that I am a creature of habit with the local activities I enjoy: for example, Grapevine does not have the only wine trail; Fort Worth does not have the only ghost tour. I plan on getting a bunch of copies of this guide for my local friends and family to enjoy. 

The “Hundred Things” is actually well over a hundred because of the glorious sub-lists in many sections. Plus, there are lots of extra cultural details, statistics, and tidbits thrown in that add an extra layer of interest. Again, much of what’s included is new information to me that reinforces DFW has some of the biggest and best events in the US.  The organization of the book, which includes a divided table of contents, index, suggested itineraries, and activities by season, and website addresses really helps users find what they need for quick reference.  Especially helpful are the "Free Family Fun" and "Rainy Day Fun" lists.  Also included in the book are interesting photos sprinkled throughout the book that add interest, though they are not clearly labeled. I am okay with the small selection of photos and that they are black and white since the purpose and focus of 100 Things is informational.

The book is well-edited, the writing is clear and friendly, and the generous white space and formatting make it very user friendly and easy to read (as opposed to other guides that pack too much on a single page with teeny-tiny print). There are a few places where it seems like there are no spaces between words, and this Grammar Policewoman issues only a few citations for some misspelled words and comma issues. (Though the Neiman Marcus police might have a full warrant for arrest out!) Snider gets an Award of Excellence for being on Team Oxford Comma, which counters any punctuation pitfalls. The issues are all minor and none detracts from the overall fabulousness of this book.  I can't wait to plan a staycation to include some new excursions and also to re-visit some old favorites around my own stomping grounds. 


I subscribe to Tui Snider's newsletter (you should to) and answered the author's call a while back when she asked for suggestions of places to include in the book. What a surprise to find I am mentioned in the acknowledgments! I am excited and honored -- just like I was to finally meet the author at the AME Book Fest in July. When I was there, I bought another copy of her book Understanding Cemetery Symbols and arranged for my gorgeous signed print copy of 100 Things to be sent when it was hot off the presses. There were no strings attached, and my bonus review, shared via Lone Star Book Blog Tours, is my honest opinion -- the only kind I give. 

Planning my staycation while on vacation!
Meeting Tui at AME Book Fest

Tui Snider is an author, speaker, and photographer who specializes in hometown travel. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction – but then, I moved to Texas!” Snider's work has been featured by a variety of outlets, including Coast to Coast AM, LifeHackeasyJet and Authentic Texas. Snider’s award-winning books include Unexpected Texas, Paranormal Texas, Understanding Cemetery Symbols, and more. Tui enjoys connecting with readers all over the globe through her WEBSITE.




◆  WEBSITE  ◆  FACEBOOK  ◆  TWITTER  
◆  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  ◆
◆  INSTAGRAM  
 --------------------------------------- 
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
 1ST PRIZE: Signed Copy + $5 Amazon Gift Card
2ND PRIZE: Signed Copy
3RD PRIZE: eBook Copy
(US ONLY)
  September 18-October 2, 2018
CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
9/18/18
Excerpt
9/19/18
Guest Post
9/20/18
Review
9/21/18
Excerpt
9/22/18
Author Interview
9/23/18
Review
9/24/18
Bonus Review
9/25/18
Review
9/26/18
Guest Post
9/26/18
BONUS Review
9/27/18
Review






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Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The Grand Duke from Boys Ranch ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Promo and Notable Quotable!



THE GRAND DUKE FROM BOYS RANCH
EUGENIA AND HUGH M. STEWART '26 SERIES
by
BILL SARPALIUS
foreword by Bill Hobby

  Genre: Memoir / Texana / Politics / Eastern European History
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
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Date of Publication: April 16, 2018
Number of Pages: 336 pages w/50 B&W photos

As a boy in Houston, Bill Sarpalius, his brothers, and their mother lived an itinerant life. Bill dug food out of trashcans, and he and his brothers moved from one school to the next. They squatted in a vacant home while their mother, affectionately called “Honey,” battled alcoholism and suicidal tendencies. In an act of desperation, she handed her three sons over to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch north of Amarillo.

At the time, Bill was thirteen years old and could not read. Life at Boys Ranch had its own set of harrowing challenges, however. He found himself living in fear of some staff and older boys. He became involved in Future Farmers of America and discovered a talent for public speaking. When he graduated, he had a hundred dollars and no place to go. He worked hard, earned a scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and obtained a college degree. After a brief career as a teacher and in agribusiness, he won a seat in the Texas Senate. Driven by the memory of his suffering mother, he launched the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in an effort to help people struggling with addiction.

Sarpalius later served in the United States Congress. As a Lithuanian American, he took a special interest in that nation’s fight for independence from the Soviet Union. For his efforts, Sarpalius received the highest honor possible to a non-Lithuanian citizen and was named a “Grand Duke.”

The Grand Duke from Boys Ranch is a unique political memoir—the story of a life full of unlikely paths that is at once heartbreaking and inspirational.

PRAISE FOR THE GRAND DUKE FROM BOYS RANCH: 

“The autobiography of Bill Sarpalius reads like a 20 -century version of the American dream – equal parts heartbreak and inspiration, culminating in an unlikely political career capped by three terms in the U.S. Congress.” -- University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs


“The Grand Duke from Boys Ranch is an inspiring tale of perseverance and personal courage.” -- Si Dunn, Lone Star Literary Life

CLICK TO PURCHASE





BILL SARPALIUS represented the Texas 13th Congressional District from 1989 to 1995, and from 1981 to 1989 he served in the Texas State Senate. He currently is a motivational speaker and serves as CEO of Advantage Associates International. He divides his time between Maryland and Houston, Texas.


MEET THE AUTHOR! 
BARNES & NOBLE, #2665
2:00 PM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018
2415 Soncy Road
Amarillo, TX 79124




CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
8/21/18
Notable Quotable
8/22/18
Review
8/23/18
Excerpt
8/24/18
Video Interview, Part 1
8/25/18
Review
8/26/18
Excerpt
8/27/18
Scrapbook Page
8/28/18
Review
8/29/18
Bonus Post
8/29/18
Video Interview, Part 2
8/30/18
Review


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Wednesday, June 21, 2017

The Swimming Holes of Texas ~ ~ Blog Tour & Giveaway!



THE SWIMMING HOLES
OF TEXAS
by
Julie Wernersbach & Carolyn Tracy

  Genre: Travel / Outdoors / Swimming
Publisher: The University of Texas Press
Date of Publication: May 16, 2017
Number of Pages: 240, 100 color photos

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Nothing beats a natural swimming hole for cooling off on a scorching summer day in Texas. Cold, clear spring water, big old shade trees, and a quiet stretch of beach or lawn offer the perfect excuse to pack a cooler and head out with family and friends to the nearest natural oasis. Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or an unforgettable summer vacation, let The Swimming Holes of Texas be your guide. 

Julie Wernersbach and Carolyn Tracy highlight one hundred natural swimming spots across the entire state. The book is organized by geographic regions, so you can quickly find local places to swim—or plan a trip to a more distant spot you’d like to explore. Each swimming hole is illustrated with an inviting color photo and a description of what it’s like to swim there, as well as the site’s history, ecology, and conservation. The authors include all the pertinent info about admission fees and hours, parking, and on-site amenities such as showers and restrooms. They also offer tips for planning your trips and lists of the swimming holes that are most welcoming to families and pets.

So when the temperature tops 100 and there’s nothing but traffic in sight, take a detour down the backroads and swim, sunbathe, revel, and relax in the swimming holes of Texas.



Julie Wernersbach, Austin, is the literary director of the Texas Book Festival and a former marketing director at BookPeople, Austin’s largest independent bookstore. Carolyn Tracy, Austin, is a freelance photographer who works for an animal welfare nonprofit. They are the authors of Vegan Survival Guide to Austin.


Connect with The University of Texas Press:
 --------------------------------------------------- 
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
ONE LUCKY WINNER GETS A PRINT COPY!
(US ONLY)
  June 8-June 22, 2017

CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
6/8
Book Trailer
6/9
Review
6/10
Sneak Peek 1
6/11
Promo
6/12
Review
6/13
Guest Post
6/14
Review
6/15
Sneak Peek 2
6/16
Excerpt
6/17
Review
6/18
Promo
6/19
Sneak Peek 3
6/20
Review
6/21
Promo
6/22
Review



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