Jason Manning’s authentic take on the American West has earned him legions of fans. Now he’s back with a brand-new Western set in the rough-and-tumble Texas frontier. ’Tis the season. . . A LAWMAN PAST HIS PRIME Texas Ranger Bill Sayles rode scout for Sam Houston when he was no more than fifteen. These days the lawman’s on the wrong side of three score years, and the glory days of the Rangers are on the wane. But Sayles still hits what he aims at and is not a man to cross. Ten days before Christmas in the harsh winter of 1876, Sayles arrives at the state prison in Huntsville to escort prisoner Jake Eddings on a furlough to his hometown, where his ten-year-old son is being laid to rest. A PRISONER PAST ALL HOPE In a desperate scheme to save his farm, Eddings took part in a stagecoach holdup in which the driver was killed. After serving two years of a fifteen-year sentence, he is already a broken man. Despite the agony of regret, he longs to see his wife and bury his beloved boy. But when Sayles gets wind that the murderous Litchfield brothers are headed in the direction of Eddings’ farm, the Ranger and his prisoner join forces to keep Eddings’ wife from harm—and maybe grab a last shot at redemption.

On the night before Christmas, Santa mounted his sleigh. The presents were packed; Time to be underway! The night air was chilly, the hour was late-- When a letter came in from a faraway state. Santa is all ready to leave on Christmas Eve, but last-minute letters are arriving from Texas! From a little girl who is wishing for snow, to a bluebonnet, guadalupe bass, and mockingbird all looking for a bit more attention, to the bears asking the reindeer for a play date, each letter contains a humorous request that gets even Santa chuckling. Even better, each letter comes tucked in its own pocket envelope with other delightful extras like cards, money for toll roads, and even a map of Texas! How will Santa respond? It's Texas Christmas magic you'll have to see!

A fascinating collection of oral history interviews details Texas in the early twentieth century and how life in the Lone Star State helped the interviewees achieve success.

Welcome to the 12 days of Christmas in Texas Ready to greet you are 9 leapin' lizards, 8 grazin' longhorns, 7 bass a-swimmin', 6 flags a-flyin'... and much more from the Lone Star State.Jos is so excited about his cousin Ashley's visit with him in Texas that he gives her one of these VERY unusual gifts on each of the twelve days of Christmas, and Ashley writes lively letters home to tell her mom and dad all about her trip. Lucky readers are in for a wild Christmas countdown

A classic Christmas story featuring all the magic of Santa combined with the magic of your favorite city, state, or country. It's the night before Christmas and you're nestled snug in your bed. Your stocking is hung by the chimney with care--will Santa visit your house? Follow Santa's journey in this magical retelling of a Christmas classic starring the locations and landmarks that make the place where you live special!

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower—and a Texas native—takes us on a journey through the most controversial state in America. • “Beautifully written…. Essential reading [for] anyone who wants to understand how one state changed the trajectory of the country.” —NPR Texas is a red state, but the cities are blue and among the most diverse in the nation. Oil is still king, but Texas now leads California in technology exports. Low taxes and minimal regulation have produced extraordinary growth, but also striking income disparities. Texas looks a lot like the America that Donald Trump wants to create. Bringing together the historical and the contemporary, the political and the personal, Texas native Lawrence Wright gives us a colorful, wide-ranging portrait of a state that not only reflects our country as it is, but as it may become—and shows how the battle for Texas’s soul encompasses us all.

"'Twas the night before Christmas . . ." and Texas is ready and waiting for old Santy to appear. You may know the story, but you've never heard it like this before. Based on Clement C. Moore's poem, Texas Night Before Christmas is filled with images of the Lone Star State, whimsical illustrations, and playful text. It's an icy Christmas Eve as this Texas family prepares for Santy's visit. A great ruckus arouses Pa, and he spies Santy himself in full Western garb: rawhide suit, Stetson, and cowboy boots. He fills the young'uns' waiting boots, then warms himself a while before leaving for his next stop. As Ma and Pa lose sight of him in the fog, Santy calls out, "Merry Christmas, y'heah? And y'all have a good night!"