Day of the Cowboy
Aug 08, 2024 by E. Joe Brown
I was invited back to the Chisolm Trail Heritage Center (CTHC) in Duncan, Oklahoma, again this year to participate in their amazing celebration of the Day of the Cowboy (DOTC). I've been able to participate several times in their Trail Talk Facebook Live broadcasts, and for the past two years, I've been a featured artist/author during their DOTC celebration.
This year’s event was a big success, with people streaming in all day. I was set up directly inside the main entrance. I was happy to function as the greeter as every visitor came through the door. I didn't count, but I bet I must have said, "Welcome to the Day of the Cowboy," hundreds of times. We opened the doors at 10 a.m., and people were already waiting outside.
The CTHC has many wonderful exhibits, and for this day, they added several performers and introduced a new sculpture that will be featured in their amazing gallery from now on. I did my program around midday. I discussed the background and basic storyline of my two books with a nice crowd in the auditorium. I added a little music. I was happy it brought applause and not tomatoes.
At my table, I met some fascinating people. One was a retired principal from Marlow, Oklahoma, who had lived in the Stephens County area around Duncan all his life. He sure had some stories, and my wife laughed after he left, "Boy, I thought you two would talk all day." He was a great guy, and I enjoyed his company. I'm happy to say the CTHC folks invited me back for next year, and I sure look forward to it.
Around mid-afternoon, Linda and I drove from Duncan to Ada, Oklahoma, to attend the Kelly Family Reunion. Yes, that's the Kellys from my novels. Most of you should already know that I used my maternal grandfather, Clarence Kelly, as inspiration for Charlie Kelly, the lead character in the Kelly Can Saga Series. The reunion had been going on all day at Wintersmith Park in Ada, and many folks had already left for home by the time Linda and I arrived at the host hotel. But around a dozen of us hearty souls chatted for a while, then went to dinner. We then returned to the hotel lobby, where we shoved some tables together and talked well into the evening. I wish we could have more of those evenings, but it’s a “fer piece” from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
Here are a few updates before I close:
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I've delivered the first draft of book three (A Cowboy's Dilemma) to my publisher. There's no publication date yet.
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I'll be in Texas at the San Angelo Cowboy Gathering on September 13th and 14th, 2024.
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I'll be in Fort Sumner, NM at the Fort Sumner Library at 2:00 pm on September 21st, 2024.
I have some other possibilities, but I need to stay home and focus on writing for a while. After all, that's what I do!
Happy Trails,
Joe
Happy Trails,
Joe