I DIDN'T MESS WITH TEXAS...IT MESSED WITH ME by Vonnie Davis

Calvin and I flew to San Antonio for a couple days. We'd never been to Texas before, so both of us were looking forward to the trip. We stayed at Hilton's Homewood Suites and enjoyed our breakfasts in the screened-in area (to the left in this picture), along the famed River Walk.

After enjoying ourselves on the River Walk and the Alamo, we headed for the Silver Spur Ranch about an hour's drive north of bustling San Antonio. The ranch is just outside a little town called Bandera --  "Cowboy Capital of the World." A place where horses are still tied to hitching posts in the downtown area. Cowboys? As a writer of both historical and contemporary cowboy stories, let me tell you, I am soooo there...

The Wild Rose Press's Writers' Retreat was our reason for visiting this beautiful  part of the country. In my debut book, STORM'S INTERLUDE, I mentioned sunsets in the hill country. While at the Silver Spur, I got to witness their splendor in person.  They were glorious.

But do you know what else was glorious? The writers and staff I got to meet or reconnect with at TWRP retreat. What lovely, talented and creative women. And CJ? The only male on the publishing staff who attended was a delight, as well. What a polite, personable and often humorous young man. He does his parents proud.

 

Nan Swanson, Rhonda Penders, Ally Robertson, Johanna Melaragno, Diana Carlile, and CJ Penders

 

 

There were workshops, writing challenges and sharing of publishing industry news. We had the most informative class on social media where I learned invaluable, time-saving information. There were warm, intimate conversations, peppered with many moments of laughter. Late night bouts of sharing of information on what works for each of us sparked new ideas. I loved every moment of our dialogue. And what did Calvin do during all this, you might ask?

 



Could a woman have a more attentive husband?

NEVER!!! 

He is the best.

 

World Roping Champion -- Kevin Fitzpatrick ropes 3 Roses.

 

Editor Johanna sweetly tells Kevin she's never been tied up before.

Yeah, right...does she look like she's quaking in her flip-flops?

 

Ranch hand Robert and me

 

This elderly lady once helped her husband run a thousand acre

ranch. She regaled us with ghost stories of the region and the Silver Spur.

 

The writers' retreat was a fun-filled time. What wasn't fun and continues to be "non-fun" is the sinus infection and bronchitis Texas foisted on me. I never messed with Texas, folks...it messed with me.