East Texas A&M University’s Department of Literature and Languages welcomed alumnus and acclaimed novelist Reavis Z. Wortham to campus on Nov. 10 for a special reading from his latest work, “Comancheria.”
Students, faculty and community members filled the room to hear the Texas native share excerpts from his new horror western novel and discuss his experiences as a professional writer.
Wortham’s visit was a special occasion for East Texas A&M, as the alumnus has become one of the region’s most accomplished and widely read authors. A New York Times bestselling writer, he has published 20 novels across several series, including the Red River historical mysteries, the Sonny Hawke thrillers and his new Tucker Snow and Cap Whitlatch westerns. His debut novel, “The Rock Hole,” was named one of Kirkus Reviews’ Top 12 Mysteries of 2011, and “Dark Places” was listed among True West Magazine’s Top 12 Modern Westerns.
Wortham graduated from East Texas A&M in 1984 with a degree in education administration, then spent 25 years in that profession. Since then, he has earned two Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America—one of the most prestigious honors in American literature for writing about the West—and six Will Rogers Medallions, which recognize outstanding Western storytelling. His novels, which combine mystery, suspense and Texas grit, have not only earned critical praise, but also a devoted readership.
A columnist for The Paris News since 1988, Wortham has written more than 2,000 newspaper and magazine articles. His return to campus reminded students that a passion for storytelling, paired with persistence, can lead to lasting success.
The excerpt Wortham read featured two Texas Rangers—Buck Dallas and Lane Newsome—the main characters in his new book. In the scene, where Dallas had recently risen from an untimely death, the duo is preparing to battle a group of Comanche. Only, Dallas’s witty–and sometimes obscene–dialogue is interfering with Newsome’s concentration as he tries to line-up the first shot. The reading suggested “Comancheria” not only contains elements of horror and western fiction, but a fair amount of humor as well. The audience laughed out loud several times.
Following the reading, Wortham led an engaging question-and-answer session that covered a wide range of topics, including his creative process, the challenges of marketing in the publishing industry and how inspiration for his stories often comes from small-town life and Texas history. He also spoke candidly about his friendship with fellow Texas author Joe R. Lansdale, whom he considers one of the defining voices in modern horror.
Dr. Kelin Loe, assistant professor and director of the university’s Writing Center, introduced Wortham to the audience, noting his awards and reading a number of reviews. The event also featured a book signing and meet-and-greet, where the first five students to arrive received complimentary hardback copies of “Comancheria.” With each signature, Wortham encouraged the students to let him know what they thought of the book, whether they enjoyed it or not.
By hosting authors like Wortham, the Department of Literature and Languages underscores its commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities to connect with working writers and to experience the creative energy that defines East Texas A&M’s literary community.
Article source: Patrick C. Harrison III – ETAMU Marketing and Communications
Photo credit: Reavis Z. Wortham answers questions about writing and publishing. | Photo credit: Dharsan Raviselvam, ETAMU Marketing and Communications
