Spurs of Inspiration (Mayborn Literary Journal, Archer City Volume)

A serious collection of 12 creative nonfiction stories written by Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism students at the U of North Texas in Denton. Students lived in Archer City, the home town of Larry McMurtry, pulitzer prize winning writer. Mayborn writer-in-residence, George Getschow, guided students through a process of discovery to learn about a writer's life and craft. The experience provided a treasure trove for serious writers in this small Texas town, at ranches, in the local historical museum (formerly the county jail), at oil rigs, the American Legion Hall, the Royal Theatre where "The Last Picture Show" was shown, in cemeteries checking family lineage, and just about every nook and cranny of the memory of Archer City folks. Character studies, careful descriptions of the thirsty land, or backroading with the sheriff 'til the last beer is gone; all are drawn together memorably in these stories and photographs, also by the students. Collectively, the words and images create an extraordinary view of an ordinary place made famous because of its native son, McMurtry. McMurtry's bookstores, Booked Up 1, 2, 3 and 4 now occupy former auto sales showrooms, a grocery store and other storefronts which stood empty before he hauled thousands of books home to Archer City two decades ago. These delightful stories are bound thoughtfully with a gatefold cover that displays a hand drawn aerial map of Archer City's one stoplight intersection and the Booked Up stores. The stories are introduced with a poem that digs into the intricacies of McMurtry's relationship with the town and ranch folk. A must read for McMurtry fans.