Henry Chappell

We put away seven quarts tonight to make sixteen for the season and we’re just getting warmed up. We had our second cobbler of the season last night. People ask me if I’m growing one of the thornless varieties. Never! I’m certain that fine flavor is proportional to blood loss and number of chigger bites. These are Brazos variety, native to the Blackland Prairie.

 Read More 

Great event last night featuring Horses to Ride Cattle to Cut. Wonderful crowd. Signed a bunch of books. Wyman strategically positioned himself so that I would have to write all the personal notes. Payback time. I did the same to him at the last signing. Our thanks to the the East Foundation, TWA, and our great hosts at the Houston Country Club. We finished the evening with Brandy Freezes. I'm afraid I could be a 400-pound lush.

 Read More 

You’ll find more fine shotguns and rifles at Gordy & Sons in Houston than at Purdey, Rigby, and Boss in London. Russell Gordy invited me into his vault. I’ve got your story.

I’ve always wanted to visit Maine.

This song was ripping through my head when I wrote a certain scene in The Callings. (Actually a rawer version by Julie Miller, but I love this version too, and Buddy and Julie are there with Emmylou.) Nowadays when I hear "All My Tears" I can't help but think of two teenagers grappling with hope and death on the Canadian River in late autumn of 1873.

 Read More