Stories I've Been Told: 25 Portraits of Rural Texans

Elaine Thomas captures rural and small-town life in the early to mid-20th century through one-on-one interviews with men and women who recall the impact of the Great Depression, World War II and post-war progress and prosperity through an abundance of personal anecdotes, plus photos.

There's a young mother whose legendary fruitcake recipe won her a spot on the Johnny Carson show and a brave young man who faced a sniper's terror at the University of Texas.

You'll meet three ladies from the local Home Demonstration Clubs and a farmer who took a short-term job with the Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District that lasted half a century.

Read about the manager of a Perry Brothers 5-10-25-cent store who remembers the golden age of the American variety store and a family who lived a gypsy way of life on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

You can't help but be inspired by the dignity of these 25 lives well-lived in Stories I've Been Told. Treat yourself and a friend to a copy!