The Big Piney Woods

 

For my current work in progress, tentatively titled “Texas Ranch Secrets,” I’m learning about the Big Piney Woods. Most of the action in my story happens on a farm at the edge of this massive forest, which includes hardwoods as well as conifers.

The Piney Woods covers a 54,400-square-mile swath of eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, southwestern Arkansas and the southeastern corner of Oklahoma. The World Wide Fund for Nature considers it one of the critically endangered ecoregions of the United States.

The national forests within the Big Piney Woods the Angelina National Forest, Sam Houston National Forest, Davy Crockett National Forest and Sabine National Forest.

There are also quaint towns and golf courses. More than 20 wineries operate in northeast Texas, which is the nation’s fifth-largest wine producing state.

The region includes numerous lakes, and the 4,500-acre reservation of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. The reservation is within an area of the Big Piney Woods called the Big Thicket.

Big Thicket was designated an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations in the 1980s and consists of forests, savannahs, creeks, bayous and blackwater swamps. The region has such a diverse population of wildlife, it’s nicknamed  “the Ark.” Residents include migratory birds, mountain lions, and alligators.

I’ve enjoying researching this part of Texas, and I hope my book, when it’s finished, will tempt readers to learn more about this region too.

 

WHAT I’M READING

I usually have at least four books going at a time, a nonfiction and three fictions in various formats. Here’s what I’m reading this month.

KINDLE: I’m almost finished reading “Birds Alive!” by Jen Dodrill.  I like reading on my Kindle at night when the lights are out, and this cozy mystery is a good bedtime read. Who knew bird watching could be so dangerous? “Birds Alive!” is about Florida birders who stumble into all kinds of murderous mayhem. When the sleuths aren’t investigating the murder, they’re discussing their hobby or eating. This one also features a cute dog named Charlie Brown. Maybe Jen will write a sequel set in the Big Piney Woods since that’s such a diverse ecosystem.

 

PAPERBACK: “When Love Arrives” is part of Johnnie Alexander’s “Misty Willow” series. It was published in 2016, but somehow, I’ve just gotten around to reading it. The story has a few twists and turns, but no one gets killed and it won’t keep you awake at night. My copy is dog-eared because it’s fallen in the bathtub a couple of times. It’s a perfect read while soaking in the tub. Among writers, Johnnie is known as a skillful storyteller and this book is an example of her flawless fiction.

 

AUDIO: Alexander McCall Smith is prolific author who’s penned several series. I’m hooked on the “44 Scotland Street” stories featuring young Bertie Pollack, his friend Ranald Braveheart McPherson, and neighbor Angus Lordy. Most of the books are narrated by Robert Ian MacKenzie, and his precise pronunciations of the Edinburgh characters’ conversations, the Glaswegians’ brogue, and the airy Gaelic of the chauffer Padric entertain me while I’m driving.

 

NONFICTION: I’m rereading “The Dance of Character & Plot” by DiAnn Mills. This book was published in 2015, and I’ve read it at least twice before, but each time I open this one I find a kernel of wisdom I missed in earlier readings. In addition to being a famous writer of suspense stories, DiAnn is also an encourager and mentor to fellow authors. She generously shares tips and suggestions in this book.