Mike Vance is the author of 3 novels and 10 non-fiction books on Texas history, historic true crime, comedy, and sports history. That non-fiction work informs his historical novels. He has produced well over 150 award-winning videos including feature length documentaries, short films and television shows on a variety of Texas history stories. Mike also traveled the English speaking world for 16 years doing stand-up comedy and fronting a band for which he wrote original music. He sometimes teaches Texas history at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Please check out the links below and sign up for my newsletter!
Mike Vance on the Mend
Hello, Reader
This past week was not what I had in mind. Instead of spending time on amazingly fun writing and creative projects, I got Covid instead. No my first choice, I promise, but life happens. Thanks to Paxlovid and forced rest, I'm feeling much better. Now if this nasty, bitter medicine side effect will kindly vacate my mouth, we'll be back in business.
I had to reschedule a radio interview promoting my Stand Up Stories book, but that should happen this week. If they offer a link, I'll let y'all know. I did want to send out a short howdy to y'all, though.
New to View
Okay, so technically this edition it's "old to view." I've been sick. Whaddya want? One of my several old projects that never got completed for want of illustrations was a kid's book of animal limericks. It's on the someday list. Meanwhile in the matriarchal forest...
This primate is a lemur.
He hops on foot and femur.
Though not too large,
To be in charge,
Then he must be a she-mur
What I'm Working On
After coming down with the rona on Monday night, I finally put in some meaningful writing time on Saturday and Sunday. Chapter 1 of the second book in my new historic crime fiction series is now complete. It opens in Harrisburg, Texas in September 1901 with two local railroad men drinking cheap wine on their front porch at midnight. From there, I ended up down a rabbit hole of old maps and city directories in figuring out what our lawyer/hero J.B. Duckworth was up to in Chapter 2. I'll sleep on it.
The first book is still pending review with a book agent, so keep the good thoughts and juju flowing. Thanks so much!
Writer. Storyteller.
Mike Vance is the author of 3 novels and 10 non-fiction books on Texas history, historic true crime, comedy, and sports history. That non-fiction work informs his historical novels. He has produced well over 150 award-winning videos including feature length documentaries, short films and television shows on a variety of Texas history stories. Mike also traveled the English speaking world for 16 years doing stand-up comedy and fronting a band for which he wrote original music. He sometimes teaches Texas history at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Please check out the links below and sign up for my newsletter!
March 1, 2024 The Latest Hi, Reader I have a story for you, and further down you can read more about my newest book plus the Texas history class I'll be teaching online through Rice University starting this month. So please scroll and read it all! But first, a confession. I'm a history nerd, and have been for a long time. I love researching deep into stories. I like being alone in an archive, whether it's dusty and tangible or a digital maze, and finding something that no one has thought...
February 20, 2024 The Latest from Mike Hi, Reader First, as you can see, I've changed up the look of the newsletter. I finally figured out how to make my face smaller. This is the news that I've been promising, not a full newsletter anyway, but the new look will stay for a while. The New Novel is Here! Wingo: The Remarkable life of an Unremarkable Man is now live on both Amazon and IngramSpark. That means that you can purchase ebooks and paperbacks online or order them through your favorite...
Hello, Reader For almost a year now I've been promising new books, and the first one will be coming in a few weeks. More on that just below. I've been working very hard to get the Undertold Texas Volume 1 done for a release at the end of April since that is tied to my online Rice University Continuing Studies course that starts in mid-March. Not to make it confusing, but the course will highlight 64 subjects over 8 weeks. I've got book chapters done for 50 of those now! The book itself will...