Most writers have a substantial home research library on their areas of interest. Each of us has learned how to surf the web for additional information. Sometimes, though, it helps to go in person to experience a setting first hand. Since most of my books are set in Texas and I live in Texas, this usually doesn’t present a problem for me. Hmm, maybe I should write foreign settings so I could really travel.

When I was writing a western historical a while back—THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE to be released in September—I needed to see the setting once again to refresh my memory and fill in missing details. I already knew I loved the Central Texas area around Bandera. Years before our family stayed at the well-known Mayan Dude Ranch near Bandera. My husband was not captivated, but our daughters and I loved the place.

My youngest daughter and I attended a conference hosted by the San Antonio RWA chapter. (They have a great conference, by the way.) Afterward, my daughter and I took a detour by Bandera and Medina. We love road trips and are famous in our family for our “detours” that seem logical only to us. To us, everything is “on the way.” LOL This time, I needed to visit Lost Maples State Natural Area in Bandera and Real Counties five miles north of Vanderpool, Texas on Ranch Road 187. The setting for this particular book was a fictional ranch near Bandera in 1885 but Lost Maples plays an important part in the book.

Lost Maples State Natural Area covers 2174.2 scenic acres on the Sabinal River. Acquired by purchase from private owners in 1973 -1974, the site was opened to the public on September 1, 1979. The annual visitation is approximately 200,000 visitors. Long before the area was a park, sightseers would crowd the narrow gravel road that wound its way along the Sabinal River Canyon to view the fall colors.

In pre-history, dinosaurs roamed here and left their prints in the limestone mud. Footprints were discovered by Roland Byrd in the 1930’s on what he labeled the Mayan Ranch Trackway. When the ranch owner wouldn’t allow excavation, Byrd moved on to Glen Rose and excavated on the Paluxy River. Those tracks are in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Archaeological evidence shows that this area was used by prehistoric peoples at various times. In historic times, which began with Spanish exploration and colonization efforts in the late 17th century, the Apache, Lipan Apache, and Comanche Indians ranged over the land and posed a threat to settlement well into the 19th century. In the late nineteenth century, Texas was still a pretty wild place in some areas. By 1875, the time of Indian raids on settlers had passed, but that doesn’t mean that life was safe or easy. Lost Maples is one of the loveliest areas in that part of the state, but it was used as a route for rustlers, renegade Comanche, and the evil Comancheros who victimized everyone. They traveled through Lost Maples on their rides between Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) and Mexico.  Abundant water, protection of the high canyon walls, and tiny side canyons and creeks offered protection for criminals. The well known Indian trail along the Sabinal River was marked on early Spanish maps as Comanche Trail.

The park is an outstanding example of Edwards Plateau flora and fauna. It is a combination of steep, rugged limestone canyons, springs, plateau grasslands, wooded slopes, and clear streams. Rare species of birds such as the Green Kingfisher live there year round. The endangered Black-Capped Vireo and Golden-Cheeked Warbler nest and feed in the spring and early summer. Lost Maples features a large, isolated stand of uncommon Uvalde Bigtooth Maple, whose fall foliage can be spectacular. Generally, the foliage changes the last two weeks of October through the first two weeks of November. To northerners these maples might appear ordinary but this is the only place in Texas that these trees are native.

The first thing my daughter and I noticed is that the area offers tranquility—almost a religious experience. In fact, the Sabinal River was originally called Arroyo de la Soledad, Spanish for “stream of solitude.” The river rises in fissure springs that flow from great slabs of limestone southwest to the Balcones Escarpment. The river is sixty miles long. In several places it sinks underground to rise again downstream. It is fed by Hale, Hollow and Can creeks within the park and by Mill, Little, and Onion creeks south of the park. Canyon Creek in Uvalde County is called the West Prong of the Sabinal.

Seeing this impressive canyon and the huge Bigtooth Maple trees left an unforgettable image in my mind that helped me as I wrote my story. Sometimes, research in person pays off not only in information gathered, but in a pleasant experience.



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NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES,  P&E Poll Top Ten, 4 stars from RT
OUT OF THE BLUE Travel from 1845 Ireland to 2010 Texas
THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE Ride the 1885 Texas range,  available Sept. 3rd

***Wow, thanks for sharing your memories. I've been out and about this area many times. especially on geology fieldtrips. That's natural history.  I highly recommend THE ROADSIDE GUIDE TO THE GEOLOGY OF TEXAS to anyone wanting to dig through what geology you will find along interstates, etc. And for those of you dealing with other states, the ROADSIDE GUIDE TO series has a book for each state! There's nothing like a handy reference book to keep in the car. Unless, you just don't care about rocks, fossils, natural history, etc. I realize I have strange interests. ROFL

That's an awesome cover. I'm certain your love for natural history shines through in your work. I can't wait to read OUT OF THE BLUE. Best of luck with this release. ~Skhye