When the Men Were Gone
MAR 2019
by Marjorie Herrera Lewis Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism. Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over 18 and under 45 are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy’s knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach. Faced with extreme opposition—by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees and even the players themselves—Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team—and the town—to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget. Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and
Hours Mon 10a-8:30p Tues 10a-6:00p Wed 10a-6:00p Thur 10a-8:30p Fri 10a-5:00p Sat 10a-2:00p
personal courage.
Q&A with author MARJORIE HERRERA LEWIS on writing WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE Both you and the central character in the book, Tylene Wilson, have taken on unique roles as women in football. What lessons did you learn from Tylene as you wrote her story? As a college professor and former sports journalist, I was drawn to coaching while researching and writing Tylene’s story largely because I felt I had the experience to work with men of college age and bring something of value to the table. What I learned from Tylene was that if you prepare for something in life—whether it’s your life goal or not—when the opportunity presents itself, regardless of gender norms or expectations, nothing should hold you back. Apart from her love of football, what aspects of Tylene Wilson’s life have inspired you the most? I am a sucker for a father-daughter story. Wrap it around football, and I’m all in. Tylene’s story reminded me of my relationship with my father, which I warmly cherish. What is the most important thing you want readers to take away from your book? Primarily, I hope readers consume one central message: I want women to know they, too, can succeed in traditional male roles, and for men to understand that, yes, women are fully capable of succeeding in roles not traditionally open to them. I also tried to include an underlying thread to the narrative that connects Tylene’s story to the rise of racial minorities, and to the 92nd Infantry, which served in WWI and WWII.
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