5 minute read
Sommerfield Place
Drifter on The Texas Trail By Mark Edwards
BY LOU CHRISTINE
We met a nice fella, Mark. He hung out in our booth at Coles last Spring and just chatted away. He came back again and again and gave us a copy of his first novel. And the next thing you know we became fast friends, he bought a few trinkets from us and the next thing I know we have him here in Show Daily to share with our readers. Mark Edwards is a pretty cool fellow! - The Editor
It’s 2018 and seventeen-year- o l d Salvador Jesus Gonsalez is on the run! Dallas police are bearing down on him, furious, incensed about his daring escape. He beat another man senseless. If caught it could cost him 25 years! He’s short on resources. He needs a breather, feeling more like a scurrying cockroach desperately seeking the security and comfort of the dark.
That’s the first image Mark J. Edwards paints in his debut novel “Drifter On The Texas Trail” while introducing his protagonist.
In the rest of, what might best be described as an “Episodic Adventure,” Edwards’ tally-hos readers as they accompany Salvador through much familiar turf spread out in the Lone Star State. The romp is chock with colorful characters who enhance the suspense and nudge Salvador on at an accelerated pace.
Edwards, whose dad was in the Air Force, flew around a bit before finally landing in Amarillo. Self-admitted, Mark wasn’t a model student. If it weren’t for an upstart church-sponsored community college, then jonesing-tothe-bit, to fill classrooms, Edwards doesn’t think he would have attended. Hey! Who needs school when you know everything!
But don’t you know, and even the writer Edwards, can’t put into words how he developed a sudden and ferocious hunger to learn! After attaining his degrees, the next 30 years consisted of him learning and doing some drifting, and learning more and then antique dealing, and more learning and adventuring himself around Texas—learning, as a teacher, learning as an athletic coach, a counselor. He continued the life learning lessons fully knowing that when you’re and while you’re ripe you rot.
bucks the system but gracefully merges between the lines seeing the trees through the forest in his own unique way and then being able to gather his thoughts and provide his inner truth.
A youthful 64, Edwards isn’t afraid to admit he’s in love with somebody named, Jan. Edwards sounds as if he cherry picks memorable events and plucks notable associations from his past and parenthesizes those rich characters and experiences by weaving them within the fabric of his story. He describes landmarks throughout the State with a certain familiarity and flavor perhaps leaving various tastes in one’s mouth. Oh, I suspect there’s lots of that Texas “Let’s Keep Austin Weird” DNA bubbling underneath his spunk.
Edwards’ craft fully portrays Salvador as the young man under the gun evolving over a six-month period of time while juggling life on the lam. As if emerging from a stifling cocoon, Salvador experiences a mental metamorphosis of sorts, that leads and connects him with the ancient past and then, jettisons him to be staunchly fixed in the present to eventually embrace the wonders of commerce.
According to Edwards, “Drifter on the Texas Trail,” won’t end on the last page of the novel. Other adventures for Salvador are presently within the confines of Edwards’ mind, like pure Texas oil, still deep in the ground. He has two other sequels in mind. The second volume of what he hopes will be a trilogy is well under construction.
Mark J. Edwards “Drifter on the Texas Trail,” is available on Amazon. www.drifteronthetexastrail.com □
YOUR GUIDE TO EVERYTHING HAPPENING EVERYWHERE DURING ANTIQUES WEEK
Show Places
Fall 2021
WARRENTON
Bar-W Field | October 14th- 31st Located at 4001 S SH-237, Warrenton. Free admission and lots of free parking. Huge variety of antiques and more. Dealers start setting up early. Coin-op showers. ATM. Storage units. Large dealer spaces with electricity, water. More Information Roy Wied 979-278-3447
Bull Market | October 14th - 31st Located at SH-237 just north of FM-954, Warrenton. Look for the bulls! European antiques and primitives, architectural, unusual, vintage and collectible. Free admission. Free on-site parking. Covered outdoor space. More Information 972-564-6566 or casparandgerardsantiques.com
The Campbell Building | October 16th - 30th 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Located at 4328 SH-237, Warrenton. Painted furniture, estate jewelry, vintage clothing, textiles, garden furniture, lighting, bling and more. More Information Robin Lindberg 504-554-1102 or
campbellroundtop.com
The Chicken Ranch | October 14th - 31st Located 4150 S SH-237, Warrenton, between The Marketplace and The Lone Star Gallery. A fun venue featuring antiques, hip finds, and real Cajun cooking! More Information Andrea Canova 225-936-9269
Cole’s Antiques Show & Sale | October 21st - 30th
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Located at the intersection of Hwy. 237 and FM 954. Air-conditioned building, outdoor dealers. Indoor ATM, ample parking on location, free admission. More Information Diane Cole 281-961-5092 or colesantiqueshow.com
Das Blaue Haus | October 14th - 31st Located at Hwy 237, in the heart of town. Guest house with rooms for rent. More Information Jr. and Helen Wagner 979-249-3131 Das Gruene Haus/ Outlaws BBQ | October 14th - 31st
Located at 4418 SH-237, Warrenton. Next to St. John’s Church. Parking available. More Information Shane/ Sharon Hoffman 979-540-0712,
Jack Lee 281.830.8300 Phil and Carol 979.249.3502
Dillard’s Field | October 14th - 31st Located at 4407 SH-237, Warrenton. Free admission. RV hook-ups. More Information Mrs. Kathy Dillard 979-249-3779
The Dugout, and YaYa Gurlz | October 14th - 31st
From fashion to cool junk. Great burgers and beer at The Dugout.
More Information 325-660-2677
EX-CESS & EX-CESS II | October 19th - 31st Located at 3907 SH-237 at FM-954, Warrenton. Fantastic field of finds on Hwy 237, and across the Hwy from the original location! Free admission. More Information David Lennard 941-232-2925 or ex-
cessfield.com
The Gin
Located at SH-237, Warrenton
Granny McCormick’s Yard | October 14th - 31st
Located at 4338 SH-237, Warrenton. Across the Hwy from the gas station. Paid parking available. Indoor & outdoor dealers, food vendors. More Information Betsy McCormick 979-249-3818
Hillcrest Inn & Antiques Show | October 16th - 31st
Located at 4339 S State Hwy 237 in the heart of Warrenton. Over 100 dealers. Two restaurants open for lunch and dinner. Live entertainment. ATM on-site. More Information Paige and Sam Wilburn (512) 9638940 or 808-443-3644
Little House on the Hill
Located at 4401 SH-237, Warrenton Free Admission. Paid Parking. RV Space.
