Western Novelist and Songwriter, Mike Blakely, will discuss his adventures researching, writing and singing about the Authentic Wild West of the American Frontier.
About our speaker:
As a singer/songwriter, Mike Blakely has released 13 albums, performed all over the U.S. and has made 16 tours to Europe. His songs have been recorded by Alan Jackson, Gary P. Nunn, Red Steagall, Johnny Bush, Johnny Rodriquez and others.
As an author, he has published 20 books with major New York City publishers. He won the Spur Award for Best Western Novel awarded by Western Writers of America. Mike is currently working on the sequel to A SINISTER SPLENDOR, which was released in February 2018.
Mike Blakely's latest musical album, THE OUTSIDE CIRCLE (released June 2018), was nominated for Album of the Year through the Academy of Western Artists (2019).
A native Texan, Mike served in the U.S. Air Force in Albuquerque, N.M., and later earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He released his first novel 1988 and his first CD in 1995. One of his co-written tunes landed on a Grammy Award-winning album by Flaco Jimenez in 1995. Another was played on the orbiting International Space Station in 2007.
Mike is now a three-time winner of Western Writers of America’s Spur Award – once for best western novel of the year, and twice for best western song of the year. Mike spent many years touring with his dancehall band, but now plays more shows as a solo artist, or in a duo or trio configuration at listening rooms, house concerts, festivals, and private parties. His career as a novelist leads to many non-traditional concerts at book stores, libraries, writers conferences, and book clubs.
Mike lives near Fredericksburg, TX, with his wife, Annie, and their many animals.
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Starting at 11:45 a.m., a BBQ buffet, consisting of choice of meats (brisket, pork ribs, smoked turkey breast, sausage), choice of sides (beans, potato salad, coleslaw), drinks (water or unsweetened ice tea), and a dessert (banana pudding) will be available in the Crockett Room. Cost of the lunch is $14.00 per person. Please register online before 3 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 26. You can pay online or at the meeting, but it is much preferred that you pay online to reduce handling of cash. The actual meeting will begin at noon, and conclude by 1 p.m.
