At the invitation of Jason Mellard, director of the college of music at Texas State University in San Marcos, Nov. 20, 2019 I talked about my book, The Broken Spoke: Austin’s Legendary Honky-Tonk, published in 2017 by Texas A&M University Press. Both the first and second editions of my book were paid for by a grant from the John and Robin Dickson Series in Texas Music and sponsored by the Center for Texas Music History. Gary Hartman served as general editor.
James and Annetta White, owners of Austin’s Broken Spoke, joined me in a presentation to the UT University Ladies Club at a dinner held in the historic Chateau Bellevue Nov. 6, 2019. Singer, songwriter and musician Ben Stafford Rodgers also sang some classic country songs.
As part of “Local Authors Day” at Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley, Broken Spoke owner James White together with singer Ben Stafford Rodgers, accompanied me to my book signing Dec. 1, 2019. We loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones while selling and signing my 2017 book, The Broken Spoke: Austin’s Legendary Honky-Tonk.
Broken Spoke fan and my friend Shelley Sproull came out with her whole family to hear me talk and Christine Brown at Texas A&M University Press sold books. Singer and guitarist Ben Stafford Rodgers performed a few classic country songs and Deb Fleming moderated my talk.
James White and I talked about the Broken Spoke and Ben Stafford Rodgers sang some classic country songs for a full house inside the Thompson Center at the University of Texas Oct. 5, 2018. Afterwards we sold and signed copies of my book for fans for the second time this year for the OLLI group.
James White and I spoke to members of the Barton Creek Country Sept. 20, 2018 about the Broken Spoke and signed copies of my book while Ben Stafford Rodgers performed a few classic country songs. Jenny Wren, co-producer of the 2016 documentary, Honky Tonk Heaven: The Legend of the Broken Spoke, also talked about the film and sold copies of the DVD. Marianna Dydek with Barton Creek Country Club organized our talk.
James White and I talked about the Broken Spoke for members the Rotary Club of Austin Aug. 14, 2018 following their regularly scheduled luncheon at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 E. 8th Street in Austin. Ben Stafford Rodgers also sang a few classic country songs. Afterwards we sold and signed books.
Attending the “Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s” exhibit May 24-27, 2018at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville proved to be the highlight of my whirlwind year as the first-time author of a book written about one of the greatest honky-tonks in Texas history.
My book, The Broken Spoke: Austin’s Legendary Honky-Tonk,published in 2017 by Texas A&M University Press, will be a part of the exhibit for the next three years!
The concert in the CMA theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame May 25th included several stars: Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter, Bobby Bare, Joe Ely, Michael Martin Murphey, Gary P. Nunn, Delbert McClinton, Kimmie Rhodes, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tanya Tucker, Jack Ingram, Jason Boland, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Jamey Johnson, and Gary P. Nunn. It definitely tops the list of my all-time favorite concerts.
The Dallas Historical Society hosted a fundraising gala April 14, 2018 inside the Hall of State at 3939 Grand Avenue, in Dallas featuring Austin Broken Spoke owners James and Annetta White, filmmakers Brenda Mitchell and Jenny Wren, singer and guitarist Ben Stafford Rodgers and myself as well as the band Eleven Hundred Springs as entertainment. We signed copies of my 2017 book, The Broken Spoke: Austin’s Legendary Honky-Tonk and screened the 2016 documentary, Honky Tonk Heaven: The Legend of the Broken Spoke. Organizers for the event were Molly Nolan and Jeni Baldwin.
Donna Marie Miller 
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