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.
I spoke to the “Booked for Lunch” crowd Nov. 2, 2018 at the Marble Falls Public Library. Director Iona Minshew interviewed me for her podcast “Book, Line & Sinker,” posted on SoundCloud and she videotaped my presentation and posted it on YouTube.com. Phil Reynolds, the editor at The Highlander newspaper in Marble Falls interviewed me too; the article published Nov. 6, 2918. I sold and signed a lot of books and had a great time in Marble Falls!
James White and I signed books from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Oct. 23, 2018 at the South Austin Costco while dozens of Broken Spoke fans stopped by to chat. That day Austin Utility Company had announced a “boil water” order due to serious flooding, so consequently the number of shoppers at Costco increased ten-fold.
I spoke on a panel at the inaugural Oklahoma Book Festival in Oklahoma City Oct. 20, 2018 together with Tennessee author Fred Minnick and moderated by The Oklahoman newspaper’s ‘food dude’ columnist Dave Cathey. Afterwards, one of my favorite Austin authors, Sarah Bird, signed her latest novel, The Daughter of the Daughter of a Queen. Later that afternoon I also toured the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
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.
I spoke on a panel at the inaugural Oklahoma Book Festival in Oklahoma City Oct. 20, 2018 together with Tennessee author Fred Minnick and moderated by The Oklahoman newspaper’s ‘food dude’ columnist Dave Cathey. Afterwards, one of my favorite Austin authors, Sarah Bird, signed her latest novel, The Daughter of the Daughter of a Queen. Later that afternoon I also toured the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Donna Marie Miller 
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