Mike Vance

Special to the Tyler Morning Telegraph

A new book from Texan Mike Vance shines light on 48 lesser known tales from all parts of the Lone Star State. It is Undertold Texas Volume 1, and it presents unvarnished stories about people and places that all Texans should know about but likely do not.

The 48 chapters span more than 400 years of history and run the gamut of subjects. Many of the smaller topics illuminate much bigger context of the times in which they take place. There are also several surprisingly contemporary lessons to be gleaned from this often overlooked history.

Undertold Texas Volume 1 is released under the Dos Dogs Press imprint, and it is Vance’s eighth book on Texas history topics. He has also written, produced, and directed eight award-winning feature length documentaries on Texas history and well over 150 short films or television episodes on the state’s past. His career as a published author began in 1994. Vance is now writing full time.

This non-fiction title is labeled Volume 1, and at least three future volumes of Undertold Texas will be forthcoming. The plan is to release a new book in the series each of the next three springs. By including compelling stories from every region of Texas, the books expand everyone’s knowledge of our great state and its diverse past. They even encourage history tourism.

The jacket blurb for Undertold Texas reads as follows:

“Travel Texas history in the shoes of lesser-known people who illuminate big stories in our Lone Star past. This curated journey through an eclectic collection of Texas history ranges across five centuries. Find captivating stories in Texas politics, arts, labor, literature, agriculture, oil, ranching, sports, and civil rights. There are heartrending struggles and inspiring triumphs of will. Rousing successes and crying shames. From the high school gridiron to armed uprisings, from the strains of early Texas blues to gushers of black gold, these tales bring something entertaining for Texans new and old. Undertold Texas addresses some common Texas myths and reveals some largely obscured truths from our rich Lone Story history. Experience Texas as never before.”

Mike Vance has won numerous awards for his writing, film making, history work and humor. He toured much of the English-speaking world doing stand-up comedy and original music before spending time in television & radio. Undertold Texas is his 12th book, ten of which are non-fiction with one historical novel and more fiction coming this year. Vance is a third generation Texan who has taught history courses at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies since 2010.

For more information about Mike Vance or the book Undertold Texas, visit the website at www.mikevancewriter.com