Maurine Walpole Liles

As part of our research for the web page we interviewed Mrs. Maurine Walpole Liles, the author of Rebecca of Blossom Prairie. We would like to thank Mrs. Liles for all the time she spent helping us.

1. How are you related to Rebecca?

Rebecca is my great-great aunt. I discovered this when I researched my family.

2. Why did you decide to write Rebecca of Blossom Prairie?

After researching my family history I learned about Rebecca and her family and how they traveled Texas. I thought her experiences would depict the spirit and courage of the early pioneers.

3. Where did you get your information?

I did a great deal of research on the early pioneers. I read books about pioneers, researched my family history, studied the trails they went on, visited places like Blossom Prairie, the Natchez Trace, and the Military Highway in Arkansas. I also went to the Garner house on Blossom Prairie.

4. How long did it take you to write the book?

It took 6 months of research, and  3 months of writing.
I revised the book 20 times before it was finished.

5. What was your favorite part of the book?

My favorite part of the book was when the robbers attacked the family. Rebecca had to defend herself and her children. I thought it was very exciting.

6. Was it a real story?

This is historical fiction. Rebecca and her family did make the journey to Texas from Tennessee. I used other pioneer experiences and gave them to the Garner family.

7. Are the people in the book real?

All of the family members were real. The members of the wagon train were fictitious.

8. What was the hardest part of the book to write? 

The hardest part of the book to write was the funeral of Rebecca's husband, John Nance Garner II.  I have visited his and Charles Walpole's  grave sites in Tennessee.

9. Where can you buy the book?  You can buy Rebecca of Blossom Prairie and the other books about the Garner family at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and Walden Books.

10. What is your next book?

My next book is Sabers and Longhorns. It is about Spanish Texas.

11. How can someone contact you about your books or invite you to visit their class?

My E-Mail address is Willer2@ AOL.com.

Go to these pages to learn more about pioneer life on the trail:

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