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Tui Snider: Interviews, Events, & Appearances

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Geeking out over the X-Files’ Dean Haglund at the 2014 Granbury Paranormal Expo!

Here’s what I’m up to:

Check out this page periodically to see what I’m up to, including interviews, speaking engagements, book signings, and other fun events!

If you know of an upcoming paranormal, writing, history, genealogy, or travel-themed events, or bookstores, libraries, clubs, events, et cetera that could use a lively speaker, please drop me an email at TuiSnider [@] gmail [.] com

2016 Interviews & Events

Conference of College Teachers of English
March 4, 2015
San Antonio, TX
More info: Speaker: State of the Writing Profession – How to Boost Your Writing Career with Twitter

2015 Interviews & Events

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Weekly Podcast Co-Host: Teal Gray Worldwide Radio 
Each Tuesday, 7-9pm Central Time
More info here: Teal Gray Worldwide Radio Co-host

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History Haunts and Legends Paranormal Conference
November 7, 2015
Jefferson, TX
More info here: Historic Cemetery Symbols Presentation

Texas ParaUnity Halloween Expo
October 24, 2015
Dallas, TX
More info here: Historic Cemetery Symbols Presentation

Grand-Prairie-poster-half

Grand Prairie Library
October 24, 2015
Grand Prairie, TX
More info here: Haunted Hot Spots in the DFW Area Presentation

Dallas Public Library
October 17, 2015
Dallas, TX
More info here: Presentation: Unexpected Texas (link forthcoming)

cemetery-symbolism

Emily Fowler Central Library
October 15, 2015, 2015
Denton, TX
More info here: Presentation: Historic Cemetery Symbols

Catch Tui Snider's Cemetery Symbolism talk in Galveston this October!
Catch Tui Snider’s Cemetery Symbolism talk in Galveston this October!

2nd Annual Wake The Dead Horror Paracon
October 9, 10, 11, 2015
Galveston, TX
More info here: Historic Cemetery Symbols Presentation

Paranormal Book Signing Event
October 3, 2015
Weatherford, TX
More info here: Book Signing

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Coast to Coast AM Radio – with George Noory
October 1, 2015
More info here: Interview: Strange Texas Sites & Tales

Langdon Review Weekend – Festival of the Arts
September 9 – 12, 2015
Granbury, TX
More info here: Presenter: Multi Genre (poetry, prose & song)

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ASAP Entertainment’s Gainesville Paracon at Haunted Hill Manor
August 28 & 29, 2015
Gainesville, TX
More info here: Presentation on Historic Cemetery Symbolism

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Radio Interview: Close to Death with Selena Roane
June 9, 2015
More info here: Close to Death radio

Tui Snider presents her Cemetery Symbolism talk in Granbury!
Tui Snider presents her Cemetery Symbolism talk in Granbury!

Granbury Paranormal Expo
April 25 & 26, 2015
Granbury, TX
More info here: Presentation on Cemetery Symbolism

Plano Photo Walk
April 10 & 11, 2015
Plano, TX
More info here: Guest Photographer: Plano Photo Walk

Co-Host: Teal Gray Worldwide
April 2, 2015
More info here: Presents “What in the World?” & co-hosts 6-8pm CST

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Emily Fowler Central Library
March 21, 2015
Denton, TX
More info here: Presentation: How to Find Big Fun in Small Towns

Philosophenomena Unity Fest
March 21, 2015
Glen Rose, TX
More info here: Vendor table

Co-Host: Teal Gray Worldwide
March 5, 2015
More info here: Presents “What in the World?” & co-hosts 6-8pm CST

2014 Appearances & Events

Books & Banter
November 22, 2014
Lawton, OK
More info here: Presentation & Book Signing from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Radio Interview: The Joe Show on AM 930 Progressive Talk
October 27, 2014
More info here: Interview on The Joe Show on AM 930 Progressive Talk

Radio Interview: Teal Gray Worldwide
October 23, 2014
More info here: Interview on the Unexplained Radio Network

Radio Interview: Simplicity Radio with Brian Treybig
October 22, 2014
More info here: Simplicity Radio Welcomes Author, Tui Snider

Coast to Coast AM
October 21, 2014
More info here: Tui Snider’s Ghost Photo Featured on Coast to Coast AM website & Facebook page

Coppell Public Library
September 28, 2014
Coppell, TX
More info here: Tea Time Presentation & Book Signing

Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers
September 18-20, 2014
Dallas, TX
More info here: Presenter & Panelist: Social Media for Writers

Dash Beardsley Wake the Dead Show
September 6, 2014
Galveston, TX
More info here: Dash Beardsley Wake the Dead Show

Radio Interview: Teal Gray Worldwide
July 2, 2014
More info here: A Night of the Unexpected with Tui Snider

Emily Fowler Central Library
June 8, 2014
Denton, TX
More info here: Presentation: Unexpected Texas

Guest Post: This Eclectic Life
June 1, 2014
Fort Worth, TX
More info here: Interesting Cemeteries in North Texas – A Guest Post by Tui Snider

Granbury Paranormal Expo
May 17, 2014
Granbury, TX
More info here: Granbury Paranormal Expo – Exhibitor

2014 DFW Writer’s Conference
May 2-4, 2014
Hurst, TX
More info here:DFW Writer’s Conference, vendor

Fort Worth Art Dealer’s Association (FWADA) Spring Gallery Night
March 29, 2014
Fort Worth, TX
More info here: Book Signing at There’s No Place Like Home Furniture

Unexpected Texas Facebook Party
March 9, 2014
Read it here: Online Facebook Party for Unexpected Texas – Yee haw!

Morgan Dragonwillow Reviews Unexpected Texas
March 8, 2014
Read it here: Unexpected Texas Travel Book by an Extraordinary Woman

Unexpected Texas Reviewed on Less Beaten Paths
March 7, 2014
Read it here: New Book on Texas Travel: Tui Snider – Unexpected Texas

Unexpected Texas Reviewed by a Native Texan (spoiler alert: She loves it!)
March 6, 2014
Read it here: Unexpected Texas. Tui Snider’s Travel Book

Unexpected Texas Review on Victoria’s Reading Alcove
March 5, 2014
Read it here: Unexpected Texas – A Trip Down Memory Lane

Unexpected Texas Mini-Interview at Byteful Travel
March 4, 2014
Read it here: Tui Discovers a truly “Unexpected Texas” in her New Book

Interview by YA Author, Patricia Lynne
March 3, 2014
Read it here: An Unexpected Visit to Texas

Official Book Release & Interview on StoryDam
March 2, 2014
Read it here: StoryDam Author Interview: Tui Snider and her Unexpected Texas Book Release Blog Tour

Filed Under: My Bio, Teal Gray Worldwide Radio, TGWW Radio Tagged With: appearances, asap entertainment, author, big fun in small towns, book signing, ccte, ccte conference, close to death, Dash Beardsley, Dean Haglund, Denton, DFW, emily fowler library, events, festival, gainesville, Galveston, galveston comiccon, galveston island convention center, Granbury, Granbury Paranormal Expo, grand prairie library, haunted hill manor, haunted hot spots, haunted travel, historic cemetery symbols, history haunts legends, jefferson, langdon review weekend, paracon, paracon speaker, paranormal conference, photographer, plano photo walk, podcast, podcast host, presenter, Selena Roane, speaker, Teal Gray Worldwide Radio, Texas, texas paraunity halloween expo, tgww radio, tui snider author, Tui Snider speaker, Twitter, wake the dead, writer in residence

Wichita Falls, Texas: The World’s Smallest Skyscraper

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The World’s Smallest Skyscraper
Built in 1919, the Newby-McMahon Building in downtown Wichita Falls (701 La Salle, Wichita Falls, TX) is more commonly referred to as “the world’s smallest skyscraper.”

Here’s the story behind this quirky structure and how it got its nickname:

J.D. McMahon was an engineer and oilman from Philadelphia who breezed into Wichita Falls with blueprints to build a high-rise building in the downtown area. McMahon must have been a good talker, because it didn’t take him long to raise $200,000 (a fortune for that time) from local investors.

The Difference Between Feet & Inches
At a glance, it appeared that the finished building would stand 48 stories high, and McMahon never said otherwise. Unfortunately for the investors, none of them noticed that McMahon’s beautifully detailed blueprints indicated that the building would stand 480 inches tall, not 480 feet tall, as they all assumed.

Angry investors sue… and lose!
Since McMahon constructed the building using his own crew, it took a while for investors to realize they had been duped. When they sued McMahon, however, the judge ruled in his favor. Why? Because McMahon had followed his plans to the letter and the investors had signed off on it every step of the way!

In the end, McMahon split town with a big chunk of cash, and the city was left with an embarrassing reminder for the importance of always reading the fine print.

World's Smallest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls (photo by Tui Snider)
World’s Smallest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls (photo by Tui Snider)

Texas Historic Landmark in Wichita Falls
This odd little building is still standing and has been designated a Texas Historic Landmark. When I visited Wichita Falls, it was undergoing renovation and was not open for touring. Even so, it is worth driving by if you happen to be in town.

For more tales like this, read Unexpected Texas
For more quirky tales, offbeat and overlooked travel destinations and day trip ideas for the Dallas – Fort Worth region, check out my Amazon Best Selling travel guide, Unexpected Texas, from which the above excerpt was adapted for this blog post.

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: Dallas, day trip, DFW, Fort Worth, quirky, Quirky Travel, road trip, texas travel, Tui Snider, unexpected Texas

IWSG & DFWcon: Because Writing Conferences & Insecurity Go Hand in Hand!

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DFWcon in Hurst, TX (photo by Tui Snider)
DFWcon in Hurst, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

 

IWSG & DFWcon ReCap

I’m combining my DFWcon Recap along with an IWSG check-in because, in my case at least, writing conferences and writing insecurities go hand-in-hand! IWSG stands for “Insecure Writers Support Group.” It’s a monthly check-in, and this is my very first time joining the group.

Hi, everyone!

Last weekend was the DFW Writer’s Conference a.k.a. DFWcon (DFW stands for “Dallas – Fort Worth” for those who may not know.) It’s my 3rd year attending, but it’s the first time I was both an attendee *and* a vendor. Yup – I manned (womanned? personed?) a table to sell my book Unexpected Texas. Actually, my hubby manned the table most of the time, which was great. He’s a good schmoozer!

Look Ma! A New Genre!

It’s so fun to be surrounded by writers! Sure, people mingled at the official mixer, but even when we were out for dinner, I overheard other diners discuss their pitch sessions, agonize over which classes to attend, and chat about writerly concerns.

One morning at the hotel breakfast buffet, I asked the guy beside me, “What’s your main genre?”

“AC, I guess.”

“AC? That’s a new one on me. What’s it stand for?”

“AC?” He looked at me like I was crazy. “Means air-conditioning. I’m here for continuing education in heating and cooling.”

*forehead smack* In my defense, he looked like a writer… whatever that means. Which brings me to something Brad Newton, who taught Improv for Writers, noticed about the DFW Writer’s Conference:

We are a varied bunch!

Brad said that most groups he teaches to have a certain uniformity to their attire. When he teaches ranchers, they dress like ranchers, and when he teaches business people, they dress like business people. But, as he put it, “DFWcon people are very individual. They dress from the outside in, rather than from the inside out. It’s very expressive and unique to each person.”

Nifty, eh?

Improv for Writers

While I’m talking about Brad Newton, I may as well mention how much I enjoyed his class. I avoided Improv for Writers last year because I wasn’t sure how it would apply to my writing.

While I’m a natural born goofball, when it comes to DFWcon, I want nuts and bolts. I want to leave each seminar armed to the teeth with tools I can apply directly to my writing life and career.

Rawr!

If I’m in a writing seminar and it’s not well-organized, or it’s just a pep talk – I leave. I don’t need someone to fluff me up like a pillow. That’s why God invented YouTube cat videos, right? That said, people spoke so highly about Brad Newton’s Improv for Writers class last year that I decided to give it a whirl this time around.

I’m glad I did.

My 2 big takeaways from Brad Newton’s Improv for Writers:

1. The best stories carry us along with them: Brad’s improv games made me realize how an audience plays along when you tell a story. Brad didn’t say this to us directly, but his games made me realize this through my own feelings.  That’s the beauty of improv. It’s visceral, not cranial. Brad could have lectured us. He could have used PowerPoint to explain how an audience roots for you and your characters, but his improv class allowed us to discover this for ourselves. I think it’s important for writers to get out of their heads and into their bodies from time to time.

2. Letting yourself make mistakes frees up a lot of energy. During one game, Brad kept urging us to go faster and faster. We all resisted. We didn’t want to goof up. It’s not like anything was at stake, mind you, other than a little embarrassment.  “Dare to be wrong!” he urged. “Go ahead, make mistakes!” Finally, we loosened up and got sloppy. Afterwards, I noticed how energized I felt. It made me realize how draining it is to try and only do the right thing. It made me think of freewriting (which I love to do), and how I get so much more writing done when I let myself make mistakes on the page. I had never really thought of perfectionism in that way before. Brad’s class really made me feel how giving in to the mind-trap of perfectionism caps off my creative energy.

Waiting for a DFWCon pitch session (photo by Tui Snider)
Waiting for a DFWCon pitch session (photo by Tui Snider)

I heard an Elevator Pitch – in an Actual Elevator!

Y’know how you are always being told to polish your “elevator pitch”? Well, my husband asked a woman why she was at DFWcon as she stepped into the elevator with us. As we descended 4 floors, she launched into a concise little elevator pitch describing her work. It was perfect!

Speaking of Pitches… (cue the IWSG Theme Song)

I showed up early to the pitch session waiting area and I was not alone. As I sat around a table full of anxious writers, we killed time by practicing our pitches on each other. It was fun and helpful. We even helped a guy figure out what genre his work fell into.

I decided to pitch my memoir. It’s a book based on diaries I kept when I dropped out of college and ran off with an artist to live on a tiny island with a population of 7. It was completely off the grid. There was no ferry service and mail came once a week. It was a bit like the TV show “Gilligan’s Island,” because there was “no phone, no lights, no motor car.” We even had a professor out there, but no coconuts.

My memoir is in the 3 Act structure and reads like a novel. External events include our boat sinking, nearly getting blown up by 17 tons of dynamite, and a neighbor accusing me of being a Satan worshiper. Internal events include my struggle to be a step-mom, disappointing my family, rejection from friends, and dealing with my in-laws’ expectations.

The response I got from everyone at the table was along the lines of, “Wow! That sounds really interesting. I’d read that.”

So I walked in feeling pretty good about things…

The agent on the other hand, visibly bristled when the word “memoir” came out of my mouth. I specifically chose this agent, however, because memoir was listed as a possible genre, along with travel, women’s issues, and spirituality. This agent also mentioned enjoying working with highly creative people, people who have more than one facet to them, which made me think of my music and photography. I didn’t end up mentioning those things, though.

I also showed the agent my self-published book, and mentioned I had another coming out in September. I thought this would show that I am a do-er, y’know? Didn’t feel like it helped, though. Aside from stiffening at the word “memoir” the agent had a pretty good poker face. It was hard for me to read what was happening at the other side of my pitch.

At one point the agent asked me to describe my memoir’s universal theme. I said something along the lines of, “It’s about finding one’s place in the world, and that while the emotional price of following your heart can be painful and cause family and friends to reject you, it can also lead to a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world.”

Yeah… it was redundant and rambling, but the agent looked surprised and said, “That’s actually pretty good.”

Even so, I was not asked to submit a query or any sample pages. The agent’s parting comments were, “Living on an island is not something most people have done. What you have done is very unusual. Very strange. Readers need something they can relate to.”

As for the other people at my table? One was asked for a full manuscript, another for a partial, and two others, like me, struck out completely.

Oh, well.

The Takeaway from my Pitch Session

The upside to my pitch session is that it made me ask, “What is it that I truly *need* as a writer?” I’m not afraid to write, I enjoy social media, and I have no shortage of projects lined up. What I need, however, is some wise guidance.  I’d love to have a mentor, publicist, or another author a wee bit farther along on their creative journey to model myself after and learn from. I definitely need camaraderie, and am grateful for all the connections I have made online! I’m happy to share what I learn as I go, and to pool my knowledge and experience with other writers. That’s one of the things I hope to gain/contribute to the IWSG group.

Making friends at DFWcon (photo by Larry Snider)
Making friends at DFWcon (photo by Larry Snider)

Speaking of Mentors

At last year’s DFWcon, I took a public speaking class from Harry Hall. It was very helpful, and I bought his book afterwards. I was happy to see him again this year and to let him know that I’ve booked my first speaking engagement for June. He gave me a few pointers, and we chatted several times during the weekend.

Nina Amir, who taught a class called The Author Training Manual, was also very helpful. I even took notes while talking to her in the buffet line at lunch!

Later, at the keynote, I was lucky enough to sit by Les Edgerton, the author of Hooked (among many others.) He gave me a few pointers on memoir writing and recommended the book Your Life As Story by Tristan Rainer, which I have ordered.

Unexpected Inspiration

I also connected with the vibrant woman at the vendor table beside mine: Chantelle Aimee Osman. Wow! She is multi-talented. I attended her class on screenwriting and I was so inspired that I’ve started a screenplay based on the Lynching of Santa Claus.

Too Much for one Blog Post

While I have gone on and one… Believe me, I could still go on and on! I didn’t even get to tell you about:

… all the wonderful peeps I met and/or reconnected with from past DFWcon writing conferences.

… the lively class led by Kelsey Macke that’s got me fired up to try my hand at vlogging.

… the hilarious Tex Thompson. Who knew a class on grammar could make you snort-laugh? (I wasn’t the only one!) I’m still snickering over a few of her remarks, actually…

But it’s now lunchtime, my kitchen timer has dinged, this post has become ginormous and I had better post this post. Even so, I may just have to write up a DFWcon Recap Part 2. Stay tuned!

Check out other IWSG Posts by Clicking this Badge:

IWSG

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: DFW, DFWCON, insecurities, IWSG, writers conference, writing conference

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare in Dallas, Texas

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 AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House
AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Over the next five years, the complete works of William Shakespeare – including all his plays, sonnets, grocery lists, you name it – will be performed in Dallas, Texas.

This ambitious project is the result of a collaboration between Shakespeare Dallas, the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Mankoff Family Foundation. Performances will take place at Hamon Hall in the Winspear Opera House over a period of five years.

 AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House
AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House

Hearing a Play

Back in the Bard’s day, plays were not big, splashy productions. People went to hear the story more than anything, so instead of saying, “I’m going to see a play,” people would say, “I’m going to hear a play.” Actors wore their own clothes, except for the men playing female roles (women were not allowed to be actors.)

The experience you get at Hamon Hall harkens back to the manner in which people experienced plays back in the Elizabethan era. The actors are dressed simply and have only a few props.

 AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House
AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House

The Bard’s Work in its Entirety

When they say  complete, they do mean complete; none of this, “trimming it down for modern attention spans,” business. Long plays will be performed from start to finish even when – as in the case of Hamlet – this could easily be 4 1/2 hours!

I recently attended the staged reading of Much Ado About Nothing, and it was delightful. At intermission, several audience members confessed that they were restless at first due to the lack of costumes and staging, but that the story soon sucked them in. (Also, since the press invitation said, “photos encouraged,” I snapped a few with my iPhone during the show, as you can see in this post.)

 AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House
AT&T PAC & Shakespeare Dallas collaboration at the Winspear Opera House

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Schedule

So, keep your eye out for the Complete Works of William Shakespeare in Dallas. Here is what they’ve got planned for the 2012-2013 season:

  • September 23 and 24 Much Ado About Nothing
  • October 14 and 15 Othello
  • November 25 and 26 The Taming of the Shrew
  • January 13 and 14 The Winter’s Tale
  • February 17 and 18 Henry VI Part 1
  • March 10 and 11 Henry VI Part 2
  • April 14 and 15 Henry VI Part 3
  • May 19 and 20 Richard III

What:The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Where: Hamon Hall (inside the Winspear Opera House) 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Price: Tickets are $10 in advance, or you can pay what you can at the door. For more information, check out the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: As long as it takes!

NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: ATTPAC, Dallas, DFW, instagr.am, iPhone, iPhone photography, Shakespeare, theater, Tui Snider, writer

iPhone Photo Essay: Chandor Gardens, the Secret Gardens of Weatherford, Texas

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Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Best Kept Secret in Weatherford, Texas

Twenty-five miles west of Fort Worth lies a beautifully landscaped garden in the Historic District of Weatherford, Texas. This lush oasis was created by the internationally renowned portrait artist, Douglas Chandor, and his wife, Ina.

Chandor Gardens is such an unspoiled treasure that, I must confess, part of me selfishly wanted to keep it as my own little secret garden rather than write up this iPhone photo essay.

At any rate, while researching this article, I discovered that the historical romance author, Caroline Clemmons, recently blogged about this site, too. Check out her post entitled, A Visit to Chandor Gardens, Weatherford, Texas for even more information and photos.

Bronze fountain at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Bronze fountain at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

A Petite, but Charming Garden

At a mere four acres, Chandor Gardens can hardly compete with the likes of the 66 acre Dallas Arboretum or the 109 acre Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, but this is part of its charm.

After all, even in Texas, bigger isn’t always better.

It’s so well-planned that each little section of the garden offers visitors a surprising amount of privacy. There are plenty of nooks and crannies perfect for stealing a kiss from your sweetheart as you wander along the pathways.

Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Chandor Gardens as Living Art

Douglas Chandor called his gardens in Weatherford a form of, “living art.” It really does feel like you are walking through a landscape painting at times. In some places it even feels as though you have stepped into an illustration for Alice in Wonderland!

The landscaping is a mixture of traditional English style gardens, with Asian influences. Some of my favorite features include the koi pond, the 30 foot waterfall and the bronze sea dragon fountain.

Koi pond at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Koi pond at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Who was Douglas Chandor?

Douglas Chandor was born in Surrey, England in 1897. He began his career as a soldier, however, not an artist. In 1918, while recovering from illness and injuries sustained during WWI, Chandor rediscovered his childhood love of painting.

He must have been a quick study, because within a year, Chandor began receiving prestigious portrait commissions. One thing led to another, and in 1921 he completed a portrait of the Prince of Wales which officially launched his career.

Lion statue at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Lion statue at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Soon after, Chandor was commissioned to paint President Herbert Hoover, the Vice President Charles Curtis and the entire White House cabinet!

His portrait career was extremely successful and included such notable figures as Queen Elizabeth II, President Franklin Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin and Prime Minister Winston Churchill (who was quite an artist in his own right.)

You can see some of Douglas Chandor’s paintings in person (as well as some of Winston Churchill’s watercolors) at the Dallas Museum of Art

Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Why Weatherford, Texas?

So if Chandor was British, how the heck did he wind up in Weatherford, Texas? Well, just like me, he landed in the Lone Star State because he fell in love with a Texan.

In Chandor’s case, he divorced his first wife in 1932. Two years later, he married Ina Kuteman Hill. I’m not sure where the pair met, but Ms. Hill hailed from Weatherford, which is why the couple opted to spend half of the year in her family’s north Texas mansion and the other half in New York City. (Let’s hope they chose the summer months to migrate north, because it gets mighty hot down here then.)

Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

White Shadows Garden

Soon after marrying, Douglas and Ina Chandor began an ambitious landscaping project they called, “White Shadows Garden.” From the years 1936 until 1952, the pair transformed the barren yard of their estate into intricate gardens.

After Mr. Chandor’s death in 1953, his widow renamed the place, “Chandor Gardens,” in his honor and opened them to the public to defray the cost of upkeep.

Impressionistic Koi at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Impressionistic Koi at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Paradise Lost – Almost!

This arrangement worked well enough until Ina Chandor’s death in 1978. With no heirs to maintain their project, the once magnificent gardens slowly deteriorated and the estate sat empty.

Fortunately, in 1995 Charles and Melody Bradford bought the site and began the slow, steady process of restoring the site to its former glory. In 2002, the city of Weatherford purchased Chandor Gardens from the Bradfords and opened it to the public once again.

Tiny frog at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Tiny frog at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Weddings, Garden Parties & Tours

Chandor Gardens is available for weddings and garden parties. People can rent the garden, the mansion, or both for private functions. Imagine what a whimsical garden party you could host there!

On my first visit, my husband and I arrived at the tail end of a wedding reception. Watching little kids play hide and seek in their Sunday best only added to the atmosphere.

On my most recent visit, my husband turned into a tiny frog when I kissed him beneath the water fall. As you can see in the photo above, he was so small he could sit inside his own wedding band. After a few tense moments, I remembered the proper words to recite as I ever-so-carefully kissed him again, and he turned back into my handsome prince. Phew!

If you ever get the chance to visit Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas, I’m sure you will have a delightful time.

Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Hours, Admission, Address & Parking

Address:
711 W. Lee Avenue
Weatherford TX 76086

Admission
Adults and kids 13 and up: $5.00
Children 12 and Under: Free (Must be accompanied by a paying adult)

Hours of operation:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Parking
Free on-site parking

PLEASE NOTE: While all the above information is accurate as of this writing, hours, prices and so forth are subject to change.

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, Dallas, day trip, DFW, Fort Worth, garden, gardens, iPhone, iPhone photography, photo essay, photographer, road trip, Texas, Texas day trip, Texas road trip, Tui Snider

Alien Gravesite in Aurora Cemetery: The Roswell of Texas?

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Headstone at alien gravesite in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Headstone at alien gravesite in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Aurora Cemetery: Home of the Strangest Historical Marker in Texas

My husband and I take day trips in the Dallas – Fort Worth area of north Texas as often as possible. We enjoy exploring historic downtown squares, cemeteries, family-run restaurants and uncovering quirky and/or overlooked sites.

Yesterday, we popped over to the Aurora Cemetery which was established in 1861. Like many older cemeteries, it has a Texas State Historical Marker. While pioneers, cattlemen, farmers and soldiers often figure prominently on such signs, what makes this historical marker so unusual is that it mentions a spaceship crash in 1897.

A spaceship crash?

In Texas?

In 1897?

Yes, indeed!

The following is an adapted excerpt from my Amazon Best Seller: Unexpected Texas. Enjoy! (And I’ve got a brand new book coming out on this topic!)

Here’s a YouTube video I made about the

Aurora Space Alien Grave:

Aurora Cemetery
Aurora Cemetery was established in 1861. Like many older graveyards, it has a Texas State Historical Marker. While pioneers, cattlemen, farmers, and soldiers often figure prominently on such signs, what makes this historical marker unusual is that it mentions a spaceship crash in 1897.
The Roswell of Texas?
You’ve probably heard of the Roswell Incident, an alleged spaceship crash in the desert of New Mexico in 1947. While the Roswell Incident is arguably the most well-known case in UFO history, here in north Texas there exists an alleged extraterrestrial wreck (complete with an alien body) which took place 50 years earlier.
A spaceship crash in north Texas?
As the story goes, in the early morning hours of April 17, 1897 a mysterious craft crash-landed in the north Texas town of Aurora.

According to a newspaper article which appeared in the April 19th edition of The Dallas News, a cigar-shaped airship ran into a windmill, spread debris across several acres and – strangest of all – a small humanoid body was discovered in the wreck.

According to the reporter, although the petite alien was “not an inhabitant of this world,” his or her body was buried in the local cemetery.

Here’s a link to a scan of the original article, and here’s what the reporter claims:

“About 6 o’clock this morning the early risers of Aurora were astonished at the sudden appearance of the airship which has been sailing around the country. It was traveling due north and much nearer the earth than before.

Evidently some of the machinery was out-of-order, for it was making a speed of only ten or twelve miles an hour, and gradually settling toward the earth. It sailed over the public square and when it reached the north part of town it collided with the tower of Judge Proctor’s windmill and went into pieces with a terrific explosion, scattering debris over several acres of ground, wrecking the windmill and water tank and destroying the judge’s flower garden.

The pilot of the ship is supposed to have been the only one aboard and, while his remains were badly disfigured, enough of the original has been picked up to show that he was not an inhabitant of this world.”

What with epidemics, crop failure and being slighted by the railroad, the townsfolk of Aurora paid little attention to the odd incident. Given the mindset of the era and the challenges they faced, it’s not surprising that instead of studying the alien’s body for science, the locals buried the creature and moved on with their lives.

No reportage exists regarding the actual funeral ceremony, although a headstone was placed at the grave site. According to photos and verbal accounts, this first headstone depicted a crudely carved cigar-shaped object with portholes in the side.

In any case, the weird incident faded into the background as the once-booming town of Aurora withered into near oblivion. Then, in 1973 a United Press International blurb mentioned the alleged spaceship crash reported in north Texas.

This little article created so much interest in the old story that local police had to guard the alien grave day and night to keep trespassers from digging it up. Sadly, the night they quit this vigil someone stole the original headstone for the space creature. There was even a push to officially exhume the alien’s body, but the cemetery association declined.

Of course, there is also the strong possibility that the whole thing is a hoax.

Here’s what debunkers say:
1. There was no windmill on Judge Proctor’s land.

2. There is no well.

3. There is nothing buried beneath the gravesite.

4. There is no mysterious metal near the crash site.

5. The reporter made the story up hoping to make the town a tourist attraction.

Here’s what believers say:
1. The History Channel found evidence of a windmill on Judge Proctor’s land.

2. They found a well at this site, too. The well was capped in the 1950′s because the owner thought it was contaminated by the alien debris. The History Channel convinced the current owner to let them uncap it and test the water.

3. Melted metal has been found in the alleged crash site area. This metal is not some unearthly element. It’s aluminum. While aluminum seems commonplace to us now, it was actually quite rare in the late 1800′s.

4. The History Channel also found, via ground-penetrating radar, a casket-shaped item in the ground exactly where the alien is allegedly buried. (While the original tombstone was stolen in 1973, a new grave marker, which I’ve seen, was added by the local townspeople back in 2000.
Unfortunately, as of this writing the alien’s headstone has been stolen once again.)

5. The 1947 Roswell Incident crash debris was taken to Fort Worth, Texas which is only 30 minutes away from Aurora.

6. The town of Aurora is set up like a military base. (I’m not sure what they mean by this, since as I mentioned earlier the town of Aurora is barely there. I did notice a street called, “Base,” but beyond that, I don’t understand this claim.)

While I don’t think there is conclusive proof that an alien crashed to earth here in north Texas, I do think something unusual happened in Aurora back in April of 1897. Sadly, it is such a cold case that we may never know the truth.

I definitely wish the Aurora Cemetery would let a respected investigation group exhume the alien’s coffin and see what is really in there. Maybe there’s a note saying that the whole thing is a prank. The cemetery board very nearly exhumed the body back in 1973. However, since Texas state law requires the next of kin to be notified prior to exhumation, that makes this case a little tricky!

There was a rash of, “mysterious cigar-shaped airship,” sightings all across the US, but especially in Texas, in 1896 and 1897. Some of the accounts are downright ridiculous. In one I came across, the aliens reportedly sang religious hymns and had a barbecue.

Perhaps what makes the Aurora incident so enduring is that – even if it is just a tall Texan tale – its details dance along the edge of possibility without plunging overboard and landing in the utterly implausible. This is good advice for storytellers (and other professional liars) everywhere. Then again, to paraphrase Freud, “Sometimes a cigar-shaped object is just a cigar-shaped object.”

Visiting Aurora Cemetery: Directions and Finding the Alien Grave
There isn’t an official street address for Aurora Cemetery, but it’s not hard to find. If you have a GPS, set it for: Cemetery Rd, Aurora, TX 76078. If not, head towards Rhome, Texas on US 81/287. Exit onto Highway 114, drive roughly 1.5 miles then turn onto Cemetery Road. The cemetery will be on your lefthand side.

To find the alien grave site, turn right as you enter the Aurora Cemetery gates. It’s pretty easy to find there in the older section of the graveyard. There aren’t any graves near it, for some reason. Perhaps people were creeped out at the idea of being buried near the creature, or – since the alien didn’t have any family members – there was simply no one to put beside him or her.

Want to read more?

To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best selling travel guide: Unexpected Texas.
For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best selling travel guide to haunted places: Paranormal Texas.
For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out: The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber. Happy travels!

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my author newsletter using the form below:

Tui Snider having fun on a Texas road trip!
Tui Snider having fun on a Texas road trip!

Filed Under: Historic Cemeteries Tagged With: alien, aurora, author, cemetery, Dallas, DFW, featured post, Forth Worth, historic, historic cemetery, iPhone, iPhone photography, photo essay, photographer, Roswell, spaceship, Texas, Texas day trip, Texas road trip, travel, ttot, Tui Snider, writer

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