Before I get started here, please let me thank VERIDION SMART again for their help with my blog during the last two months. You guys were wonderful, Johnny-On-the-Spot with deadlines (very important to this old journalist), and gave me so much to think about! I appreciate you more than I can say.
But, now, it’s time for me to get back to work!
My husband, Kevin, and I have gone on two research trips up to the gorgeous canyonlands of Texas (one in October of 2024, and one in October of 2025), and this last one was even more incredible than the first. I did something I’ve never done before – and it was a stroke of brilliance on my part, which I have to admit doesn’t happen very often. But I want to share it with you because it might be something you want to do yourselves, one of these days. You never know.
One morning, just before I was completely awake, I half-dreamed that I looked up a special Facebook group page for the tiny town of Quitaque, Texas (pronounced kitty-kway), joined the group, and introduced myself as a historical novelist looking for hard-to-find information about their area. This in itself wouldn’t be remarkable, but, in my dreamlike state, I saw the title EXPLORE QUITAQUE at the top of the page – which is the only way I knew to focus my research in that little town. I'd have never thought of it otherwise.
As soon as I sat down at my desk, I searched for a Facebook page called EXPLORE QUITAQUE, the title that had appeared in my dream, and it popped up right away. Even though I have the hardest time talking about myself, I managed to write a chatty introduction about what I needed and why, gave the dates we’d be there, where we were going to stay, and kept my fingers crossed. Within twenty minutes, I had my first response. It was so amazing you could have knocked me over with a feather!
In my Intro, I had explained that I needed information about an infamous location called Las Lenguas (Valley of Tears), also called Los Lingos by many locals. This was an area in which the Comanche Indians and the Comancheros had traded livestock and captives back in the day, and I'd thought it was on the Pole Ranch just outside of Quitaque. But that ranch had recently sold and was no longer open to the public, so I was incredibly disappointed and had no idea where to go from here.
Then, I received an almost instantaneous private message that read: “…I have a mile of Los Lingos Creek. The Valley of Tears is on our ranch and is where the Indians and Comancheros traded captives. The Pole Ranch has none of Los Lingos Creek on it. I would be glad to show you the Valley of Tears.”
Because I’d seen a few videos showing how difficult the slot canyons of Las Lenguas were to hike, I was a little confused and asked him how tough it would be for us to get into the canyon. His answer was simple: “…Drive in UTV, of which I have two.”
I couldn’t believe it! Not only was this unknown man (who could’ve been an ax murderer for all we knew) willing to take us down to the Valley of Tears – which I’d been looking for and researching for months – but he was going to take us to the exact spot where Comanches, Comancheros, soldiers, and captives had walked more than 100 years ago!
Only if you’re a lover of history like I am will you know what a thrill that was.
I’d also mentioned in my Intro that I was looking for hard-to-find information about a Comanchero by the name of Jose Piedad Tofoya. I received a message the next morning about the incredible Comanchero Canyons Museum, also located in Quitaque, and was told that one of their board members, an archaeological researcher, historian, and writer named Marisue Potts, would be happy to share as much information with me as I wanted. We spent a delightful day together – and Kevin got to commiserate with her husband, Rusty, about living with a history-obsessed writer. He enjoyed himself immensely.
We met other ranchers, shop proprietors, historians, and even a banker/western art collector – all in response to my single introductory message pleading for help. I’d never have met (or even known about) any of these wonderfully generous people had I not just put it out there in our social media world that I needed some assistance. I don’t know why I’ve never done that before!
So, if you’re considering writing a historical novel, never hesitate to broadcast your intentions to those familiar with the world you’re writing about. People like to participate. They enjoy sharing the places they love. And you’ll cultivate great relationships with all kinds of folks, from all over.
*I’m going to be building a page on this website about Book Two in the WHISPERS THROUGH TIME series, JOURNEY OF THE HEART. I hope you’ll follow along so I can get your input, feedback, and ideas.
If you haven’t read WHISPERS THROUGH TIME, the prequel to JOURNEY, you can buy it here:
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Through-Rosetta-Diane-Hoessli-ebook/dp/B098278M38/