Thomas Motley in Abilene Saturday for signing
Book Notes
By Carol Dromgoole
The Art of Farming is one of the most elegant books about a life in the country that I have read.
Thomas Motley of Fort Worth, author, will be at Texas Star Saturday, Nov. 23, for a book signing from 1-3 p.m.
Motley, an artist, art professor and organic farmer, has drawn upon his own life to tell this tale. The subtitle, “Sketches of a Life in the Country,” describe exactly how this book goes.
Farmer and artist Sam narrates the stories of his daily life, spent working in his organic vegetable patches, instructing art students and keeping tabs on his miniature donkey, Sol, who has a mind of his own! Sam and his girlfriend deal with an assortment of trials, including winter storms, prairie fires, broken fences and coyotes.
There is not any murder or mayhem, but the book is quite intriguing in its own way. We learn about life with chickens, keeping critters out of the garden and how to look at a landscape to paint.
I found the book incredibly relaxing, and enjoyed a chapter or so each evening until the end. I was a little sad to see the end, because I had come to know the characters and animals on the farm, and found that I was quite fond of them.
Sam’s fictional setting is based on childhood memories of small towns near relatives’ farms scattered around the state. You might think his fictional city of Elysia is based on your home town, if you lived in a rural town with a courthouse square and farmers market.s
Motley’s book signing in Abilene is a coming home, of sorts, to what he and his artist wife Rebecca regard as their second home. He has forged many friendships with the local art communities at the Grace Museum, the Center for Contemporary Arts and the Abilene Creative Arts Club.
You might be interested in checking out a PBS interview with Motley at this link: https://www.pbs.org/video/the-art-of-farming-sketches-of-a-life-in-the-country-by-td-motley-j4zqp5/
If you can’t make the book signing, give us a call and we can get a book signed for you.
