Fort Worth’s enthusiastic and entertaining historian Rick Selcer is the star of the show tonight for the debut of “Fort Worth Characters,” his new book about the city’s funkiest but most overlooked characters through the years.
Just as cool, local artist Randy Souders will be there.
Selcer is author of “Hell’s Half-Acre: The Life and Legend of a Red-Light District” and co-author of “Legendary Watering Holes: The Saloons that Made Texas Famous.” He researches Fort Worth’s earliest days with zeal and explores the city’s most interesting characters and can make our history a blast to read about without resorting to exaggeration and tall tales.
I just finished reading Selcer’s first chapter on Ripley Arnold and was blown away.
Souders has been creating incredibly detailed and gorgeous paintings since 1978. His works have been displayed in museums, the White House, U.S. Capitol, and Texas Capitol, and he’s been featured in USA Today and PARADE. Selcer’s book cover features a Souders painting.
Check out this painting.
And here’s Souders with another beautiful and intriguing work of art.
Selcer will be selling his book at a hometown discount of $25 for hardcover and $10 for paperback. Souders is rumored to be bringing some paintings.
“Fort Worth Characters” book debut party: 7 to 9:30 tonight (Oct. 15) at Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Oak Room, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth
