Category: Oklahoma
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The Town that Built Me
El Reno people seldom see a stranger, and a person in need quickly goes from acquaintance to friend. Just one more reason I’m once again thrilled with my decision to base my novel in my hometown. El Reno residents represent the best of Oklahoma.
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The True Spirit of Oklahoma
One of the things I love best about Oklahoma is the kindness people show each other. While it’s probably not unique to Oklahoma — I’m sure people everywhere can be found being kind to each other — it seems to be something that Oklahomans do more than most. A couple of years ago, I was…
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Nostalgic Musings
What I wouldn’t do to go back to the 17 year old me with the understanding that — though not perfect — home is where people know you. It’s where you don’t have to explain why and how you think the way you do because you’re all a product of similar experiences.
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Jackrabbits: The Plague of the Dust Bowl
Having grown up in Oklahoma — and as the daughter, granddaughter and niece of more than a dozen Dust Bowl survivors — I relied heavily on the stories I’d been told over the years to write my book, The Edge of Nowhere. My dad has always been a prolific storyteller, so I had no end…
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The Soil That Gives Me Strength
One of the things I miss most about Oklahoma is the rich red dirt. I didn’t appreciate it when I lived there. In fact, I probably didn’t like it much because it stains everything. As a child, I remember having brand new, sparkling white, tennis shoes and — the first time I wore them outside…
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When the Two Halves of My Life Intersect
If you’ve followed my blog at all, I don’t think you’ll be surprised to hear that I’m a proud Okie, displaced in Minnesota. While I like Minnesota okay, Oklahoma will always be home. It’s the place I think of when the word “home” is mentioned. It’s where most of my family still resides, and it’s…
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El Reno, Oklahoma Welcomes President Obama!
Though the names have changed and the times are better, they’re still the same people depicted in my novel, The Edge of Nowhere, and the way the residents represented our town yesterday makes me doubly proud to have set my novel in this wonderful town.
C.H. Armstrong Books 