TCU Press is among the smallest university publishers in the
nation—both in staff size and in its annual list of titles. Size, however,
has little to do with quality. Some years ago we decided that it was
more important to do a few books well than to increase the list. 
Reasoning that it was better to publish distinguished books—for both
the scholarly community and general readers—in an area where the
press could excel rather than to compete with larger university
presses in the national arena, TCU Press focuses on the history and
literature of the American Southwest. It has worked well. TCU
Press has grown steadily in stature and in its ability to bring credit to
its parent university in the world of regional literature.

TCU Press has won awards from the Texas Institute of Letters, the 
National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Western Writers of America, the 
Rounce and Coffin Club, and the Southwestern Council of Latin 
American Studies, among others.

TCU Press is growing and expanding its list, publishing more titles, 
reaching into new subject areas, and exploring a variety of ways to 
enliven our publishing list. We’ve initiated a series of Texas Small 
Books—all 4-1/2 x 6-1/2, 96 pp., and priced under $10. They’re 
designed to acquaint readers with various aspects of the history and 
culture of life in Texas. Perfect for gifts, quick reading, and, when ‘tis 
the season, stocking stuffers. The first three are Extraordinary Texas 
Women, Texas Country Singers, and State Fare: An Irreverent Guide 
to Texas Movies. Coming in the fall will be two more titles: Great 
Texas Chefs and Texas Football Greats: Legends of the Game, both 
with full color illustrations.

We welcome back some of our favorite authors this spring season—Jon 
McConal’s Walk Across Texas has the same down-home appeal of 
his earlier Bridges Across the Brazos, capturing history and the stories 
of people, this time while walking about 450 miles of West Texas. 
Novelist C. W. Smith (Letters from the Horse Latitudes, Understanding 
Women, Hunter’s Trap, and Thin Men of Haddam) returns with Purple 
Hearts, a story of the home front during World War II that some claim 
is Smith’s best work to date. And we’re delighted to bring back to print 
Elmer Kelton’s classic novel, Manhunters.

We also welcome some new faces: author and balladeer W. C. 
Jameson turned his own curiosity and admiration for Texas writers into 
a collection of essays in which writers discuss their work and its 
relation to Texas. Don Collins brings a stunning collection of drawings 
of historic but little-known buildings. And we’re pleased to continue the 
Texas Poets Laureate series with volumes by Steven Fromholz and 
Larry D. Thomas. 

We think our spring list speaks to the excitement and growth of TCU 
Press, and we have some wonderful plans for the future, including a 
great list for Fall 2008.