Talking History with Stephen Harrigan

by Brian Aldaco

Not long ago, the LEAP Ambassadors traveled to Austin, TX, and interviewed Best Selling Author, Stephen Harrigan, which Michael Foster’s wonderful crew turned into video trailer for Let’s Talk.

Already having a relationship with Harrigan and knowing much about him, we were looking forward to visiting with him again.

The Ambassadors, along with bright students interested in hearing from Mr. Harrigan, gathered at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Holcombe Room. With a wonderful top-floor view of campus, we shared and insightful conversation with Mr. Harrigan. We were familiar with his Texas Historical Fiction works and were already amazed by his writing.

However, his latest project had us all captivated; a multi-volume collection of Texas’s History commissioned by UT Press.  The book isn’t yet out–in April he was working on the 1970s and 1980s–but UT Press did release what amounts to a preview of the book, “They Came From the Sky.”

Through our conversation we were granted a glimpse of the amazing stories of our state’s past this new project will include. From comical anecdotes, like Eastland’s Old RIP, to the tragedies that have also shaped Texas, such as Charles Whitman’s UT shooting, Mr. Harrigan provided an in-depth overview of some of the most interesting events throughout the years.

Our now fully accomplished guest also shared his reputation-building experience from when he was a young writer in Austin. He mentioned that when he sent his first article proposal, he was amazed when the magazine publishers accepted it. Although he was shocked, he eventually wrote his article and a month later received his first writing pay-check from none other than “Rolling Stone.”

We were all thankful that we got a chance to speak with Mr. Harrigan. After we finished our conversation, we grabbed our copies of his latest publication “They Came from the Sky” (a preview of his soon to come history of Texas) and asked for the author’s autograph. The LEAPsters will wait in anticipation for his epic publication , but there was no need to say a definite goodbye to Mr. Harrigan as we would see him later that day at SHSU’s Let’s Talk.

Author: mikeyawn

Mike Yawn teaches at Sam Houston State University. In the past few years, he has taught courses on Politics & Film, Public Policy, the Presidency, Media & Politics, Congress, Statistics, Research & Writing, Field Research, and Public Opinion. He has published academic papers in the Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Social Security Quarterly, Film & History, American Politics Review, and contributed a chapter to the textbook Politics and Film. He also contributes columns, news analysis, and news stories to newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express News, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, Huron Daily Tribune, Laredo Morning Times, Beaumont Enterprise, Connecticut Post, and Midland Reporter Telegram. Yawn is also active in his local community, serving on the board of directors of the local YMCA and Friends of the Wynne. Previously, he served on the Huntsville's Promise and Stan Musial World Series Boards of Directors. In 2007-2008, Yawn was one of eight scholars across the nation named as a Carnegie Civic Engagement Scholar by the Carnegie Foundation. View all posts by mikeyawn