Patrick Dearen at the Spur Award banquet in 2015.
Midland resident inducted into Texas Literary Hall of Fame
Midland resident Patrick Dearen was inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame last week.
An award-winning author, historian and former local news reporter, Dearen said he was stunned to be among the the seven authors inducted on the TCU campus in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The Hall was established in 2004 and now has 66 members.
CBS7 reported on his accomplishment Wednesday, noting Dearen is a Midland resident of 30 years.
Dearen, who grew up in Sterling City, has penned 16 novels and 10 nonfiction books. His works draw inspiration from his knowledge of the Pecos and Devils rivers in Texas and old-time cowboy life, according to the bio on this website. His novel The Big Drift won five awards, including the Spur Award of Western Writers of America.
On Facebook, Dearen shared how he was inspired to be a writer at age 14, when his teacher wrote a note on his paper encouraging him to write fiction.
“He gave me what everyone needs–a dream,” Dearen said. “I went home that very day and began writing my first novel.”
Fifty-seven years later, he’s a Hall of Fame writer.
“What a journey it’s been,” he said.
Joining Dearen as the latest inductees into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame are ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Jerry Craven, Tim Madigan, Jodi Thomas, Martha Wells and Dr. Bruce Winders.
The Texas Literary Hall of Fame honors inductees every two years.
“The Texas Literary Hall of Fame showcases top literary writers across the nation,” said Sonja Watson, Ph.D., Dean of the AddRan College of Liberal Arts. “This group of inductees follows a long list of others who demonstrate how Texas has shaped the cultural landscape of their writings.”
