Written by Ben Cox – A novel about local educator and football coach Tylene Wilson has been released this week to excellent reviews, according to the author.

 

Wilson was football coach for Daniel Baker College during WWII, and is the focus of “When The Men Were Gone” by Marjorie Lewis which was released Tuesday, October 2nd. “We had a book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Southlake and we sold out! It was standing room only and the book completely sold out, I couldn’t believe it!”

The book is historical fiction, placingWilson in the coaches office of Brownwood High School instead of Daniel Baker, along with a few other artistic licenses.

Lewis says the book has gotten great attention, a reporter from “D Magazine interviewed me and said how much she liked it.” Sports Illustrated, voice of the Dallas Cowboys Roger Emrich, and many others have also said how much they enjoyed the book, according to Lewis.

Brownwood ISD has renovated a room in the visiting teams press box at Gordon Wood Stadium, and named it the Tylene Wilson Room in honor of her accomplishments. Dr Hector Martinez says “It’s an honor to be able to recognize someone who spent so much time in the district and accomplished the things Mrs Wilson did.” Wilson spent 38 years in the Brownwood school district, 18 of them as principal of East Elementary.

Lewis has also had the experience many from Brownwood have had time and time again: finding people with ties to Brownwood in the most unexpected places. “I was signing proof copies at the Texas Library Association Conference in Dallas and I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and said ‘I’m from Brownwood’ or ‘My parents are from Brownwood’, it’s amazing!

Lewis says she has even met people with first hand recollections of the events in the book. “Last Friday I met a woman who is 103 years old named Millie who grew up in Goldthwaite and remembers this happening. It was just before her daughter was born and she thanked me for taking her back to a time that she had forgotten and bringing it all back to life for her. If I can make one 103 year old woman happy then the whole thing is worth it!”

Lewis plans to be back in Brownwood soon for a signing event, and is trying to set things up with Underwood’s Cafeteria to host. Underwood’s is a recurring meeting place for Tylene and her husband in the book and is referred to as Underwood’s Cafe in the novel.

Currently, a Los Angeles based production company is looking for screen writers to adapt the novel for the big screen and Lewis thinks the Lyric Theatre would be a great place to hold a screening when it opens.

Lewis says that the story is already finding its way into the hearts of readers across the country. “People are falling in love with Tylene and what she did.” The novel can be purchased online and in bookstores everywhere.

Author’s Note: My copy of the book arrived by mail yesterday afternoon. I opened it, and did not put it down until I had read it in it’s entirety, which was around midnight and I didn’t mind. This novel is compelling, gripping, sweet, thoughtful, tough, angry, and sad all at the same time. The emotion and detail conveyed by Mrs Lewis is incredible. Any Brownwood Lions fan would do well to pick this up. While it is amusing to note the details that are a bit different from actual history, they certainly do not detract from a Brownwood residents ability to thoroughly enjoy this novel. If you are looking for a good read, this is your next one.