Jason Stone: The Beauty of Days Gone By

Jason Stone is coming to First Light Books on Wednesday, August 5, for an evening centered on his debut novel, The Beauty of Days Gone By. It's a reception, a conversation, and a signing, all in one night. The conversation is the main event: Stone will be joined by Grahame Lowndes Jones, executive director of the Texas Conservation Alliance, who retired in 2020 as Director of Law Enforcement for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Beauty of Days Gone By is an epic Western in the tradition of Lonesome Dove and Blood Meridian, and it's drawn from real events, journals, and the landscape of West Texas. The story moves between two timelines. The first is the post-Civil War frontier, where former Texas Ranger RL Terry and cattleman Charles Goodnight scour Comancheria for Terry's kidnapped sons. The second is the 1920s, when an aging Goodnight reflects on the clash of cultures that defined the American West. Stone grew up in West Texas, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and now lives in San Antonio.

The evening starts with a reception, followed by the conversation between Stone and Jones, and then a signing. The whole thing is at First Light Books, 4300 Speedway, Austin, TX 78751. It kicks off at 6 PM. Entry is free, though you'll need to RSVP; there are also ticketed options that include a copy of the book and a reserved seat.