Tom P's Fiddle: A True Texas Tale

Unearthed from museum archives, prison records, newspapers, state archives, and university collections throughout the Southwest comes this true, frontier tale of a man from Hill County, Texas. Strong-willed, handsome, and an accomplished musician, Tom P Varnell is the son of Francis La Docia and Isaac Varnell, a determined, hardworking ranch family. Isaac’s murder in 1876 leaves Docia, Tom and his sisters to make their own way, and a young Tom P to forge his own code of honor. One evening in 1883, Tom and a friend attend a party hosted by the daughters of Jonah Land. Tom’s wiles woo Ella away from the party, and he soon finds himself with a gun in his hand and Mr. Land shot. Charged with rape and murder, Tom, labeled a notorious desperado, flees as a wanted man. The ensuing events take Tom across Texas to the New Mexico Territory and back. Love, betrayal, revenge, trials, escapes, and family loyalties fill the pages and read like an old-time, wild west tale. Tom P’s Fiddle is an entertaining blend of historical authenticity and Knight’s descriptive narrative. Through the context of real events occurring over a century ago, she sheds light on a media-influenced society bent on imposing moral standards and the impact that can have on a jury verdict and the ultimate outcome of a man’s life. The surprising finale caps the convergence of factors that illustrate life’s unexpected twists and turns.

A sixth-generation Texan, Sherri Knight grew up on a dairy farm in rural Erath County located in North Central Texas. She attended Lingleville and Dublin public schools before graduating from Stephenville High School (at age 16) and eventually Tarleton State University with degrees in English and history plus a Masters in Education. Ms. Knight took her all-level teaching certificate throughout the state of Texas making stops in Houston, Mineral Wells, Callisburg, Childress, Tolar, San Antonio (17 years) and Mansfield school districts, completing 31 total years in the classroom. Her numerous awards include Outstanding History Teacher – UTSA Regional History Fair, Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities presented by the Texas Council for Humanities, Teacher of the Year—East Central High School (San Antonio), National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar, Fulbright-Hays Scholar, Fulbright Summer Abroad, and Texas Exes Award for Excellence in Education, University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Knight coached students to excel in History Fair at both state and national levels. Outside of teaching, Ms. Knight also has a background as a legal secretary and is the former state director for Texas Women Western Artists and a contributor to their publication, "The Western Breeze" and "Texas Art Circles." Ms. Knight is a member of Women Writing the West. Today, Ms. Knight lives in her hometown of Stephenville, Texas with her husband, Arden, and is currently working on her next book centered around the history of the district of Erath County.