Wimberley author Allan C. Kimball reveals the history behind the names of 116 state parks all around the State of Texas. From the park system’s beginning in 1923 with Mother Neff State Park (named after the govenor’s mother), Kimball covers interesting biographical and historical origins of our parks.

The true story of Jeannie Ralston’s life, her transformation from Manhattan-based magazine writer to Texas Hill Country lavender farmer, and finding her place in the world.

If you’re a lover of mysteries, check out the 18-book series based in the fictional Hill Country town of Pecan Springs, Texas. From the author’s website: “The China Bayles Herbal Mysteries feature herbalist China Bayles, who abandoned her career as a hot-shot Houston criminal attorney to buy an herb shop in a small town located half-way between Austin and San Antonio, Texas. China wants the things that many contemporary women seek: a quieter life, rewarding work, a close relationship, friends, and community. Each of her mysteries has a signature herb that is connected to a major theme, and each is liberally sprinkled with information on growing and using herbs. The China Bayles novels have been praised for their intelligent plots, quirky and appealing characters, interesting settings, and strong writing.”

These two books by Janice Woods Windle are inspired by her family’s history in Texas and the Hill Country, from pioneers to politicians. The novels offer fictionalized glimpses into the state’s history, from the 1800s on.

True Women was adapted as a TV movie in 1997 and starred Angelina Jolie.

Texas author Ben Rehder continues his series of books set in Blanco County and following the local game warden, John Marlin. Gun Shy, fourth in the series, focuses on the pro-gun lobby and the spokesman for the National Weapons Alliance.

Folk tales swarm around this paranormal location deep in the heart of Central Texas, and this book documents some of them.

This guidebook features 38 carefully-mapped walks in 26 towns in the picturesque Hill Country. Itineraries take you along familiar main streets, then down the unbeaten byways that so often define a town’s soul. A wealth of local historical detail available in no other single volume tells of the people behind the landmarks.

The Texas Hill County: A Food and Wine Lover's Paradise takes readers on a gustatory tour of this picturesque Central Texas region of rolling hills, spring-fed streams, and good eats. One of the state's most popular travel destinations, the Hill Country is fast becoming a magnet for agricultural tourism. Visitors come here to follow the lavender trails, pick peaches and apples, buy fresh-pressed olive oil, sample the offerings at award-winning wineries, and have a meal in the unique eateries--from chic restaurants with world-class dishes on the menu to back-country roadhouses famous for barbecue and hamburgers.

Professional chef and cookbook author Terry Thompson-Anderson has explored every corner of the eighteen-county region, with its quaint communities and specialty farms, and discovered more than one hundred establishments that are sure to please the palate. More than a travel guide, the book is also filled with recipes that she has gathered from proprietors or developed using local food products.

Sandy Wilson's stunning full-color photographs capture the diversity of the Hill Country eating experience, with its berry patches and orchards, roadside stands, artisan bakeries, boutique wineries, and vast array of restaurants serving both traditional and haute cuisine. Welcome to the rich bounty of the Hill Country, where you're in for some remarkable food finds. If this is your first visit, we bet it won't be your last!

55 dog-friendly hikes throughout the Lonestar State’s Hill Country and Gulf Coast regions. All trails within driving distance of Austin, San Antonio, Houston. Terrain that’s hazard-free and easy on the paws. What to pack for your pooch—the Ten Canine Essentials and the Doggy First-Aid Kit.

A native Texan, Melissa Gaskill has spent more than 20 years hiking and camping with her dogs all over the Lonestar State. In this new guidebook, she shares her favorite hikes in the Hill Country and Coast areas that are sure to delight both you and your pet. The hikes range from short jaunts to longer, challenging trails. Discover everything from rugged hills with limestone cliffs and rolling terrain, to wide-open areas with brush and cactus, to the coastal plain with its grasslands and pine forests.

For each hike, leash regulations and availability of water are noted, along with any trail concerns pertinent for your dog. Advice is given on topics such as proper canine trail etiquette, wildlife encounters, and weather concerns. There’s also a handy Trail Finder chart that lists hikes by length, terrain, difficulty for dogs, and more.

Melissa Gaskill has written for newspapers and magazines for more than 15 years on a variety of topics, including travel, outdoors, parenting, and more. Her two enthusiastic trail companions are Keeper, a Labrador retriever, and Max, a mixed-breed adopted from an animal shelter. She lives in Austin with her husband, three children, and two dogs.