Making National News
May 12, 2014
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Alumna’s Novel “War Eagle Women” Published, Featured in National Media
May 12, 2014
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
May 12, 2014
The University of Texas at Tyler alumna Tina Bausinger of Tyler has been featured in national media for her book, “War Eagle Women,” Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean, announced.
The book, published by SoulMate Publishing- New York in ebook form last November, is expected to go to print in August. Both the book and its trailer were featured on the USA Today website under “Must-See Book Trailers.”
“There something compelling about gripping stories told simply, and the trailer to ‘War Eagle Women’ . . . is a perfect example this,” said Robin Covington of USA Today. “The video is pared down to a haunting piano melody, stark imagery and an intriguing script.”
In addition, UT Tyler alumnus and current graduate student Konner Hudson of Tyler wrote and directed the trailer. UT Tyler junior Jay Williams of Garland wrote and performed the music for it. Most of the video was recorded in the UT Tyler Braithwaite Recital Hall.
“My daughters, Jordanne and Sarah Bausinger, also helped facilitate the locations for the video and met with Jay and Konner to help out with various tasks,” Bausinger said. “The book is a Southern gothic novel, written in the same vein as ‘Steel Magnolias,’ ‘The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood’ or ‘Fried Green Tomatoes.’ It’s about four generations of Southern women and the secrets they hold.”
Serving as a UT Tyler adjunct faculty member, Bausinger holds bachelor of arts in English as well as a master’s degree, both from UT Tyler. She hopes to continue her education in English or creative writing.
Hudson holds a bachelor of science degree in English from UT Tyler and will graduate with a master’s degree from the university next year. Williams, a UT Tyler Patriot Singers member, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in both music composition and vocal performance in spring 2017.
According to the book’s promotional materials, a tragic car accident sends 17-year-old Samantha to the surgical ICU. Samantha, who harbors a dark secret, hovers between life and death, and her mother Eden worries that ghosts from the past have come calling for retribution in the form of her daughter’s life. Great-grandmother Elizabeth resolves to camp out at the hospital and tell Samantha all of her own hidden stories in the hopes that she will find the strength to come back to the land of the living and reveal her secret as well.
Deep in the recesses of Sam’s psyche, she hears the legends of the War Eagle Women and experiences a journey of her own where she finds her own identity within the old tales.
For more information, contact Bausinger, tbausinger@uttyler.edu.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.