Marjorie Herrera Lewis knew early on she wanted a career related to sports. After several years at small newspapers, at age twenty-seven she began working at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Soon after, she was named a beat writer for the Dallas Cowboys and eventually joined the Dallas Morning News sportswriting staff. She presently teaches media ethics at the University of North Texas. She is the author of When the Men Were Gone: A Novel (William Morrow). Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands. Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over 18 and under 45 are off fighting. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy’s knee. She does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach. Faced with extreme opposition—by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees and even the players themselves—Tylene remains resolute. Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage.
