James Pylant, author
James Pylant is the author of a family-authorized celebrity biography, In Morticia's Shadow: The Life & Career of Carolyn Jones. He has also interviewed several famous personalities, including Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal), Audrey Landers (Dallas), Ruth Buzzi (Laugh-In), Peter Mark Richman (Dynasty, Star Trek), Linda Purl (Happy Days, Matlock), Stanley Livingston (My Three Sons), Mother Dolores Hart (King Creole), Dr. Henry Louis Gates (Finding Your Roots), Sydney Biddle Barrows (Mayflower Madam), and Playboy Playmate Stephanie Adams.
Using his skill as a researcher, James extensively documented a case of identity theft and bigamy for the book Destiny in Texas. He is also the author of Blood Legacy: The True Story of the Snow Axe Murders, Sins of the Pioneers, and co-wrote The Oldest Profession in Texas. His book, Texas Gothic: Fame, Crime & Crazy Water, won first place in the 2016 North Texas Book Festival Book Awards for Adult Non-Fiction.
A former contest judge for the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, James wrote for The Bottom Line, Family Chronicle, and Ancestry. He currently serves as editor of GenealogyMagazine.com, a source utilized by wikipedia.org, the Texas Historical Commission, and Learning and Teaching Scotland’s SCET.NET for History: A Virtual Department.
In the News
press coverage
"Life was Tough in Texas Frontier Town"
By Glenn Dromgoole | January 10, 2010
"Publisher Specializes in Local Visual Histories"
By Glenn Dromgoole | October 19, 2008
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
"New Book Recalls 'Salacious' Life of Waco Madam"
Syndicated July 21, 2011
"For Crime Aficionados Lurid Mischief in Texas Makes for Good Readin'"
By Mike Cox | July 13, 2011
"Friends Could be Family. Family Could be Unrelated. What People Are Finding Out from DNA Sites" By Danielle Braff | January 3, 2018
https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-dna-to-find-relatives-0109-story.html
"Here's What Happened to Carolyn Jones Before, During and After Playing Morticia on 'The Addams Family'"
By Ed Gross | April 7, 2020
https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/heres-what-happened-to-the-addams-family-star-carolyn-jones/
"As His World Turned"
By Hank Burdine | January/February 2012
http://www.poetrytheatre.org/_asset/AnthonyHerrera-founder.pdf
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Social Eyes"
June 22, 2012
"Still Bringing Up Stories"
By Jeff Prince | October 3, 2012
https://www.fwweekly.com/2012/10/03/still-bringing-stories/#comments
"Texas Authors to Discuss Latest Book"
By Staff Correspondent | August 1, 2011
https://www.garzapost.com/story/2011/aug/1/book-signing-texas-author-sherri-knight
Mineral Wells Index
"New Book Tells Untold Stories of Mineral Wells"
By David May | September 17, 2014
"Morticia and the Baker"
By Chris Agee | November 23, 2012
myhighplains.com
"Carolyn Jones: More than Morticia"
By Jack Kessler | May 29, 2024
https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/carolyn-jones-more-than-morticia/
San Angelo Standard-Times
"Texas' Ladies of the Evening Make for an Interesting Bedside Read"
By Ross McSwain | October 23, 2011
"Local Author to Discuss His Latest Book on Addams Family Star"
November 16, 2012
"Dinner in the Stacks' to Feature Pylant's 'Blood Legacy'"
By Tarleton State University | September 8, 2008
https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/article/20121115/News/311159879
Waco Tribune-Herald
"New Book Explores Waco's Legal But Shadowy Underworld of Prostitution a Century Ago"
By J. B. Smith | July 27, 2011
© 2017-2024 Jacobus Books