There was a real Shorty Stevens. J.T. Shorty Stevens was born in Dallas County Texas in 1895. He and his family moved to Mississippi and from there he found his way in the Ico Community near Sheridan, Arkansas after serving as a Doughboy in France during World War I . A train brought him to Ico, where he took a job working as a logger in the woods. He cut down trees and with the help of a strong horse, dragged the timber out of the woods. The work was long and it was long. Most days the men would start work at 4:30 am and would get home at 5 or 6 in the evening.

One day while working, a tree fell on him, hurting his leg. He soon decided that there had to be a better way to make a living. He began farming and with wife Myrtis, raised his family in Ico. Juanita, Olice, Tommy, Bobby, Willa, Virginia, Nancy and Barbara would join the Stevens Clan.

 My Grandfather loved children, and he loved to tell tall tales as well. I was inspired to write "The True Tales of Shorty Stevens" because his name was unique as was his personality and zest for the great art of storytelling. I thought to myself, "What better way to honor such an important person in my life than to write a story around him?"

 The more I thought about it, the more the ideas came. I love the area around Sheridan, Arkansas. You'll never find a prettier visage of the landscape, or nicer people to visit with. I hope that when the folks of Sheridan, Ico and all of Grant County read the book they'll take pride in it as I do in them.