Tom Fox interviews author Phil Oakley about Austin Sunrise, the third book in his trilogy, set from the end of World War II through major American turning points, including the Kennedy assassination.
Oakley discusses how the story evolved as the characters—brothers Brooks (based on his uncle) and Ray (based on his father)—grew, influenced in part by editor Loren Steffy. He explains how WWII-era social, political, and technological shifts (GI Bill, government expansion, early desegregation) shaped Texas, highlighting Brooks’ vantage point through his Austin restaurant near the Capitol and UT’s Balcones Research Center. The conversation contrasts small-town, politically intimate Austin with fast-changing, money-driven Houston, including Houston’s distinctive 1960s race relations and global energy-worker influence. Oakley also details the release of the book in hardback, ebook, and audiobook (narrated by James Huff) and praises Stoney Creek Publishing’s role in refining the series.
Key highlights:
- Austin Sunrise Overview
- Brooks and Ray Origins
- Postwar Change and Tech
- Austin and the Longhorn
- Houston Boomtown Spirit
- Race Relations and Leadership
- Themes of Reinvention
Resources:
Phil Oakley on Stoney Creek Publishing
Podcast Cover Art
Tom Fox