About the Storyteller

Gayle Brennan Spencer migrated from Virginia to San Antonio more than 30 years ago, equipped with a degree in international relations hampered by French as a second language.  Following major stints of time with the Paseo del Rio Association creating such meaningful San Antonio traditions as the Mud Festival, she departed to make her living on the computer as a freelance writer.  During the past decade, the majority of her writing and design work was for nonprofit organizations. 

In August 2004, Gayle returned to the River as Executive Director of the fledgling San Antonio River Foundation working to secure private contributions to complete the San Antonio River Improvements Project.  With more than $10 million in pledges received for the project during her final fiscal year there, Gayle decided to stop to catch her breath – even take a vacation or two.  She now freelances and always open to new opportunities. 

Her nonfiction book about Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker, Last Farm Standing on Buttermilk Hill: Voelcker Roots Run Deep in Hardberger Park, is being released in November 2010.  

When distracted from working on her novel about  Hedda Burgemeister and Otto Koehler, tentatively titled An Ostrich Plume Hat, Gayle tells stories through collages, which can be viewed at www.postcardsfromsanantonio.com. 

To complement Gayle’s midlife forays into producing historic fiction and postcard art, her husband Lamar plays lead guitar in a blues band – After Midnight Blues Band.