Exploring Texas History and Culture on 'The Bookmark'
By Marketing and Communications | 12-15-2025
Underneath a row of bright lights in the KAMU-TV studios, technicians clip microphones to the host and a guest of an episode of “The Bookmark,” the Texas A&M University Press’ long-running interview show. It’s almost showtime!
Leading the episode from the host’s chair is Christine Brown, University Press’ publicity and advertising manager. Brown and her guest, Iliana Peña, discuss the press-published book “Lessons From Leopold.” It’s about groundbreaking conservationist Aldo Leopold (1887–1948), a pioneer of modern wildlife management.
His writings about the stewardship of natural resources remain remarkably prophetic and relevant today, some 80 years after they were first published.
The episode, which aired on KAMU in 2025, is one of more than 130 “Bookmark” shows that are also available to watch online at tx.ag/bookmark. Brown, the show’s executive producer since its 2017 debut, has overseen a treasure trove of shows about University Press-published books about important, fascinating Texas-centric topics in history, music, art, conservation and more.
AN IDEAL PAIRING OF HOST AND SHOW
Back at her office in Texas A&M’s John H. Lindsey Building, Brown said that as a voracious reader, she’s perfectly suited to the role.
“I’ve always been a reader,” she said. “My mom was a reader and I think I just picked it up from her. We would go to the library when I was a kid, check out stacks of books, and read them all.”
“The Bookmark” is a bridge between the University Press and readers, she said.
“The show helps the University Press connect readers with books that cover topics they’re interested in, or to try something new,” Brown said. “I think there’s a book for everybody.”
The topics reflect the wide-ranging reach of the University Press, which has published nearly 2,000 books since its establishment in 1974.
A BOON TO AGGIE PROFESSORS
The University Press amplifies the research of Texas A&M faculty.
“When a faculty member’s academic field lines up with the strengths of the Press’ publishing program, we can serve as their publisher to help make the fruits of their research more widely available,” said Dr. Jay Dew, University Press director.
One recent example is “The Architecture of Modern American Synagogues, 1950s -1960s,” by Anat Geva, professor emeritus of architecture, which The Wall Street Journal lauded in a 2023 review.
Her narrow focus and deep research gives readers valuable accounts of some marvelous synagogues, said reviewer Daniel Akst. “Especially interesting is her chapter on how these buildings have been adapted to meet evolving needs — for example, by adding modest chapels for smaller turnouts,” he said.
BEFORE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TURN ON
Each “Bookmark” show represents the many hours Brown spends preparing to get a book’s message to a general audience. “I choose the books, do the research, and write the questions,” she said.
Her preparation includes lots of reading, as she actually reads the books. Every one of them. From cover to cover.
“I like to have a full background,“ she said. “If I've read the book, and if I'm fully familiar with the material, I can do a better job making it interesting for the audience.”
In addition to burrowing into a book’s topic with her guests, Brown also wants the show to appeal to writers.
“I try to get a half-and-half mixture of the book’s content as well as the author’s process to create it.” she said. “Sometimes the story of how the book got made is pretty interesting, like what kind of research and travel an author does to create a book,” she said.
“The Bookmark” is a chance for audiences to see the authors’ enthusiasm for the topics they explore.
“I like talking to people about what they're passionate about,” she said. “Being able to have a conversation with someone about something they love or are super interested in, and bring that out and see the joy or excitement of that interest, is infectious.”
Watch “The Bookmark”: tx.ag/bookmark
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Written by: Richard Nira | Media Contact: Matthew Kennedy, matthew.kennedy@tamu.edu.
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