It might be hard -- almost impossible -- to put a dollar figure to the economic impact that the "True Women" novel now the "True Women" miniseries have had on Seguin and surrounding area.  But, make no mistake about it -- "True Women" has made an impact.
    The most visible impact is the "True Women" tours.  Busload after busload of tourists have taken the tour since the novel first hit bookstores in earl 1994.
    According to Sherry Nefford, Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau director, already over 3,000 have taken the tour.  As the miniseries approached, 400 took the tour in April alone.  These people are coming from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and all points in between.
    And, the best may be yet to come, with Nefford noting that the miniseries may boost the number of "True Women" tour takers even more.
    Trained docents board the buses when they get to Seguin and offer visitors a personal account of the sites along the route.
    Author Janice Woods Windle likes to refer to the tourism being generated by the novel and miniseries as "a nonpolluting industry."
    Always read to promote her hometown, Windle is eager to see local businesses take advantage of the opportunities that "True Women" has afforded the community.
    She has said in the past that she would like to see Seguin use its history to attract even more tourists to town.
    Putting her money behind her comments, she is helping finance the placement of signs in front of some of the stops on the "True Women" tour.
    Another visible sign of the novel's impact can be seen in two places of business.
    Gift and Gourmet and Hastings have served as outlets for the novel and the cookbook.  Since the novel's debut in 1994, keeping hardcover copies on the shelves hasn't been easy.
    Windle says the novel will be "a huge boom for Seguin for several years to come"  and she wouldn't have it any other way.
By Kathie Ninneman, Seguin Gazette Enterprise, May 1997