The Pulpwood Queen says, "Pinch me, I'm dreaming!"

Dear Readers.

From top to bottom: Authors, Mark Childress, Sonny Brewer, Marshall Chapman, Fannie Flagg, Pat Conroy and Mary McDonagh Murphy

Yes, those are my Keynote Speakers for my 11th Anniversary Girlfriend Weekend which begins this Thursday evening, January 13 - 16. 2011 here in historic Jefferson, Texas.  Last night my husband, Jay, daughter, Madeleine and I took a break in preparations of the book club convention to go see the film COUNTRY STRONG starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw.  Though we enjoy those celebrities we truly went to see Marshall Chapman, as she is the headliner for our show on Friday night of Girlfriend Weekend.  Marshall portrayed Winnie, Gwyneth Paltrow's characters agent in the film in which she had a big presence. 

Will somebody pinch me, I do believe I am dreaming.  There is something hard to express about seeing someone you know and love on the big screen.  I mean, WOWZER!

Marshall is just one of the almost 70 authors coming in for my biggest book club convention I have ever done.  She has a NEW film. NEW CD Big Lonesome, and now a NEW book, They Came to Nashville!  How did I ever get so lucky?

AND you may not even know that Marshall Chapman wrote a song along with Kathi Kamen Goldmark of their experience of coming to my Girlfriend Weekend, I Want My Hair Considered, that I now have published at the beginning of my book, "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life".

AND it keeps getting better and better, for the first time EVER, Marshall Chapman, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, I are going to sing that song at Girlfriend Weekend!

That is just a few minutes of a weekend that has now become the best bookloving party of my life! 

So, if you think reading is homework, or boring, or just not very entertaining then mark your calendar for the third weekend in January when I hold my Girlfriend Weekend every year!  You see this year we are SOLD OUT except for the Film Fest on Sunday, email kathy@beautyandthebook.com for tickets!

The Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs who host this author extravaganza, their sole mission is to promote authors, books, literacy, and reading and have some BIG TIME FUN while we are at it!  I mean how many other book festivals can you go to where they have a dance that we call our "Great Big Ball of Hair" Ball which always has a costume theme for our Grand Finale.  This year IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STORY so everyone is to come as their favorite book character!

Go to http://www.girlfriendweekend.blogspot.com to view the program!  All my life has been about books and it looks like for 2011, all the fruit of my labors will harvest a beautiful bounty!

Happy New Year and let's make this a year where it is indeed, ALL ABOUT THE STORY, and no better place to being to read those stories from than A Good Blog is Hard to Find!

Truly Happy Tales! 
Tiara wearing, Beauty and the Book sharing!
Kathy L. Patrick
www.beautyandthebook.com
www.pulpwoodqueen.com

The Pulpwood Queen's OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE for 11th Anniversary Girlfriend Weekend, January 13 - 16, 2011!

Contact: Kathy L. Patrick
kathy@beautyandthebook.com
903-665-7520
Cell 903-445-2353

Press Release for Immediate Release:

November 3, 2010
Jefferson, TX-

11th ANNIVERSARY GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND
AUTHOR EXTRAVAGANZA
BEAUTY AND THE BOOK
January 13 – 16, 2011
Jefferson, Texas

On January 18, 2000, I opened the first ever Hair Salon/Book Store in the country, Beauty and the Book! Did I have any idea of what I was creating, I think not. Oxford American Magazine covered that event and the feature that ran dubbed me “Hairdresser to the Authors” written by Texas author, Carol Dawson. Shortly thereafter, I started The Pulpwood Queens of East Texas Book Club. What began with six, really complete strangers, has now grown to nearly 400 chapters of women and yes, a few good men who have become my nearest and dearest friends for a lifetime. After appearances on Oprah Winfrey’s OXYGEN NETWORK, ABC’s Good Morning American, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more newspapers, magazines than you can shake a stick at; we are now the largest meeting and discussing book club in the WORLD!

In celebration of our 11th Anniversary, the theme this year is
“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY!”
Because you see, it really is. It’s all about the story and our relationships sharing and telling the story.

So shall we begin at the beginning, our story,
BEAUTY AND THE BOOK!

Once upon a time there was a young girl who always had her nose stuck in a book. Libraries passed through her fingertips as she read and read and read mentored by her wonderful teachers and librarians. A shy child, she grew tall and brave with those words being as nourishing and comforting to her body as food, water, and shelter. That woman was Kathy L. Patrick who became a woman with a mission, a mission to get everybody on the same page that reading was not only important, but leads to an authentic and purposeful life. She had big dreams,
really big dreams!
What if you created a world where all your favorite authors and readers gathered to share their stories!
Her dream became true!

You now may begin to read this story of a book festival like no other.
What is this story about?
Why don’t you read it yourself and see!


January 13th, 2010
THURSDAY
INTRODUCTION OF CHARACTERS OF BEAUTY AND THE BOOK
AUTHOR DINNER THEATRE
7:00 p.m. Featuring all our calvacade of author stars: Author chefs preparing the dinner, authors waiting the tables, and author’s play with all roles portrayed by authors! It’s called Conversations at Buzz Cut Barbershop an original play by MICHAEL LISTER.
Author chefs preparing dinner are:
JANIS OWENS of The Cracker Kitchen
KATHY L. PATRICK of The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life
EVENT SOLD OUT!

January 14 – 15, 2011
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Jefferson Convention and Tourism Building
Austin Street
EVENT SOLD OUT!
The Pulpwood Queen Package includes all events on Friday and Saturday EXCEPT Pat Conroy/Bernie Schein Luncheon, it’s ticket to was to be purchased separately. Official 11th Anniversary T-shirt, and publisher give a ways will be included for those who purchased Pulpwood Queen Packages ONLY. 11th Anniversary T-shirts with original art by Children’s Author/Illustrator, MELISSA CONROY will be for sale at Pulpwood Queen Booth in VENDOR ROOM as long as supplies last!

All authors featured at their times will immediately go to AUTHOR AUTOGRAPH TABLES in VENDOR/BOOK STORE ROOM following their panel! You will need to pre-purchase books prior to having the books signed. As all authors are encouraged then to participate in all activities, feel free to ask for books to be signed throughout the weekend. But do note, some authors will not be able to stay. To ensure you get your books signed, go immediately to the AUTHOR AUTOGRAPH TABLES after they speak and have books already pre-purchased.
We will have a CONCESSION STAND in back of auditorium at convention center to purchase drinks and snacks run by the Junior and Senior High First United Methodist Youth Group with all the proceeds to go to the kids to help pay for their NEW Youth Building.

Barnes and Noble will provide the BOOK STORE for all the author books for the event unless self-published, in that case the author will provide the books themselves for sale. Also we will have a VENDOR ROOM, (open 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.), Friday and Saturday that will feature the best of the best SHOWCASED for our book loving attendees. For the first time ever we now are offering access to just VENDOR ROOM and BOOK STORE. Tickets are $5.00 per person and available at the outside entrance to VENDOR ROOM and BOOK STORE.

A SILENT AUCTION will be held with showcased items signed and donated by the authors around the perimeter of the VENDOR ROOM. All proceeds from the SILENT AUCTION will go to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Literacy Project here in Marion County that is being spearheaded by the Jefferson Rotary Club which is a not for profit civic organization. The Pulpwood Queens of East Texas endorse this literacy project and are partnering with the Rotary Club to help
Both Friday and Saturday night events will be B.Y.O.B. but we will provide the setups.

FRIDAY MORNING
8:00 a.m. Registration and Ticket Sales

CHAPTER ONE
9:00 a.m. BEAUTY AND THE BOOK, THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
KATHY L. PATRICK, founder of The Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs, Author of The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life
ROBERT LELEUX, Author of memoirs of a beautiful boy
Columnist for The Texas Observer, Editor of LONNY Magazine are back to host yet again their version of BEAUTY AND THE BOOK, a television talk show!
Dubbed BOBKAT by their fans, Robert and Kathy will welcome you to their show!

CHAPTER TWO
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. CRAZY IN ALABAMA to GEORGIA BOTTOMS!
Keynote Author and Speaker, MARK CHILDRESS of Georgia Bottoms!

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER THREE
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. EVERYONE HAS A STORY
Author Panel featuring:
MARCIA FINE of Stressed in Scottsdale
JENNY GARDINER of Slim to None
CAROLYN HAINES of Bone Appetit and Delta Blues
TODD JOHNSON of Sweet By and By
TONY SIMMONS of Dazed and Raving in the Undercurrents
HELEN SIMONSON of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand


BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER FOUR
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. STORIES THAT YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS
Author Panel featuring:
JUDY CHRISTIE of Goodness Gracious Green
DEEANNE GIST of Maid to Match
DENISE HILDRETH JONES of Hurricane in Paradise
SAM MCLEOD of Big Appetite: My Southern Fried Search for the Meaning of Life
JANIS OWENS of The Cracker Kitchen
LISA WINGATE of Beyond Summer

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

12:00 p.m. Noon LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (historic Jefferson, Texas has many fine eateries, many within walking distance)

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

CHAPTER FIVE
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 a.m. IT’S ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING to THE MOST THEY EVER HAD!
Keynote Speaker, Author, and Pulitzer Prize Winner RICK BRAGG of The Most They Ever Had!

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER SIX
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. STORIES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES
Author Panel featuring:
KATHI APPELT of Keeper
MELISSA CONROY of Poppy’s Pants
KIMBERLY WILLIS HOLT of The Water Seeker

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER SEVEN
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. MANLY MAN STORIES THAT WOMEN WILL LOVE
Author Panel featuring:
AD HUDLER of Man of the House
MARK E. GREEN, MD of A Night with Saddam
ROBERT GREER of Spoon
CHARLES MARTIN of The Mountain Between Us
NEIL WHITE of The Sanctuary of Outcasts
DAVID MARION WILKINSON of Not Between Brothers

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

4:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks by KATHY L. PATRICK and ROBERT LELEUX


FRIDAY EVENING

CHAPTER EIGHT
8:00 p.m. PULPWOOD QUEEN, TIMBER GUYS, AND AUTHOR TALENT SHOW!

CHAPTER 9
9:00 P.M. GOODBYE LITTLE ROCK AND ROLLER to THEY CAME TO NASHVILLE
Author, Actor, Singer, Songwriter, MARSHALL CHAPMAN will speak of her book They Came to Nashville and perform of her latest CD, Big Lonesome!
B.Y.O.B, Set ups and soft drinks provided.
EVENT SOLD OUT!


January 15, 2011
SATURDAY MORNING
8:00 a.m. Registration and Ticket Sales

CHAPTER TEN
9:00 a.m.
BOBKAT is back to host their BEAUTY AND THE BOOK author/talk show featuring KATHY L. PATRICK and ROBERT LELEUX.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES to I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU!
Keynote Speaker and Special Author Guest, FANNIE FLAGG of I Still Dream About You!

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER TWELVE
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. AWARD WINNING STORIES
Author Panel featuring:
CATHIE BECK of Cheap Cabernet
JAMIE FORD of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
RIVER JORDAN of The Miracle of Mercy Land: A Novel
NICOLE SEITZ of The Inheritance of Beauty
SUSAN PARKER of Walking in the Deep End: A Memoir
ALLEN WHITLEY of Where Southern Cross the Dog

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. STORIES THAT ARE KILLER
Author Panel featuring:
KATHRYN CASEY of The Killing Storm (Sarah Armstrong Texas Rangers Series
KIT FRAZIER of Morgue File: A Cauley MacKinnon Novel
MARK E. GREEN, MD of My Night with Saddam
KATHLEEN KASKA of Murder at the Luther
MICHAEL LISTER of Thunder Beach and The Body and the Blood
M.L. MALCOLM of Silent Lies

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Noon Luncheon
MY READING LIFE to IF HOLDEN CAULFIELD WERE IN MY CLASSROOM
PAT CONROY/BERNIE SCHEIN LUNCHEON
New York Times’s Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller, and Southern Independent Bestseller PAT CONROY of My Reading Life and his best friend and author, BERNIE SCHEIN of If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom: Inspiring Love, Creativity, and Intelligence in Middle School Kids!
Luncheon catered by STAGEDOOR DELI of Mt. Pleasant, Texas!
Pat Conroy’s latest book, a signed My Reading Life will be handed out as all depart the luncheon.
EVENT SOLD OUT!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. THE PULPWOOD QUEEN PRESENTS STORIES I WISH TO SHARE BIG TIME
Author Panel Featuring:
SAM BRACKEN and ECHO GARRETT of My Orange Duffel Bag
MICHAEL MORRIS of King of Florabama
KAREN HARRINGTON of Janeology
JENNIE HELDERMAN of as the sycamore grows
SONNY BREWER of Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Acclaimed Authors and the Day Jobs They Quit

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. STORIES TO SHARE WITH BOOK CLUBS
Author Panel featuring:
AMY BOURRET of Mothers and Other Liars
JEANINE CUMMINS of The Outside Boy
KARL LENKER of For Dear Life
KAREN ESSEX of Dracula in Love
CAROLYN TURGEON of Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale
KAREN WHITE of On Folly’s Beach

3:30 p.m. Break, as we know it gets crazy towards the end to rush out and get ready for the ball. It’s almost your last chance to buy books if you want to get them signed before the closing panel and Awards Presentation! Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase the authors books while they are still at the convention center. Barnes and Noble Book Store will be open too after Awards Ceremony!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

3:45 p.m. – 4:15 P.M. STORIES FIT FOR A QUEEN
Authors featured:
DIANA BLACK and MARY CUNNINGHAM of WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty
DAVID VALDES GREENWOOD of The Rhinestone Sisterhood: A Journey Through Small Town America, One Tiara At A Time
OLIVIA DeBELLE BYRD of Miss Hildreth Wore Brown: Anecdotes of a Southern Belle
CINDY RATZLAF and KATHY KINNEY of Queen of Your Own Life
SHELLIE RUSHING TOMLINSON of Suck in Your Stomach and Put Some Color On: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Southern Daughters That The Rest of Y’all Should Know Too


CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. AUTHORS AND BOOKLOVERS WHO ARE AWARD WINNERS FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES OR THE STORIES
Awards Presentation as follows:
MELISSA CONROY to present Pulpwood Queen Children’s Book of the Year
JAMIE FORD to present Pulpwood Queen Bonus Book of the Year
PAT CONROY to present Pulpwood Queen Book of the Year
KATHY L. PATRICK to present The KAT Award
Special Presentation: MARY GAY SHIPLEY to present THE DOUG MARLETTE AWARD presented to an individual for the Lifetime Achievement of Promoting Literacy.
Silent Auction winners announced!

CHAPTER NINETEEN

5:15 p.m. RED CARPET PREMIERE OF BEAUTY AND THE BOOK!

SATURDAY EVENING

CHAPTER TWENTY

8:00 p.m. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY PARADE OF BOOK CHARACTERS!

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

8:30 p.m. AUTHOR ENABLERS to WRITE THAT BOOK ALREADY!
Authors/Musicians, KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK and SAM BARRY of WRITE THAT BOOK ALREADY!


9:00 p.m. GREAT BIG BALL OF HAIR BALL featuring the band,
DESTINY DUKE AND THE HAZZARDS, back by popular demand.
In celebration of the 11TH Anniversary of Girlfriend Weekend the theme is
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY!
Come dressed for the occasion in costume as your favorite book character or book characters for contests as follows:
BEST GIRL GROUP AS BOOK CHARACTERS
BEST BOOK THEMED DECORATED TABLE
MS GREAT BIG BALL OF HAIR BALL QUEEN, best overall book themed character and
TIMBER GUY OF THE YEAR, the man who is the sexiest reader, books will be provided for reading!
Special Guest and Author, SUSAN VREELAND of Clara and Mr. Tiffany will be featured at the Ball.
A royal feast of appetizers will be served and set ups provided for B.Y.O.B.!
EVENT SOLD OUT!


January 16, 2011
SUNDAY MORNING

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

11:00 a.m. TELL ME THE OLD, OLD STORY
Worship Services at the First United Methodist Church
DR. MARK E. GREEN will be our Special Guest Speaker on his book, A Night with Saddam as Mark was assigned to be with Saddam Hussein on the night he was captured.
Wear your Sunday crown, that’s your favorite hat!

Noon lunch on your own in Jefferson!

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD FILM FESTIVAL
Featuring: Author, Kerry Madden of Harper Lee UpClose
Author and Independent Film and Television Writer/Producer, MARY MCDONAGH MURPHY of the book, Scott, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird and premiering her film Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird.
In a documentary and accompanying book, Mary McDonagh Murphy explores the novel’s power, influence and popularity. With reflections from Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, James McBride, James Patterson, Wally Lamb, Oprah Winfrey and more, the documentary and the book chronicle the many ways the novel has shaped lives and careers.
Documentary Film Maker SANDY H. JAFFE of On Mockingbird, Our Mockingbird
Two high schools in Birmingham, Alabama – one black, one white – collaborate on a life-changing production of the play, To Kill A Mockingbird. How many lives have been changed by this story?
Details on all films, authors, and program T.B.A. soon!
$25 for Pulpwood Queen Book Club members, $75 for non-members for the film festival. Tickets are limited so please purchase your tickets while supply lasts.

I am here to tell you we make memories to last a lifetime at our Girlfriend Weekend in historic Jefferson, Texas. Jefferson, Texas was the beginning of our story and will continue to the end of our story.
We could write a book on all the adventures and shared stories from our weekends together! My hope and dream is that all of you too will become lifetime readers and writers. Only you can tell and share your story, so let us begin to write, as well as read. And remember, a story not written is a library lost to all your family and friends.
It’s like our official motto, “where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books is the RULE!” Won’t you join us on as our royal story continues to unfold. Life can be a book loving journey because folks, life is not only about the destination, it’s about the ride! And oh what a ride! Thank you for joining me on our weekend IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY! I do believe I will be able to report, a very happy ending!

THE END




For more information on any of the above information, please email kathy@beautyandthebook.com or call Beauty and the Book at 903-665-7520. We accept all major credit cards. Pulpwood Queen Packets and Tickets can be picked up at Registration booth when you arrive!

All information above could be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. For the latest updated version of the program, please email kathy@beautyandthebook.com to send you latest revised program or go to www.pulpwoodqueen.com where updates are reported daily.

No refunds will be able to be given on tickets or packages purchased but we will be more than happy to roll over to the next year the tickets and packages you may have purchased if for any reason you have to cancel. Please contact us immediately if you have to cancel on any events as we do have a waiting list of those wishing to attend.

Trick or treat: Turn to books for the best treats!

By Judy Christie

As reader and writer, I’m astounded at how many treats there are in the world of books. You don’t have to knock on your neighbor’s door to savor these, and costumes aren’t usually required.  A few ways to experience the best book treats:

** For a jolt of delight, make a quick list of books that have been treats for you, stories that surprised, delighted, moved you to action, changed the way you think.  For most readers, this list is long and diverse.  For example, I’d put the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warren here because as a child, the series helped hook me on books. I’d add “The Secret Life of Bees,” by Sue Monk Kidd, a terrific book that made me commit to write a Southern novel of my own.   What books do you have in your bag of treats?

** Read different kinds of books.  When I started my consulting business eight years ago, a friend gave me “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber.  I learned much from that book and recommend it. Great ideas are great ideas, and they pop up in all sorts of books.

** Attend events where you can meet authors.  No matter where you live, I can almost guarantee there’s an author headed to your neck of the woods.  A great example:  the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriends Weekend in Jefferson, Texas, each January. Last year I met Pat Conroy, Mary Kay Andrews, Elizabeth Berg and a long list of other fantastic authors. They were accessible, entertaining and enlightening.  I heard Kathryn Stockett talk about “The Help” at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville. I met Charlaine Harris at Author! Author! and Rick Bragg and Clyde Edgerton at Authors in April, all in Shreveport, La.  With a little research and not a lot of money, you can hear lots of great authors in many venues.

** Visit sites that have literary significance. This past week I went to the John Steinbeck Museum in Monterey, Calif., a phenomenal museum that made me want to run out and read every Steinbeck novel and sit down and write more novels myself. Find special spots in your area or on your travels.

** Attend a book club. I recently spoke to a group in Minden, La., about my novels, “Gone to Green,” and “Goodness Gracious Green.” This club  started in 1919, and I wonder how many lives have been changed by what the group has read and the ensuing conversations. As  a member of the Red River chapter of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club, I participated two weeks ago in a Skype visit with Helen Simonson, author of ”Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand,” a charming and bestselling author chatting and answering questions.

 ** Invite an author to an event or for a conference call.  Years ago, when I was a newspaper editor on the Space Coast, a staff member asked Pat Conroy, aforementioned famous and busy author, to participate in a call with our writing group.  He said yes, and the discussion was a literary treat.  Most published authors are happy to connect with readers. I know I am!

So, on this Halloween weekend, what are your literary treats? Would love to see your comments below.What books delighted you? Have you had a treat of an encounter with an author?

About the author of this blog:  Judy Christie loves to sit in the porch swing and think about books.  Her second novel, “Goodness Gracious Green,” part of The Green Series, came out in August, and she’s the author of the Hurry Less Worry Less nonfiction series. For more information about Judy or to receive her e-newsletter, see www.judychristie.com.  Judy also welcomes Facebook friends.

The Pulpwood Queen Shares Testamony of Shellie Rushing Tomlinson on my Annual Girlfriend Weekend Author Extravaganza!

Dear Readers,

For those of you just getting to know me, you have to know I run two book festivals, Books Alive, a Christian and Inspirational Book Festival always held the second weekend in November and my Annual Girlfriend Weekend Author Extravaganza both held here in historic Jefferson, Texas!  I am posting some photos from last year as Author, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson sent me an amazing testamonial of why she attends such an event!  This year, our 11th Anniversary Girlfriend Weekend will have as KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Fannie Flagg, Pat Conroy, (back by popular demand, see above), and Rick Bragg plus over 50 other outstanding authors, musicals artists, and actors involved in all this participatory book festival.

As it is now August , just one month until the Early Bird Special for our 11th Anniversary Girlfriend Weekend expires September 1, 2010, and all tickets go UP for our big Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club hosted convention, January 13 - 16th, 2011.



Tuesday, I will be back in the shop to take your calls as you will want to take advantage of this considerable savings on all tickets to our big ta do! Check it all out on my Event Page on my official website at http://www.beautyandthebook.com/! Also do note: I have added a PAT CONROY/BERNIE SCHEIN Luncheon on Saturday for $50 that will go up to $75 in September! This is an event you will NOT want to miss as this is Pat's best friend since high school and I assure you that we will all be highly entertained!



Now this brings me to my good friend, author, radio show host, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson! Today is my tribute to my BELLE OF ALL THINGS SOUTHERN! These are some of the highlights in photos of our times together! Shellie has sent me the most amazing testimonial that I wish to share with all of YOU! Please read every word then check out all her links! To me she is one of the funnest girlfriends I have ever met and you mention her name and I know we are going to be highly entertained.



Thank you Shellie Rushing Tomlinson for being my true friend and I bless you with tremendous book sales and all good things coming to one southern belle who rings TRUE BLUE!



Tiara wearing, Beauty and the Book sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

Author of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life", which is NOW the mandatory first read for all my NEW Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Book Club Chapters!

Founder of the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs

http://www.beautyandthebook.com/

http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/



From Shellie Rushing Tomlinson:



I’m a relative newcomer to Kathy Patrick World. I’ve only been in the mix a few years now, but I’ve already had The Question posed to me by a number of authors. “So,” they ask, in a failed attempt to sound casual, “have you ever been to Kathy Patrick’s Girlfriend Weekend? Or is it Pulpwood Queen Weekend?” It’s both, y’all, and so much more. Clearly, word on the street has it that not being a Pulpwood Queen author is akin to leaving a hole in one’s resume large enough to drive a truck through. It’s true, too, but let the record show that while this may be a good marketing reason to mention it to your publicist, it’s not the reason to make January in Jefferson, TX a repeating event on organizer. Here’s what the authors that make the yearly jaunt to Kathy’s World know that you should to: This isn’t somewhere you go to get— meaning publicity, readers, etc. This is somewhere we get to go.

Perhaps a full disclosure and a bit of background would be order before we go any further. They call me the Belle of All Things Southern. I elbowed my own way into this industry a while back after a boring spell filing rejection slips, alphabetically, in my own ancient accordion style folder. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer but even I could see that if I had things to say I would need to build my own perch from which to opine as the industry wasn’t exactly clamoring to publish me.

Hence, in my own version of build it and they will come, I launched All Things Southern on the Internet, and soon afterwards I snuck into radio when no one was looking. My All Things Southern radio segments now air daily on a couple dozen radio stations across the South and my talk show ATS LIVE airs on FOXFM92.7 out of Monroe, LA on Friday mornings and streams in real time from my website. Three successful self-published books after building my home-made platform, Penguin Group USA rolled the dice on me and released, “Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On” What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters That the Rest of Y’all Should Know, Too! I attribute my reception by the Pulpwood Queens and their high-octane book clubs to be largely responsible for that first book being selected a finalist for SIBA’s 2009 Nonfiction Book of the Year as well as for the excitement about it’s soon to be released sequel, Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy!

As much as I appreciate the Pulpwood Queens, that career boosting hand-up is not why I’ll go back to Jefferson with rings on my fingers and bells on my toes, and I mean that literally. (Excessive digit decoration is one of the milder things that can happen to those who venture into Kathy’s World.) Oh, no, I’ll return to PQW as long as the Good Lord’s willing and the creek doesn’t rise because it’s like no other author event/book festival I’ve been privileged to attend, and I’ve been to quite a few in the last few years. At PQW there are no walls and no roped off areas. It’s a word fest free for all, a place where authors mix with readers and celebrate not just their own words, but the written word at large. Think of it as book-lovers on steroids with costume parties and dance contests thrown in for good measure!

In the event that you’re still undecided, and I don’t know how that could be, but I’m trying to work with y’all, here are a ways to tell if you’re ready for a Pulpwood Queen Weekend:

If you’ve never been in a group of people so diverse that you can’t tell who’s in costume and who isn’t, you may need a PQW.

If you’ve been to one too many of those stuffy book events where you have to hide your guilty pleasure book inside the latest hard to read but sure to be a bestseller paper-weight, you may need a PQW.

If you have ever wondered if leopard skins are here to stay, you may need a PQW.

If it’s been a while since you stood on a table-top and yelled, “Go Munchkins, Go Munchkins” until your voice was hoarse in an effort to help a mother-daughter munchkin team win a dance contest, you may need a PQW.

If you’ve never spent a solid week trying to get glitter out of everything you own, including your immediate person, you may need a PQW.

If you’ve always wondered what it would be like to meet your favorite author, you may need a PQW. Chances are he or she will be there waiting on you.



Hugs,

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson









Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On, What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters That the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too

by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson ~ Released May 08 ~ Berkley, division of Penguin Group USA



*****SIBA 2009 Nonfiction Book of the Year Finalist*****





~ All Things Southern, a radio and video show, website and FREE emag bringing you the charm and heritage of the South.

Subscribe at http://www.allthingssouthern.com



Contact Shellie to share her humorous southern stories with your club, organization, church or festival and celebrate the South!

owner/publisher Shellie Rushing Tomlinson ~ 610 Schneider Lane Lake Providence, LA 71254 ~ ph318-559-0319 ~ fx318-559-3828







You can visit me here:

Website http://www.allthingssouthern.com

My blog http://shellietomlinson.blogspot.com

My twitter page http://twitter.com/ShellieT

Myspace http://www.myspace.com/shellietomlinson

Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1405351429

The Pulpwood Queen, the "Forrest Gump" of Book Publishing!

I have this uncanny ability it seems to me to be at the right place at the right time.  Remember Forrest Gump, the book by Winstom Grooms and the film?  Forrest would appear at the most opportune moments. The first time I really noticed this was when I stepped off a plane standing between what I thought were two of the ugliest guys I had ever seen.  Camera crews came swooping in and I was stuck between them.  I had just landed in Austin and was heading to Willie Nelson's Last Picnic.  I think I was around 19 or 20 at the time.  These reporters were shouting questions and I just stood there just like Forrest Gump, stuck.  I couldn't move forward and I couldn't move back.  Later I found out it was The Who!  Whose The Who I thought and was told, you ninny, that was Peter Townsend and Roger Daltry.  All I remember was their really bad skin and that Peter guy had a broken arm.  I know we made the nightly news and newspapers.

Years later, I got lost at Book Expo and went through a wrong door.  I entered a room packed to the gills with a line that ran all the way through the convention center.  I shockingly realized I was standing right behind Oprah Winfrey and wearing a really enormous hat.  I quickly turned to try to go back the way I came but the door had locked behind me.  All these cameras were flashing as I slowly moved along the wall trying to get out of camera frame.  I laugh to myself thinking who was filming this thinking, who is that crazy hat lady sliding across the wall.  I have many, many of these type of stories.  Yes, I can relate to Forrest Gump.

Flash forward to when I first opened my Hair Salon/Book Store, Beauty and the Book, I had scored a real coo by getting author, Cassandra King to come to my shop and visit my book club.  I had no idea that Cassandra had married New York Time's Bestselling author, Pat Conroy, I had just fell in love with her book, "Making Waves", about a young southern woman who had inherited her aunt's hair salon and home, a perfect read for my newly formed Pulpwood Queens Book Club. 

Anyhoo, Cassandra was talking to me about her story when I told her I was writing my own story, the story of Beauty and the Book and my book club.  I asked her who her literary agent was and she told me Marly Rusoff of Marly Rusoff & Associates.  I slapped my head and told her, "Are you kidding me?  I know Marly!"

Years ago when I was a Children's Book Store Manager and Buyer, I had met Marly per phone as I was trying my darndest to get Pat Conroy to come to Texas.  "Beach Music" had just been released and I was determined to get my all-time favorite author to come to East Texas.  Cassandra laughed her beautiful laugh and told me, "You do know I am married to Pat Conroy!"  Well, I just about croaked on the spot.

I shared my story on how I had met Marly and had actually worked with her quite a bit in bringing authors to that independent bookstore but lost touch with her when I became a book publisher's representative. She filled me in on all their lives, again a Forrest Gump moment.

Later Marly emailed me and as I was emailing her back, she called.  She had heard from Cassandra that I was writing a book and she wanted to represent me.  Ole "Forrest", a.ka. Kat could not have been more thrilled.  It was Marly who took me and my book proposal to the New York publishing houses to pitch my book.  She's the one who got me my Grand Central Publsihing book deal. January 2008, my book, "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life" was born!

When people say they can't thank their literary agents enough, I understand completely.  But we made a pact, Marly and I, no matter what happened regarding my writing, we would remain good friends.  Till the day I die, we will always be the best of friends.

Now Cassandra has been back to my shop and my events many times.  I even got sent one of Pat's best friends, Pulitzer Prize winner and author, the late great Doug Marlette.  Our brief friendship will always be one that I will treasure forever.  You see he was killed in a hydroplaning car accident.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of Doug and his incredible intelllect and distorted sense of humor.  I would never have met him if it wasn't for Cassandra and Marly and then this past year, Pat Conroy finally came to East Texas.  He not only came for my 10th Anniversary Girlfriend Weekend, he brought his author/daughter, Melissa Conroy, and his good friend and author, Janis Owens.  What wonderful, wonderful people and such wonderful books!  Life is good my friends.

I still keep pinching myself remembering what a time we had at my Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Book Club Convention which we call Girlfriend Weekend.  My life in books has come full circle but it's not over my friends.  The blessings I receive everyday all come because I am a reader.

So if you are a new writer out there, my advice.  Read.  Read alot.  The more I read the more the more great things happen to me. 

I was reading that day right before I got off that plane in Austin, probably why I was oblivious to being smack dab in the middle of the band The Who!  I was also reading that day I took the wrong door and ended up right behind Oprah at Book Expo.  Little did I know then that years later I would appear on her show!

Oh, I know you are thinking these were just random occurances, you were just lucky.  But like Forrest Gump, I believe that someone who is pure in heart in their passion, good things will happen to you.

You've heard the saying a kazillion times, "Run, Forrest, Run".  The Kat is saying "Read, You All, Read!"  my dreams have come true and yes, "Life is like a box of chocolates".  Somebody just gave me a big ole box!

Tiara wearing and Book Sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

Author of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life"

Founder of the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club

http://www.beautyandthebook.com/

P.S. Come meet me in person as I will be at the Arkansas Book Festival the second week in April and then at the Alabama Book Festival the third weekend in April.  I can hardly wait to see who I will meet at these festivals.  Hmmm, perhaps Winstom Grooms!

The Pulpwood Queen's Reading and Writing Life for Me!

Oh, The Reading and Writing Life for Me!

I am not your typical writing author. Though I write everyday, I would much rather promote other author’s books. I toot my own horn loudly, but am I comfortable doing it, no way. It’s a lot more fun to toot someone else’s horn, kind of like it’s a lot more fun to clean somebody else’s house, but I digress, as usual.

For those that don’t know, I own a hair salon/book store, Beauty and the Book, the ONLY one in the country, perhaps the world, here in the piney woods of East Texas. We are not on the grand scale of the author sending literary map but I get my fair share of authors here as I offer FREE COMPLIMENTARY hair services besides hosting their book events. Now what other bookstore offers that kind of benefit, I ask you? I have a captive audience for selling books because as I cut, color, and style women and men’s hair, I talk those books, BIG TIME!

“Okay, Larry, just a trim as usual?”

“That’s right Kathy, maybe a little shorter over the ears. It grows like crazy there.”

“Great, will do” as I cape him up and start clipping, “so heard you took a little trip to Vegas? Get in any reading?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Kay was reading “South of Broad” by Pat Conroy. She couldn’t put the book down and read it on the way out loud. I got lost in the story too.”

Okay, now I have successfully transferred all thoughts of hair beauty to the beauty of books. I am in the door, pitching our next great read, “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett, our selection for October for the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs that I founded nearly ten years ago.

Now nothing pleases me more than giving a great hair cut or style. I am one hairdresser that takes great pride in my work. Shoot, I want these people to not only be happy but to come back to my shop again and again. What a novel thought! I also know that when they do, I will also be talking up books.

Years ago, I did the same thing with my hair salon, Town & Country Headquarters in my hometown of Eureka, Kansas but I was not a book store too. I talked books to everyone who came in and loaned half of everything I recommended. I learned an important lesson. Never loan a book that you ever want to see again. Half the people never returned the books. So when I opened my hair salon/book store, I now SELL the books I recommend and therefore, my library stays intact. There is nothing worse than to lose forever your first edition copy of any book, signed by one of your favorite authors to a friend. But my friends, life is about relationships and the lesson in this story is that no matter how much you love a book, the friendship is more important period. I solved that problem by just selling them the book and if I loan it, I say my own private goodbye to that book. You can imagine my delight when a friend actually returns a book. I have always perceived books too as my best friends so we are reunited at last! Serendipity!

I also believe in the power of the story. Coming from a family of storytellers, I get real excited when I read those first words in a book and I make a connection with the story. I can honestly tell you that I love all the books that I have made OFFICIAL Pulpwood Queen Book Club selections and listed all books that I have selected from inception to publication of my book in my first book, “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life”, Grand Central Publishing. I call my book “the little book that could”. Because I think I can, I think I can, until I know I can make reading known that this pastime is quite simply the best entertainment in the world.

This week has been a big week for me as a lover of the printed word. In one day, I hosted the First Lady of Houston, author, Andrea White who brought a whole busload of bookloving women to my shop as part of her East Texas Conversations Tour as her husband, Mayor Bill White is running for U.S. Senate. It was and always is an honor to host a public reception for anyone running for public office. Bookstores should not only be a place to promote the literary word but should be a meeting place for the community on all things that promote the spoken word and public policy too! As Andrea handed out FREE her latest book to all attended I was overwhelmed by her generosity and kind spirit.

The next thing that happened was I was invited to speak at the Alabama Book Festival on my book and promoting literacy. I am always amazed how people hear of me far and wide, usually by word of mouth from friend. I happen to believe that I have some fine friends in Alabama and if you are reading this and responsible, I would like to thank you in person. I have many, many dear friends in Alabama and wrote all about this today at www.pulpwoodqueen.com. I hope we will check out my web blog and read it too.

Next, I was contacted by a film entertainment production company in California about the possibility of a reality show based upon me and my Beauty and the Book. Now I have been on television a lot, it’s thrilling, scary, and fleeting. I have had more than my fifteen minutes of Andy Warhol fame. But I still get excited about the possibilities because as I see it, here is yet another big way to help promote authors, books, and reading! I hope it works out but if it doesn’t, I still have my good works to do regardless of promoting authors, books, and reading.

And last, one of my dear author friends emailed to inform me my favorite author in the country would be attending my annual Girlfriend Weekend and with an author entourage! I can now die one happy woman but I don’t plan on doing it any time soon. I have a lot of literacy promoting work to do!

You see, after six years of writing my book to publication, I learned the most valuable lesson of my life. Put God first in your life and everything becomes really, really clear on how your life’s path should go. I have veered off the path more times than I cared to mention but it was not until I finished my book and read it as if for the first time, I realized that my life is not about me. What a revelation! It’s about what God has given me as my gifts and talents and what I should do with them. I do believe my gift is to promote reading. It’s my life mission. It’s about service above self. My service to all of you is to promote authors, books, and reading. I am your resource, I am your encourager, I give my life to God and the power of the printed word.

At the same time I am writing another book but this one is not for me, this book is for you. I call it “The Pulwpood Queens Guide to Reading and Writing for a Higher Purpose”. Because all my life I have been a reader but it wasn’t until I wrote my own story that I really got it. Life is about the story, the relationships with others. It is not about what kind of car you drive, where you live, how much you own. Life is about friendships and sharing our stories.

You see everybody has a story. Everybody has a story to tell, if not for you, for your family and friends. And if you don’t write your story, or record it, or tell it, a library of you has been lost to all your family and friends. Everybody is important, it’s just some of us have a way of telling a story that transforms lives. I think of Pat Conroy immediately when I think of the power of a great storyteller, or Rick Bragg, or Barbara Kingsolver, or Michael Morris, or you. Won’t you join me on the reading and writing life? I know because of all my author friend’s, I found out I was not alone. I have found that with my book club members, though I am a flawed queen, I have found the greatest relationships of my life. These women and men are so important to me and lift me places I never dreamed I could go.

As we embark on this fall season, let’s join together to become a nation of readers, a nation of readers who promote reading and relationships and leave the hate and cruelty of this world behind. I have a story and so do you. I do believe that when we come together as one, there is nothing that can stop us in making this world a better place. I have a dream too, and so do you. Let’s make dreams come true because as in the fairy tales of my youth, I always loved the happy ending!

Tiara wearing and Book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
Author of “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life”, Grand Central Publishing
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs
www.beautyandthebook.com
www.pulpwoodqueen.com
www.readinggroupguides.com
www.southernauthors.blogspot.com
P.S. I also invite all of you to attend my biggest event ever, the 10th Anniversary of my annual Pulpwood Queen hosted book club convention which we call our Girlfriend Weekend Author Extravaganza, January 13 – 17, 2010. With over 50 of the best in authors, speakers, actors, and musicians featured, we are offered an author workshop, two full days of author panels, two nights of the best entertainment including Friday night our Happy 50th Birthday Barbie Party with a Barbie Fashion Show featuring all our authors, Saturday night our infamous GREAT BIG BALL OF HAIR celebrating the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz themed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, and a Sunday Wine Down Party all in historic Jefferson, Texas. Email me at kathy@beautyandthebook.com and all send you all the details!

P.P.S. Photo of First Lady of Houston and Author, Andrea White and her entourage at Beauty and the Book in Jefferson, Texas!