A Time to Play

I'm always a little flummoxed when it comes time to share about the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend. So many emotions intertwine over the course of three days that it's difficult to sum it up in a few words. With this year's circus theme, though, every time my mind drifts back to that little town in East Texas, I can't help but smile. We did have fun, didn't we? So rather than tell you about it, I'll let you judge for yourself.

Authors Eleanor Brown and Stephanie McAfee

Authors Carolyn Leavitt, Margaret Dilloway, & Karen Harrington

Lovely Book Club members from Mr. Pleasant, TX

Jenny Wingfield of MAN IN THE MOON fame!

Courtney Walsh painted this picture for me to put in the Silent Auction which benefitted the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. THANKS, Courtney!!!!

Housemates from the DELTA STREET INN ready to head to the circus.

Book Signing with fellow panelists. Stephanie McAfee, Eleanor Brown, Me, Rebecca Rasmussen

PROM night! Karen Harrington is an amazing lady and author!

Fabulous Authors Nicole Seitz, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Lisa Wingate, and Marybeth Whalen

Comparing footware with Marcia Fine - the coolest gal from Arizona you'll ever meet!

HEAD Pulpwood Queen Kathy Patrick - lovely as always.

Fun Times at the Circus!

Aren't these the cutest clowns you've ever seen?

The Purple Leopard Clowns - so fun!

The group from Eureka, Kansas

Author group that won FIRST Place for their portrayal of THE NIGHT CIRCUS

New friends from Dallas area. 

Can you see my dilemma? Too many things to describe and this is only a tiny portion of the weekend! There were 50 authors, 300 bookclub members, a bookstore, a former soap opera star, Hollywood peeps, more than a few NYT Best Selling authors, and more.

One of the more poignant parts of the weekend was the emphasis on literacy and the fantastic job Kathy Patrick does in generating enthusiasm among the 525 Pulpwood Queen Book Clubs to promote literacy and books. But that's a post for another time.

We had joy. We had fun. We acted silly. We went to the circus.

When was the last time you did something silly? Or laughed until you cried? If it's been awhile, then maybe you need to think about going to Girlfriend Weekend in Jefferson, Texas next year! See you there!

I'm running away with the circus!

The lure of the bigtop awaits. The lights! The colors! The carny barkers and wild animal acts. The strange. The beautiful. The magnificent. I'm so excited I'm about to pop!

THE GREATEST BOOK SHOW ON EARTH in Jefferson, Texas kicks off tomorrow with the Clown Alley Author Dinner. The annual Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend is hosted by Kathy Patrick - the queen of books, hair, literacy efforts, and now - THE CIRCUS!

The official program of Girlfriend Weekend 2012.

This is the twelvth anniversary of Girlfriend Weekend, but only my second year to attend. I've been looking forward to it since the drive home last year. Some of the highlights on the program this year:

• Tina Sloan (long running star of The Guiding Light) presenting part of her one-woman show Changing Shoes.

• Deeanne Gist will be doing her BOTTOMS UP show featuring an intimate look at a Victorian woman's undergarments.

• Keynote Speaker John Berendt, author of My Baby Blue Jays and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

• Jenny Wingfield, author and film and television writer of The Man in the Moon fame.

• Elaine Clark, radio voice-over star who will speak on There's Money Where Your Mouth Is.

In addition, a slew of fantastic authors will speak on panels all day Friday and Saturday with evening shows unparalleled on this side of the earth - Pretty in Pink Prom Night and The Great Big Ball of Hair with live music and more fun than is legal in the great state of Texas.

The real stars, though, are the book club members who hail from all over the US - delightful readers who've become friends.

Author Servers at the 2011 Author Dinner to kick things off on Thursday evening.

Don't you wish you were running away with me???? My costumes are ready, and I can't wait. I'll be back next week with loads of pics and the full report.

Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend Coming in January

Today I'm the guest blogger on The Pulpwood Queens Blog. With over 500 chapters, this bookclub rocks! And nothing is more fun than spending a weekend with readers. Check out the details and schedule for Girlfriend Weekend - January 12 - 15, 2012.

2011 Author Dinner 

Heady Stuff - Pulpwood Queens' Bestseller List for January 2011

The first best-seller list for Chasing Lilacs!! I'm thrilled and hats off to Kathy Patrick, Tiara wearing and Book sharing founder of the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs: the largest “meeting and discussing book club in the WORLD”! What I really love about Kathy is her non-stop efforts at bringing authors and readers together and her heart for stamping out illiteracy. Woo-Hoo!

Take a close look at this list - they are ALL amazing books - novels, memoir, non-fiction. I think I met all but one or two at the Girlfriend Weekend last month and I LOVE these authors. I think you will too!

TOP TWENTY COUNTDOWN FOR JANUARY 2011

PULPWOOD QUEENS' BESTSELLER LIST OF HITS!!!!

1) My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

2) I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

3) The Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

4) Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

5) Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

6) The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life by Kathy L. Patrick

7) My Orange Duffel Bag by Sam Bracken and Echo Garrett

8) They Came to Nashville by Marshall Chapman

9) as the sycamore grows by Jennie Helderman

10) Don’t Quit Your Day Job Edited by Sonny Brewer

11) The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

12) My Night with Saddam by Dr. Mark Green

13) Miss Hildreth Wore Brown by Olivia DeBelle Byrd

14) Write That Book Already by Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark

15) Walking in the Deep End by Susan Parker

16) If Holden Caufield Where in my Classroom by Bernie Schein

17) Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Jamie Ford

18) Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Mary Murphy

19) The Mailbox by Mary Beth Whelan

20) Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart

How many of these have you read? Are any of them on your reading list for 2011?

BOOKS ALIVE! in Jefferson, Texas

Sam Bracken & Echo Garret with THE ORANGE DUFFLE BAG

Press Release for BOOKS ALIVE!

Jefferson, TX - Here is the following official program for the 5th Anniversary of BOOKS ALIVE, a Christian and Inspirational Book Festival, a fundraiser for her church, The First United Methodist Church of Jefferson, Texas for their mission and outreach programs. All ticket money and donations go to the church to support the ministries of First UMC and are tax deductible.

Friday - November 12th

 

7:00 p.m. - Join us for an intimate dinner with the authors. All authors will be introduced and the dinner is homemade by the good ladies of the church with the event in the church's Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $25 per person.

 

Saturday, November 13th

9:00 a.m. Pastor Allison Byerley will give our opening prayer. Kathy L. Patrick will the Moderator of the authors!.

9:15 - 10:30 a.m. Texas Poet Laureate, Karla K. Morton of "Redefining Beauty", Author Judy Christie of "Goodness Gracious Green" and the "Hurry Less, Worry More" series, and Author,Missy Buchanan of "Living With Purpose in a Worn Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults" and "Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms!

10:30 a.m Break to visit author autograph rooms and vendors.

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon Keynote Speakers, Sam Bracken and Echo Garrett of "My Orange Duffel Bag"!

 

Noon Luncheon

1:30 p.m - 2:45 p.m. Authors, Carla Stewart of "Chasing Lilacs", Mary Beth Whalen of "The Mailbox", and Lisa Wingate of "Beyond Summer"!

2:45 p.m. Break to attend author autograph rooms and vendors.

3:15 p.m. - 4: 30 p.m Authors, Gloria P. Jaggers of "Give me a Broom and To Let Me Sweep the Cobweb of My Mind" and Kathy L. Patrick of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life".

4:30 p.m. Closing Prayer by Pastor Allison Byerley and author autograph rooms and vendors will stay open until 5:00 p.m.

 

Sunday, November 14th

11:00 a.m. Join us for Sunday worship service with special author speakers and music.

All events held at The First United Methodist Church, 305 West Henderson in Jefferson, Texas. Friday and Saturday events in the Fellowship Hall, Sunday in the church!

Tickets are $50 for the weekend or $25 for Friday night, $25 for all day Saturday including lunch per person. Tickets for students are $10. Scholarships for the event are available, please contact the church and we welcome book clubs, church and youth groups. Those who pre-register and pre-pay for the event will receive a FREE BOOK!

Checks may be made payable to the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson and sent to:

First United Methodist Church

Attn: Books Alive Tickets

P.O. Box 457

Jefferson, Texas 75657

or email Pastor Allison Byerley at fumc@jeffersonfumc.com or call 903-665-3268 for more information.

All authors will have books available for purchase and other vendors will be attending. Come to historic Jefferson, Texas and support literacy and help a worthwhile cause while you are visiting our fair city!

Photo of Keynote Speakers and Authors, Sam Bracken and Echo Garrett of www.myorangeduffelbag.com.

Contact: Kathy L. Patrick

Beauty and the Book

608 North Polk Street

Jefferson, Texas 75657

903-665-7520

kathy@beautyandthebook.com

This is where I'll be this next weekend - I'm looking forward to a delightful time with authors who are inspiring others with their gifts of writing, speaking, and encouragement. There may still be a few tickets left if you're looking for a fun, uplifting weekend in historic Jefferson. It's worth the drive just to breathe in the ambiance of this hamlet in the Piney Woods of East Texas. I can't wait, and as always, I'm excited about meeting new readers and plan to come away with a bevy of new friends. Here's what I had to say on the Pulpwood Queens blog last week. I'm about the fourth post down. 

Join me tomorrow for my review of Alice Wisler's newest book, Hatteras Girl.

Lagniappe

I'm borrowing the title of this post from Jason Ashley Wright, the quirky Mississippi boy who's one of my favorite columnists in our local paper. The first of the month he channels his Southern roots and throws in some lagniappe - a little somethin', somethin' extra, as he says. Last weekend I went to the Celebration of Books and attended the humor session where Jason was a panelist. He's just as cute and funny in person as he is in his column, so I thought I'd "totally name drop" and steal his lagniappe theme to fill you in on several happenings in my world.

Confession time: My suitcase from the ACFW conference is finally unpacked, but the glow of the ACFW conference still lives! For all of you who want to see what all the conference buzz is about Mike Ehret, editor of the ACFW Afictionado Ezine, has just released the Conference Edition. Every year this is a more monumental undertaking as the conference grows. I'm honored to be one of the "reporters", and who wouldn't be? Mike is a great encourager. Clap. Clap. Great job, Mike! And clap, clap for me for getting the suitcase emptied and back in the closet.

New Interview: Fellow writer, Delia Latham featured me on The Bookshelf Newsletter where she asked some fun off-the cuff questions that certainly qualify for this lagniappe kind of day. Thanks, Delia! While you're there, check out Delia's new upcoming Solomon's Gate series from White Rose Publishing.

Since lagniappe is a southern thing, this is a good time to bring up that spot in East Texas where the Deep South begins. Check this out: THE AUTHORS  who will be attending the Pulpwood Queen's Girlfriend Weekend in Jefferson, Texas. January 13 - 16, 2011. A great gathering of some of today's most fabulous authors, including Pat Conroy, Cassandra King, Fannie Flagg, Charles Martin, Jamie Ford, AND a host of others. Complete details on the tiara wearing, book loving queen, Kathy Patrick's website: Beauty and the Book. Did you know the Pulpwood Queens Book Club is the largest book club in the world? Did you know Kathy is the founder and owner of the ONLY Hair Salon/Book Store in the WORLD? Kathy's heart is as big as the hair she does, and I'm not only looking forward to attending the Girlfriend Weekend, but also being one of the featured authors November 12-14 for the Books Alive! charity fundraiser that Kathy sponsors. And yep, it's in Jefferson too.

Looks like I'll be pulling out my suitcase to start packing again soon. I'm thinking I should just leave it out. And all this talk reminds me of one of Jason Ashley Wright's favorite "Clairee" quotes from Steel Magnolias: You know I love ya more than my luggage! Yes, readers, I love having you here. And to wind this up, what's your favorite southern saying?

On The Road

In about twelve hours I'm headed to the northeast part of Oklahoma for a book signing at the CHAPTERS BOOK STORE in Miami and then later spending the evening with a book club that has just read Chasing Lilacs. There's a lovely writeup on the WelchOK.com site. And if you're in the area, please come by and say hi! I'll be at Chapters from 3:30pm until 5:30 pm. Love to see you! 

And speaking of being on the road and book clubs . . . I just signed up for the Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Book Club's "Girlfriend Weekend" in Jefferson, TX which will be held on January 13 - 16, 2010.

Here's the scoop from the tiara-wearing, book-loving queen, Kathy Patrick . . .

Flamboyant comedian, actress, screenwriter, and author, FANNIE FLAGG, of "I Still Dream About You, Honey: A Novel" has just been confirmed by Random House Publishers to be one of our Keynote Speakers during Girlfriend Weekend 2011!

We have attained the TRIPLE CROWN! Announcing our Keynote Speakers for our 2011 book club hosted event, Fannie Flagg, Pat Conroy, and Rick Bragg! Woo! Hoo!

New York Time's Bestselling author, back by popular demand, Pat Conroy of "My Reading Life" has confirmed , also Random House Publishers, he will too be here with this incredible message below that he personally emailed me. Look out Pulpwood Queens, he's bringing with his entourage', his best friend, Bernie Schein! You have been warned!!!!!

ALL the information is right here including what's on the schedule when, the authors who've been invited to participate in two days of author panels, all the extra activities and WHAT TO WEAR to the ball on Saturday night.

I can't wait for this event!! A little secret: The price goes up on September 1, so you might want to hop over there now to get your name on the list. Of course, I'll be telling you more about this and the Books Alive! event in Jefferson in November (MUCH MORE about that later). And you can find info for that here.

Have I mentioned how much I love being with my readers and other authors?? This is a joy beyond anything I dreamed. Maybe I'll be on the road to your neck 'o the woods soon.