Take it to the Limit!

I never know who is going to walk into my Beauty and the Book. One time I was visited by a couple of the guys in the cowboy musical group "Riders in the Sky". They stayed for hours while we talked about Ranger Doug's book "Singing in the Saddle: The History of the Singing Cowboy". His real name in case you want to purchase the book is Doug B. Green. Another book written about their group is "It's the Cowboy Way: The Amazing True Adventures of Riders in the Sky" by Don Cusic. They loved the shop and I told them I grew up in my grandparents store, Maloney's Shoe and Saddle Shop, which was a western store that specialized in boot and shoe repair. A very interesting group of musical artists, who I love, had a great interest in reading and books. Sometimes we forget that the “stars� so to speak have regular lives too. Check out their website at www.ridersinthesky.com and read about how Joey wrote some of the music for the new Disney film "Cars".
Since spring, my doors have been graced by some of the film people from Shreveport, mostly from the Kevin Costner film. First Kevin's wardrobe assistant was in for a pedicure then his director of photography wandered in for a haircut. Amazingly enough, we mostly talk about books, not the movies.
Then just as I was finishing a haircut on my good friend David Ham, a man stuck his head in the door looking for my fellow used bookseller, Fred McKenzie. As he ducked back out, I looked up at David as I rang up his haircut on my register and told him, "David that was Don Henley."
"No way, how could that be him. He looked so normal."
"David, I assure you that was Don Henley."
About ten minutes before a woman that I recognized from Music City Texas and come in to my shop to ask me a question. Now I recognized her right off the bat, as she is always the volunteer who works the door, though I have forgotten her name. She had not forgotten mine.
"Kathy, I bet you could tell me where I could get a double boiler."
Now in all my days of taking calls for weird requests and information, this one had me stumped. Evidently, double boilers are not even available at Wal-mart anymore. I told her I got mine at The Pampered Chef but maybe some of the antique stores that carry second hand cookware might have one.
She was on a mission to cook homemade custard.
My daughter then called, could I run her her swimming suit. I poked my head in Fred's shop and told him I would be right back, Madeleine needed her swimming suit. That is when Don Henley turned around and smiled. In the shop with him was the woman from Music City and evidently they were shopping together. A ha, I thought. Don wants some homemade custard. Fred started to introduce me to Don but I interrupted him by telling him, that I would know Don Henley anywhere. Hadn't I sat in the nosebleed section of the outdoor amphitheatre in Kansas City with binoculars watching Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley of The Eagles and Dan Folgleberg in concert. Hadn't I stood in line at the Walden Books even though at the time I worked for Barron's Books to meet Don Henley and get his book signed? Hadn't I gone with 13 of the Pulpwood Queens to see Don Henley in concert at Music City Texas where we took up the whole 8th row? I recognized those freckles, twinkly eyes, and persona instantly.
The woman then mentioned that, "Remember, Kathy is the one that shared the stage with you Don at Richard Bowden's birthday party?"
Now David Ham was right behind me taking this all in and blurts out, "What? Kathy, you did what?"
Then very much to my embarrassment had to explain that I opened Richard Bowden's 60th birthday party dressed as Marilyn Monroe and sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to Richard who also is the President of Music City Texas. Don seemed to get a kick out of me squirming telling the story. Richard and Don also grew up together in Linden and were instrumental in getting Music City Texas going as a not-for-profit and bringing in name acts to East Texas.
Don Henley had closed the birthday roast and brought the house down with his tales of growing up with Richard in Linden, Texas. I especially loved the story about blowing up frogs with firecrackers. Hadn't all boys done cruel things like that as kids? But Don Henley and Richard Bowden? I had to laugh.
Don Henley was buying some books on Caddo Lake and purchasing Fred's books, "Hickory Hill" and "Avinger, Texas, U.S.A." Fred had mentioned Don's dad in the books and Don wanted to read of the history and genealogy of our area covered in Fred's books.
I slipped out the door to take Madeleine her suit.
When I got back, Don Henley and his friend were gone. Fred and I had a nice long chat about the visit. If someone had told me that in my life I would get to meet people that I had looked up to and revered, I would have gone, "NO WAYâ". I loved The Eagles. My friends and I in college, after a night in Aggieville at Kansas State University, would walk back to our dorms singing The Eagles tune "Take it to the Limit! Take it to the Limit, one more time." My parents to this day say everytime they here an Eagles song they think of me as I played their 8- Track tapes over and over on my Dyno-mite player. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that I would meet Don Henley in person or have a conversation.
I am telling you reading and books take you wonderful places. I lived in California for some time and never met a celebrity in person which reminds me of their song "Hotel California". Shoot, part of the reason I moved to California was that song. It was so cool.
I have lived in Jefferson now almost twenty years and I meet celebrities every month, sometimes weekly and daily. The one thing that I have found to be true about each and every experience is that books can be a bridge. Next week you will get to read about my tale doing Art Garfunkal's hair and makeup for his concert that will be this coming Saturday night. Let us just hope it won't be a "bridge over troubled water". Sorry, but I could not resist.
I also would love to hear from all of you. Have you had a celebrity experience? I would love to hear your story so please post a comment.
Until next time singing, “All alone at the end of the evening, though the bright lights have faded away
Kathy L. Patrick
Hairdresser to the Authors and "STARS"!


By Nelson Collier
July 29, 2006 01:36 AM Link to this
Kathy, I like you have had a few celebrity experiences, growing up near Nashville, Tennessee, and being in the salon profession for the past fifteen years. I will start with my most disappointing celebrity experience. When I was in college, I worked in chain steakhouse part-time, not five minutes from the Opryland Theme Park. We had our share of country music stars, but one Saturday in the spring of 1990, in walks Jeanie C. Riley. As a kid, one of my favorite songs and movies, for reasons unknown, was “Harper Valley PTA”. I had the privaledge of waiting on Ms. Riley that day, as she was taking a break from autographing her cookbook at Opryland. All I remember was that she was such a witch and could hardly believe that she had a fan base at all, by the she treated me that day. Needless to say, I have meet more positive and focus forward celebrities since then.I meet Rickey Scaggs and his wife Sharon White in Florida one time. They were so geniue and non-pretentious. In the salon industry, I have meet John Paul DeJoria, the CEO/President of John Paul Mitchell Systems. He is the guy with the pony tail that everyone thinks is “Paul Mitchell”. He has to be the most down to earth, easy going, guy next door that I have ever meet, not to mention celebrity type.

By Kathy L. Patrick
August 1, 2006 09:53 PM Link to this
I once Nelson got off the airplane in Austin, Texas as I was going to Willie Nelson’s supposedly then LAST picnic and became completely surrounded by cameras. A very Forrest Gump moment as I was standing between two of the ugliest guys with British accents that I had ever seen. I found out later they were Peter Townsand and Roger Daltry of “The Who”. I went the who? Later that same trip I passed Kenny Rogers in the Dallas airport and was interviewed by the Rocky Mountain News out of Denver on my concert experience. Nestled on a blanket between a Kentucky fraternity house and a tent hell bent on free love for who ever fell in from too much alcohol and drugs, my 20 year old eyes were forever wide open on concert experience. Call me pronto as I have big news. Love, kat

Summer of 06

Do you remember the book "Summer of '42" by Herman Raucher that was later made into a movie starring Gary Grimes and Jennifer O'Neill? I remember when I read it I found it a beautiful coming of age story about a young man and his relationship with an older woman who was really a young widow. The book and movie really captured the angst of youth and a first summer's love, a loss of innocence. Now as an almost fifty year old mother, I hear the record needle screech across the vinyl to an abrupt stop, and think. What was I thinking? I have two teenage daughters and if the case were reversed, I would probably croak from the scandal of it all. Time changes the way we think and the way we think about what we read.
That got me thinking about the best books I read when I was a teenager. "Love Story" by Eric Segel stands out as well as "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex but Were Afraid to Ask" by David Reuben, M.D. These two books went around my junior high with brown paper bag fake covers at school and on school bus trips. Everyone knew that if a teacher spotted your reading these scandalous books, they would be confiscated never to be returned. I laugh to myself and imagine now just how many teachers read those free copies.
My oldest daughter asked me this past year if I had any Kurt Vonnegut books. Her friend Nick Reisenauer had told her that they were pretty good and she wanted to read them. I remember that I had loved Kurt Vonnegut books. "Breakfast of Champions" stood out in my mind. Knowing that all my books of my youth were in the attic in storage, I went to Fred McKenzie's Books on the Bayou across the hall from my Beauty and the Book to see if he had a copy. Fred deals in used books. Floor to ceiling, packed to the rafters, Fred has books. I found an old paperback copy of "Breakfast of Champions". I decided that I would read it again as for the life of me I could not remember what his books were about or what I loved about this book. I was shocked. I read the book cover to cover and found myself snickering at myself. I have become a prude. The book was smart; a fun read but more than a tad bit provocative. I found myself questioning if I should let my daughter Lainie read the book. Then I remembered of all the tons of books I have read in my life that book stood out for me as a book that was highly entertaining. I loved that book when I was her age and went on to read "Slaughterhouse -5", "Cat's Cradle", I would not censor my daughter's reading.
I am not sure if I fully understood what I read then as I did at 49. I just remember that I loved reading it. I gave the book to Lainie. This made me think that this book and others could be a nice bridge between my daughters struggling for their own independence, and I trying to be their mother and still have them not hate me. Books have seemed to work. I just read "My long and short life" by Melodie Bowsher and passed it on to my daughter who loved it so much she passed it on to her best friend Addison Reilly that prompted me to invite author, Melodie Bowsher in for my annual Girlfriend Weekend. Below is the copy that is verbatim from amazon.com on the book:
Ashley Mitchell thinks she has the perfect life: popularity, a hot boyfriend, and great fashion sense. But Ashley's world falls apart when her mother is accused of embezzling a million dollars, and no one can find her. Before she can say Dolce & Gabbana, Ashley's life goes from perfect to pathetic. With questions growing about her mother and her money quickly disappearing, Ashley is forced to make some drastic changes in her life. With nowhere else to go, she moves into an old camper behind a gas station and takes a job in a quirky San Francisco coffee shop where she wouldn't have been caught dead a month ago. But life at Mad Malcolm's Cyber Cafe' isn't what she expected. At the Madhouse she finds friends, confidence, and courage to start putting her life back together. But will Ashley ever have the chance to share her new life with her mother?
This heartfelt coming of age story will resonate with every daughter who ever took her mother for granted, and every young woman who must step out on her own and not just survive, but thrive.
About the Author
Melodie Bowsher grew up in Kansas and received a degree in journalism from Kansas State University. After graduating, she went to work in the Wall Street Journal's Dallas bureau where at age 20 she was the first woman ever hired by that newspaper as a staff reporter. Melodie later moved to San Francisco where her two kids provided the research for this, her first novel.
Upon reading this on amazon.com, I am now on a mission to e-mail Melodie and will do as soon as I finish this blog. I cannot wait until Girlfriend Weekend. You see I grew up in Kansas too and I went to Kansas State University. I will then share that with my daughter.
I had read "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger and was going to make it an Official Pulpwood Queen Book Club Selection but did not as it was discovered in a big way, like the New York Times Bestseller list. I try to select books that are written by first authors, their first books, or authors that have yet to be discovered. I set the book aside. Unbeknownst to me, my daughter saw the book and read it. "Mom, Mom," she cried. "I read your "The Devil Wears Prada" book. Mom, I loved it."
I told her that they had sold the movie rights and Meryl Streep was to play the Miranda Priestly character. We both adore Meryl Streep. "Mom, Mom, we have to go to that move!"
Now my oldest daughter is 16, usually the last thing on her my mind is going to the movies with her mother. She is usually off with her boyfriend, Russell, or her friends. Yes, books can be a bridge and they certainly have helped me get through a summer where usually I have to go, "No way, and I letting you do that." Or "I don't care if their mom's are letting you go, I say no and that is the end of this discussion."
I also e-mail both my daughters as I have found they will answer my e-mails. They absolutely refuse to respond when I ask them to help around the house and they are all in it with me. I sign my e-mails, Your mean mom. We laugh about it as when I put my foot down, I put my foot down, and it is a big foot.
Summer of 06 so far has turned out to be a great one. I hope my girls will remember this one as a summer of great reads, ones that they will not censor and pass on to their children someday. My sixteen year went with me to Shreveport for one of meetings for my International Book Club Author Extravaganza. As we had our meeting in the coffee shop of the Barnes & Noble, she was stacking up the books she wanted to read. She bought "The Burn Journals" by Brent Runyon "The History Boys: A Play" by Alan Bennett and "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Today I am kidnapping both the girls with their friends to go shopping and then to the local water park. I plan on taking them camping just one more time before school starts this fall. They will be gone before I know it but I guarantee that when communication gets sparse, books can take you places where no one else can. Empower your kids to be readers. Make this a summer of great reads and great memories. I have saved all the books on my library shelves that have spoke to me through the years. I hope that someday when they check out those shelves and I am long gone they will go. "Oh my God, check this out. Mom, read Carlos Castaneda's books. Look here is "The Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. And look at this "Life is Just What You Make It: My Story So Far" by Donny Osmond. Wasn't that a group once? The Osmonds?"
Well, that last read was really read because my younger sisters, Karen and Karol were the biggest Donny Osmond Fans in the whole wide word. I always like Marie Osmond, the sister as she sang country. You want to get to know someone, check out what he or she is reading. That will speak volumes on who they are and what they have become. For me, I am a reader and my one true wish for my two girls is that they will be readers too. Reading has taken my fabulous places that I never even dreamed. Reading has made my life very happy. Books have been my bridge to adulthood and will take me on my journey on the roads ahead. I have built a home of books, just like the Bible, books are my rock, my foundation.
Happy Summer of '06 reading,
Kathy L. Patrick
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By Lois Oller Nasados
July 21, 2006 10:08 AM Link to this
You wanted to know what we read as teenagers? Everything I could get my hands on!
My reading frenzie actually started at age 10, when my teacher took all 40 of us on a public bus to the closest branch of the Chicago Public Library. Now instead of a book a week from the school library, I could check out 10 books every two weeks—and sometimes I’d take them back before the two weeks was up.
Gladys Malvern wrote a wonderful series of historical novels for teens. Jonica’s Island was about life in the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam before the English turned it into New York. Then came Ann of Old New York and others.
I was still reading Nancy Drew, but also discovered Perry Mason mysteries. At 13 I read Gone with the Wind—after the librarian convinced my mother that it wasn’t “improper.” After all, my mother had seen the movie and that Scarlett was not a nice girl.
Does anyone else remember Frank Yerby? He wrote what we would now call “bodice rippers,” and to a 13-year-old in late 1950s, that was pretty exciting.
The Foxes of Harrow, Anne of Green Gables, Agatha Christie, any mystery I could get my hands on, Withering Heights, Vanity Fair. After all these years I can tell you some plot lines but not the authors or titles.

By Lois Oller Nasados
July 21, 2006 10:10 AM Link to this
See above

By Nelson Collier
July 22, 2006 01:58 PM Link to this
Kathy,
I love the new layout of The Beauty and the Book website. It looks so clean and fresh! I feel as you do, spring and summer being a time for newing the soul, and reinventing one’s self, reading great books is an essential. My mom was constantly encouraging my sisters and I to read. One of my most memberable summer reads was a classic, “A Room With A View”. It was a required read for me back in the summer of 1987. That was the summer before my senior year in high school and my junior English teacher, Mrs. Sanders, had talked me into enrolling in Advanced Senior English. She felt that had great potiential to achieve higher, especially in reading and composition. I have yet to read “The Devil Wears Prada” but I have seen the movie. Meryl Streep did an awesome job portraying Miranda Priestly. In real life, Nina Gracia, Fashion Editor for Elle Magazine, one of the judges on Bravo TV’s “Project Runway”, comes across like a Miranda Priestly, although she lacks her style. Here’s to great summer reads and summer blockbuster movies!!!
Nelson Collier

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 24, 2006 08:16 AM Link to this
Dear Readers, Unfortunately in my enthusiasm for gushing on about Melodie Bowsher’s new book, I inadvertately wrote the wrong title. The title is “My lost and found life” which I assure you is a book that you will want to make sure you have the right title as you will want to read it. Read more about Melodie Bowsher at www.melodiebowsher.com and hopefully Melodie will forgive me. I too am a born and raised Kansas who definitely has learned everything she knows through her mistakes. Case number kazillion. Well, at least you know for sure now that I am not perfect, ha ha ha! Your flawed Queen, kat

GOOD NEWS!

I use to get embarrassed thanking God aloud in person. Sum it up to my First Christian and Congregational Church upbringing back in rural Kansas. Thanking God was done privately, in silent prayer. Now that I live here in the Bible belt, I have learned that a typical greeting is a hug and a casserole with blessings before the meal. Everyone is in a prayer group, a prayer circle, Bible study, shoot I just love my Mayberry RFD inspired Sunday School Class. I have found that my prayers have been answered. I have seen the light!
I have changed from a shy, introverted girl from Kansas to a gospel loving middle-aged woman who is now not afraid to share my passions and dreams. When I put God first, family second, friends next, then work, I have changed for the better. Today, I want to shout it from the mountaintop, "THANKS BE TO THE GLORY OF GOD!" I received GOOD NEWS!
Many things have been happening that have shown me that the right priorities make things happen in a good way. This week Gary Ford of "Southern Living" Magazine e-mailed me to call him. He had something new going, concerning Texas and books, with the magazine. He told me he wanted to feature me, quote "FINALLY". I about spilt my coffee and broke my coffee cup banging it on my side table reaching for my cell phone at the house. I could not call him fast enough.
Gary answered the call and we had a nice long chat. He explained that "Texas Living" runs six times a year in the magazine, January, March, May, June, August and November. Each time there is a new issue, he would be changing his new component of www.southernliving.com, “I Love Texas.”
Part of “I Love Texas” will be a regular feature called “Southern Living Texas Book Club.” This will be mainly reviews of books by Texas authors and/or publishers. He would like to feature “Five Questions For…” a different author each time. He also wants to include book event news, such as author appearances, festivals, and other book events (the type that I host). He would like to mention my Christian Book Festival, BOOKS ALIVE!, November 3-5, 2006 which is the event Beauty and the Book and The Pulpwood Queens are sponsoring as a total fundraiser for the First United Methodist Church to be held at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Texas. In addition, he would like to mention my annual Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend to be held at The Marshall in Marshall, Texas, January 19-21, 2007 sponsored by The Marshall News Messenger.
Another part of the book section would be mine, entitled something like “What the Pulpwood Queens are Reading". He would ask me to give me a couple of lines or so about the “hot” books my Pulpwood Queen Book Club members are reading.
Hold me back Nelly, I was more excited than Sally Field accepting the Academy Award. "Yes, Yes, Yes!" I cried as one of the first things I did when I moved to Texas was subscribe to the southerner's lifestyle Bible, "Southern Living" Magazine. I wanted to embrace all things Texas and Southern. I also signed up to take a Texas History course with Panola College because by God, I wanted to be able to say "Remember the Alamo" and mean the mission, not the car rental place.
I love everything southern, the people, the food, the music, the churches, the small town charm and hospitality, and the history! Bring it on, as I devoured chicken friend steak, hot water cornbread, turnip greens listening to southern music. Nothing beat a rousing choir in church or kids walking with cane poles, a can a worms to go fish on the banks of the bayou. If I have to cook for company, where's my "Southern Living" magazines. My favorite bread, pie, and coconut chicken kabobs are all variations of the recipes from "Southern Living". The most glorious thing of it all is southerners embrace being from the south.
When my daughter placed First Place in the Marion County State Fair and 4-H show for her Chicken Pot Pies we went on to competition at the Texas State Fair. One of the highlights was attending the "Southern Living" Cooking School! "Southern Living" live, no how cool was that!
"Southern Living" always gives me great ideas for decorating, gardening, great places to travel, and we even made the Top 100 Places to Go in the South one year. However, the one thing I always turn to first in the magazine is the book section that is the first thing I read.
So God has been blessing me with this GOOD NEWS! Not only am I thrilled to be in the magazine that I consider the southerner's lifestyle Bible, I just keep thinking about all the authors that I can showcase that deserve to be read in a big way. What with something like 7 million people reading the magazine, maybe some of those folks will discover the authors that I pick which are usually first time, first book authors, or yet not discovered in a big way.
Now you are going to have to put a rock on my head to keep me from floating up to the ceiling. I swainee that my co-worker, Marla has had to bat me down several times in my salon with a broom this week to get me back to the task of doing hair and putting good books in to the hands of all who grace my doors!
Sometimes we only pray to God when things go really, really wrong. I realize since I have become a “southerner� that you pray big time when things go really, really right too! So I am praying and I want to thank Gary Ford "Southern Living" Magazine for this amazing opportunity AND all my literacy promoting friends in the media for helping us on our mission to get the world reading good books!
Get ready as their will be a teaser in the November 2006 issue. I always think to myself that Margaret Mitchell pitched her book like 38 times before her book got published, what if she hadn't perservered? That's why I select the books I do, as they could be the next Harper Lee, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner! So get read to read "Southern Living" and the read the books I recommend!
Tiara wearing, Book and "Southern Living" sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick

By Deborah Smith
July 14, 2006 09:48 AM Link to this
I, too, love Southern Living! A great magazine, and some of the best recipes around. Their cold black-eyed-pea salad has become a tradition on New Year’s in our house.
I’d like to share a bit of good news, myself. My next novel, THE CROSSROADS CAFE, will receive a “starred” review in the August Library Journal (which is read by librarians nationwide)A starred review means not only “good,” but “great.” Such a thrill! I just switched from the big New YOrk publishers to my own small press, so it’s such an honor to see that the major reviewers still take my books seriously! www.bellebooks.com.

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 14, 2006 09:04 PM Link to this
Can’t wait to check out your book Deb. In the meantime, Southern Living salads will get us through the hot days of summer. Yours sounds dee-lish! kat

By Nelson Collier
July 14, 2006 11:36 PM Link to this
Kathy, I was elated when John called me to let me know that you had been choosen to do a bi-monthly column in Southern Living. You have got that right! It is definately the Southern Bible. My mother always subscribed to it when I was a kid. We dare not throw her back issues away as she would keep them for the recipes. It is obvious that you put God first in your life. You are always putting others first and yourself last. If everyone believed in a higher power, what a wonderful world it would be.

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 15, 2006 06:10 AM Link to this
Nelson, Growing up in Kansas I did not discover Southern Living until I became an adult. Our only reading material in our house was Reader’s Digest, our Golden Book Encyclopedia set, and our Reader’s Digest Condensed books. Then I discovered the wonderful world of the Eureka Carnegie Library which my childhood friend and classmate, Constance Doeden now is Head Librarian. She also runs a chapter, The PUlpwood Queens of Eureka! See where the wonderful world of reading takes you and for me it reconnecting Connie and I since our days at Eureka schools. And God first, certainly is working for me so onward and upward I say. In fact, onward book soldiers has become my mantra whether the “good book” or other great reads. Thanks for commenting and until I see you again. Love, kat

By Vickie Phelps
July 15, 2006 01:53 PM Link to this
Kathy,
Didn’t Sally Field say something like “You like me, you really, really like me when she received her Oscar. Well, sounds like they really, really like you too. :)
Enjoyed your blog and glad you’ve discovered the Good News. In my own life, I’ve found you can’t just pray when things are good or real bad, but it’s daily communication with God. I need it. Keeps me out of trouble. (Most of the time anyway.)
I Love what you’re doing with literacy and books and excited about the Southern Living project. It’s my favorite magazine too.
Vickie

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 16, 2006 09:23 AM Link to this
I could not agree more Vickie. My lastest breath of fresh air is now that my book is finished I have started walking again. I call it my “Walk and Worship” as it is my time to get everything right in my world for my body, mind, and spirit. And yes, that was what I was refering to when Sally Field cried out, “You like me, you really, really like me!” or something like that. Right now we are in the throes of checking out a baby grey kitten that Jay rescued last night from our two outdoor dogs who found it. Slightly slobbered on and exhausted, not hurt, we gave it droppers of water then a kitten chow broth to gain its strength back. It’s all bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning purring for the girls. Now if we don’t hurry we are going to be late for Sunday School. Make that #4 kitten to the rescue in our household. You know how I love cats and really most animals with legs. Thanks for writing and I really, really love you for writing, he he! ka

To write a book, or to not write a book. Was that ever a QUESTION?

This blog is late as I had a more pressing writing project. I have been in the final editing process of my book, "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life" to be published by Hachette Book Group USA, formerly known as Time/Warner Book Group.
I had sent the manuscript to my agent, Marly Rusoff of Marly Rusoff & Associates. She had found some grammatical errors, was going to tweak it a bit, go over it one more time to proof, send it back to me to proof and then send on to my editor, Amy Reinhorn at Warner Books. I stayed up most of the night last night to reread for the umpteenth time my story, the story of how books saved me and why I am on a mission to get America reading.
My book is a simple story. Nothing fancy, I have always been a reader not a writer that explains why it has taken me nearly five years to complete. If nothing else comes from the publication of my book, I have learned more about myself in the past five years than I could have possibly imagined.
They say one out of every two people want to write a book. I am sure that is true as we all have great stories. My advice to anyone who ever want to write a book? Do not just talk the talk, walk the walk. Write it first then tell everybody.
My family is sick of the book. My husband refuses to read it because as he put it, "Why should I, I have lived the story." He has a valid point. My two girls just quietly leave the room when I announce, "Hey, girls, listen to this." They have heard it all before. The only thing in retrospect that I wish that I had of done was not told anyone I was writing the book, until it was finished.
However, how could I? These stories were so great I just had to share, and share, and share. Well, you get the picture.
Therefore, if this book ever does come out I have decided that after I make the announcement of the publication date, I will just stop and be quiet for a moment. Oh, whom I am kidding, me be quiet? Never! No, I am going to have the biggest party for myself, even bigger than my birthday parties I throw for myself. Why? Because I have lived to tell the tale. Writing this book, I think, about killed me. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I bow to author’s feet, shoot I will kiss them because writing a book is hard. Let me dig ditches any day and I swear it would be easier.
I gained ten pounds for every year I worked on the book. That is right. Thank God, the book did not take ten years or you would have to roll me around on book tour. I am in the second week of getting back to my pre-physical non-published author self and killing myself walking the track, panting for breath. A slice of pie is a great reward for a page of work but after nearly 400 pages, that is a lot of pie. Believe me, the fat needed cutting on my book and on me.
So I will continue to huff and puff around the track and dream of that publication date.
Right now, I am sick of writing, I am ready to read for I am a reader. Bring it on authors, bring it on publishers. I am now gearing up for a much slimmer version of myself and three book festivals ahead. I have a lot of catching up to do for body, mind, and spirit.
So now, if you are thinking about writing a book, write it. Just do not tell me or anybody else until it is done. Believe me, it would have been a lot easier, and you won't have to hear everyday of your life. How is your book coming?
I also have put a new plan of action into play for the next book. Instead of a slice of pie as a reward for a well-written page, I am changing that to one mile on the track. I will eat a whole pie when the pub date is announced to celebrate, call it even. Where to get the best pie? Come to Jefferson, Texas and go to The Hamburger Store which has a homemade three berry made with rhubarb that is killer warmed with a scoop of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Come to momma!
So now back on track, back to reading and stay tuned for more literary adventures with the Pulpwood Queen. Be watching for the pub date and the book, which will be hot pink with leopard trim, you can't miss it!
Tiara wearing and my First Book Sharing!
Kathy L. Patrick
Founder of the NOW International Book Club, The Pulpwood Queens!
Permalink Comments (14)

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By Virginia
July 8, 2006 09:01 AM Link to this
Congratulations! I am proud of you. I know it was hard work, and whether or not the book is published, you accomplished a great feat in getting it finished. Attagirl!

By Carolyn Haines
July 8, 2006 10:02 AM Link to this
Kathy,
Congratulations—I’m looking forward to reading your book. As a fellow writer, I understand the issue of weight gain. Food is the only reward that allows you to sit in that chair and keep writing (I can eat and write at the same time!) I tried doing sit-ups everytime I got out of the chair, but that wasn’t a good plan because then I would just roll my chair into the kitchen.
I tried drinking coffee, but when I didn’t sleep for four nights and the neighbors threw a tarp over me and staked it down, I figured I had to come up with a better plan. Ice cream seems to work fine!
I read your endorsement of Kinky with great enthusiasm. I’d be willing to move to Texas to be Kinky’s press agent if he gets elected, or even if he doesn’t! (I love Texas and cowboys are an icon I identify with.) I think Kinky is one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. And one who won’t be swayed by lobbyists or special interest groups. I say let’s get him in the governor’s mansion and focus on the problems he’ll confront head-on.
Carolyn

By Andy "Electroboy" Behrman
July 8, 2006 10:03 AM Link to this
Greetings from Los Angeles, Kathy!
Congratulations on so much - - finishing your book and also turning 5-0 - - wow!
Just a note - - now that you’ve finished your first book, you ARE a writer (not just a reader), and we can’t wait until pub date!
Please keep us all posted on your publicity plans and how we can all help to promote your book, okay?
Good luck,
Andy Behrman www.electroboy.com

By Lois Oller Nasados
July 8, 2006 07:15 PM Link to this
Can’t wait! You’d better have a biiig party. After all, we’ve been waiting right along with you.
Lois

By Maary Bill
July 9, 2006 09:30 AM Link to this
Congradulations!!! I know it’s great to have finally accomplished what you have wanted a long time. Good luck with the publishing. See you next time I’m in Jefferson. Hope I’ll be there for the next PARTY!!! Always, Mary Bill

By Prill
July 9, 2006 03:44 PM Link to this
I’ve still got that tiara you gave me when I came to Jefferson, but you’re the queen of queens, Kathy. Congratulations on finishing The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life! Having written a book—and made the mistake of telling people that I’m writing another (oh, how I can relate to your comment about the endless questions on when I’ll be done)—I know what hard work it is and how long you’ve waited to see it in print. I hope it hits the stratosphere—the top of all the bestseller lists…and beyond. What better time to turn 50, with so much to celebrate and new adventures right around the corner. (Hope you’re holding on for the wild ride to come.) Who could ask for more? Much love, Prill

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 10, 2006 07:06 AM Link to this
Wow, if I knew that you all would comment on getting my book done maybe that would have spurned me to get it done faster! THANK YOU Carolyn, Prill, Lois, Carolyn, Andy, and Mary Bill! You have made my day and now onward and upward! I have meetings today on my International Book Club Author Extravaganza to be held in Shreveport next summer, July 13th - 15th, 2007. It is never too early to prepare for an event. My BOOKS ALIVE event November 3 - 5, 2006 is coming along nicely. Just got confirmed Justin Lookadoo and Allison Bottke who are full face outs at Walmart right now. I can’t believe they are coming. And now that The Marshall News Messenger has joined as sponsor and co-host of my Annual Girlfriend Weekend, January 19 - 21, 2007, we are going to have the best event ever! Phil Doran, J. Dann, Jason Headley, have just confirmed and that is additional to the thirty or so I already have booked. The theme is the PUlpwood Queens Go HOLLYWOOD this year which should be amazing with all the stars we have planning to come! Let’s see three book festivals, my book, now a possible radio program, just featured in Texas Journeys, AAA magazine, and more in the works! Looks like all my hard work and all of your support has finally come into fruition. God Bless you all because besides all this, I have a family life too. I am right now in the process of getting my 12 year old off to a confirmation retreat. My oldest just got back from her UM ARMY mission trip and next up our First United Methodist BIG HOUSE mission trip. All these blessings must be repaid, so pay it forward folks. I can assure you that everyone that just wrote me have done just that and MORE! Love to you and onward book soldiers! kat

By June Jordan
July 10, 2006 01:36 PM Link to this
Kat, I am so proud of you and I know that your family is sick of the book, but I also know how proud they are of you. You take this time and enjoy this accomplishment. It is one of a lifetime. You will write other books, but this is the first, and has been a true learning experience. You are a wonderful person, and we all love you. Best wishes from one of your fellow Queens! June Jordan, Jefferson Pulpwood Queen!!!!

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 11, 2006 07:30 AM Link to this
Thanks June, as always your comments just make my day! Book Club meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. I told everyone to bring Irish pub food as discussing J.R. Moehringer’s The Tender Bar. He book just made BookSense picks and just learned he is now writing for The Los Angeles Times. Unfortunately, he is teaching a writing seminar this week so we will not get to meet him in person or even have him call in for a teleconference to the meeting. But lots of announcements on our coming book festivals so please come if you can. Love, kat

By Nelson Collier
July 12, 2006 11:33 PM Link to this
Kathy, I am so excited about your book,”The Pulpwood Queens,Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing, Guide to Life”. I was just in Barnes and Noble today, picking up our next to club sections, and it hit me right then and there, authors touch our lives in so many ways; through our imaginations as well as through our emotions. If it were not for great authors, where would our civilize lives be! Recently I gave one of my nephews a book seller gift card for his birthday, in hopes that he too will be able to discover new worlds through books.

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 14, 2006 09:07 PM Link to this
Nelson, You have always be a champion for promoting literacy and you are absolutely right. Books can change our lives and for the better. If it was not for books, I would not be where I am today. And glad to know that you have learned that the gift of a book is a gift that keeps on giving. Thanks for writing. kat

By Gary Hurst
July 15, 2006 01:26 PM Link to this
OK, well I am one of that 50 %. I would like to ask you if you would look at some of my work. It is all poetry, but I it tells of my journey since discovering I had laryngeal cancer in late winter of 1996.
I truly would appreciate any help you might give:
Some of my work is at www.allpoetry.com/poets/justmegary
Thanks in advance for your consideration
Gary Hurst
Marshall, TX

By Kathy L. Patrick
July 16, 2006 09:33 AM Link to this
Gary, I will check it out and I have great compassion for what you went through as my beloved grandmother whom I called “Mudder” had a larengectomy. She had to teach herself how to talk all over again. Always so sad for me and she used to tell me the best stories and we always sang together as we rode back and forth to town from the country. She was always singing and a big talker just like me. She gave me those storytelling skills that I hope to pass on to my two daughters. But she recovered like a trooper and lived on for many, many years until her heart gave out. She wrote me many letters when I moved to California from Kansas. Writing can be a wonderful way of getting through some tough times and issues. In fact, I have always found for me that writing is the poor man’s psychiatrist. Keep writing and we’ll all keep reading. kat The Pulpwood Queen

By Gary Hurst
July 18, 2006 08:05 AM Link to this
Kathy,
What a dear person you are. If the other “Queens” get a chance I would appreciate their opinions as well
My Goodness I never expected an answer so quickly.
God Bless You
Gary Hurst

Booking it to Book Group Expo!

Head Queen Margie Dilday of my Pulpwood Queens of Squire Creek Country Club and I had finally arrived in San Jose, California for Book Group Expo, the first ever book club convention in the country. I was to speak on Saturday morning and then Moderating a panel of Sunday with southern authors, Loraine Despres of “The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell, Ronlyn Domingue of “The Mercy of Thin Air, River Jordan of “The Messenger of Magnolia Street, and Michael Morris of “Slow Way Home”.
Margie and I walked the short distance from Hotel St. Claire where we were staying to the San Jose Convention Center. I have never been so impressed with a venue. We were handed darling hanging name tags that were just like the manila pockets in books at libraries, Book Group Expo book bags and our program.
As we walked through the airing convention center, we could see women from book clubs gathered in groups, a marketplace resplendent with booths of books and related book items. The center was a full four sided booth on wine tasting from California wineries. Wow, I thought, “I hope we have time to shop.”
We headed to the green room prior to our meeting and there we met all our moderator, Lauren John who is a librarian at San Francisco’s Town and Country Club. She has led book discussion groups in public libraries, living rooms, and synagogues. She is also the author of “Running Book Discussions: A How to Do It Manual for Librarians. I shared the panel with Leslie Sbrocco, who is an award winning author; writer, speaker, expert, and television Host of KQED’s Check Please, whose entertaining approach makes learning about wine and food fun. "Wine for Women" is her first book. Both women were more than friendly as we helped ourselves to coffee and croissant and sank into the chairs to get to know each other and prepare for our panel.
As our Book Group Expo volunteer motioned that it was time that we took the stage in our salon, we entered the room and it was packed with women. Wearing my tiara, the sound man miked us for sound and we were ready to go.
As Lauren introduced us, I scanned the crowd and we began our stories. The hour flew by and before we new it we were ushered to autograph tables in the back of the market place. Since my book, "The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life" has not been published yet, I signed Girlfriend Weekend postcards that The Marshall News Messenger had made up for me to promote out event at Book Group Expo. We had a blast talking to the California book club attendees. Lauren quickly sold out of her "Women and Wine" book and then we were off to attend some panels ourselves.
As I sat in on all the wide array of author salons, I was amazed by the diversity and quality of the authors. You would be doing yourself a great service by going to www.bookgroupexpo.com and I would highly recommend that any booklover attend. Never have I had so much access to authors in such a comfortable and relaxed setting.
Highlights for me on the weekend was of course meeting all my author friends but what really kicked the event off was listening to Khaled Houseini who wrote "The Kite Runner". He spoke eloquently on his book and remembrances from his homeland of Afghanistan. I also met a young man by the name of Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi who was there promoting his debut novel, "The Last Song of Dusk" that I can’t wait to read.
Hearing Dorothy Allison speak who wrote "Bastard Out of Carolina" and then meeting her was a special treat as I have loved her writing for years. Author, April Sinclair had me in stitches talking about her book, "Coffee Will Make You Black" and the list could go on, and on.
Sunday I met all my southern authors back in the green room and I also have to mention that they also just happened to all be Pulpwood Queen authors. Loraine Depres, www.lorainedespres.com, I met last Girlfriend Weekend and she is most famous for writing the episode of "Who Shot J.R." on the popular television show. I became hooked on Loraine’s writing when she wrote her first book, "The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc". What a romp of a read!
Michael Morris I adopted years before as the man who would make the perfect brother and he is. I me his wife for the first time, Melanie and she is the perfect sister. If you haven't read Michael Morris’s books, www.aplacecalledwiredgrass.com ,you are doing yourself a great disservice. He is a writer to watch with "A Place Called Wiregrass", "Slow Way Home", "Live Like You Were Dying" and now as soon as he finds a publisher home, "The King of Florabama". If I was a publisher, I would put him at the top of my list and his body of work is amazing and he is divine storyteller that touches your heart and soul.
River Jordan,www.riverjordan.com and Ronlyn Domingue, www.ronlyndomingue.com, I had never met but we soon became friends. River began her talk by explaining that even though she grew up in the south, being from a broadcasting background, she had lost her accent. When Michael spoke he assured everybody that he would more than make up for River’s lack of accent which got a huge laugh from the crowd. Ronlyn sat in a yoga position and I have never been that limber. An eloquent speaker she unfolded her story as beautiful as a flower blooming. I was well pleased with the amazing talent of my panel and thoroughly enjoyed this great excuse to talk books big time. Again, it was too soon over and we headed back to the author autograph tables.
Now some people talk of heaven as a place where there are quiet streams, rainbows and puffy clouds floating by. My idea of heaven was Book Group Expo, did you hear that God. Put me in a place with authors and I will no that I died and had gone to heaven.
I headed over that afternoon to sit in on "The Book Club from Hell" and about died laughing. Amy Tan and her co-horts in literary crime put on a hilarious skit where they reenacted a book club meeting. I seriously almost wet my pants when my friend and author, Kathi Kamen Goldmark burst into the book club meeting talking on a cell phone and apologizing for not having read the book. She reminded the book club that she had bought the book though. They had the crowd in the palm of their hand as all of us were guilty of all these book club disgressions.
I ran into my new author friends, Kurt Wisner of “Honeymoon with my Brother� and his brother Kurt at the autograph tables. They stopped signing books to give me brotherly hugs and I was touched as Kurt still had the African lunch box I had given him when he was at my shop with his "Honeymoon with my Brother" passport stamps inside. They had a line that wrapped all the way to the Lonely Planet Booth. Check out their website at www.honeymoonwithmybrother.com to see why.
More to come on Book Group Expo so check back next week!
Tiara wearing and Book Sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
www.beautyandthebook.com