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October 2006
Dancing In the Streets
I grew up dancing. My mother who always wanted to be a movie star and she made sure that my sisters and I knew all the dance moves. She would put on a stack of 45’s and we would dance as we did the housework when we were little. We shimmied, did the frugue, the cha cha, jitterbugged, and danced the pony to everything from Elvis, Buddy Holly, Teresa Brewer, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass to The Beatles. So when author Robert Dalby contacted me about coming to promote his book, “Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly, I had my dance card ready.
Robert was on a tour through the south doing book talks on his book about a small town whose Piggly Wiggly grocery store’s livelihood is being threatened by a new Megamart opening across town. The Piggly Wiggly has been Second Creek’s town hall and community center. Local citizen, Laurie Lepanto, enlists her fellow “Nitwits�, the most influential ladies in town,who are also widow women, to save the Piggly Wiggly. Laurie talks the handsome widower and former ballroom dance instructor, Powell Hampton, into giving ballroom dance lessons at the store while the Piggly Wiggly salesclerks do their shopping for them. Thus begins the story that immediately reminded me of the town in which I live Jefferson, Texas. “Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly� could be any small town, anywhere.
When I first moved to Jefferson, we had one grocery store, The Piggly Wiggly. Moving here from California and mega grocery stores, I found “The Pig�, as everyone called it, charming. One of the first person’s I met, a young man named Arthur, helped me find the produce that I did not see on the display. I went for groceries and could not find a bell pepper anywhere. Arthur took me down the canned food aisle to where there were cans of jalapenos. I told him, “No, bell peppers, green peppers, like you stuff or use in salads.�
“Oh, we don’t have those but we have fresh collard greens.�
I laughed thinking he was kidding, but he was serious. I had just enrolled in “Small Town 101�.
It wasn’t long before I realized that if I wanted something, best get to the store early because after six they often ran out of things like for example hamburger meat. Besides that one store closed at 8:00 p.m. so you better be sure you had what you needed before then, you better get it. At first, I was perturbed by this inconvenience. But as I grew to understand that the Piggly Wiggly was the center of the towns community, I grew to love that little mom and pop grocery store. There was not one time I would ever go in there when Arthur would cry out in greeting, “Hello California�, always willing to have a nice chat and figure out how to help me find what I needed. I may not be able to get pine nuts or dried cranberries, but have I ever tried pickled okra. Deelish. Starbucks coffee was not on the shelves but Community Coffee Dark Roast, that would do.
You never ever went through those doors without running into someone you knew and catching up and life in general. I never got out of the store in under an hour but I never regretted seeing old friends and making new ones. I cried when it closed, bought out by one of the big chains. No longer would I write a check to “The Pig�. Now when I go to the store I am asked, “Do you have your “fill in the blanks� store card?� and then “Driver’s license please.� What a pain. I am always a new customer to the store’s staff as they change so much. So I didn’t get a bell pepper or have hamburgers for dinner now and then, at least it was easy and customer friendly. No one ever asked me for my driver’s license, they knew me and where to find me. Half the time now, I stand there waiting for the sacker to take my basket out to the car and give up in despair. As I push my own full grocery cart to my car I think this never would have happened at “The Pig�. They make me get my own bags of ice and honestly could care less whether I shop there or not. Of course they are open now 7 days a week and open until 10:00 p.m. Excuse me, I would rather shop at “The Pig�.
I found Robert Dalbys book to be just the nostalgic read that I was wanting. Just as I pined for my grocery store in my days of youth, Ollsen’s that was a mom and pop store that had a counter length long shelves and shelves of penny candy, I got to reminese about my days shopping at the Piggly Wiggly. Robert told me The Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain has embraced the book so much and even invited him to speak at their corporate store meeting of over 600 stores. I find Piggly Wiggly’s and Robert Dalby’s book comforting. Also the fact that 600 stores are still running in our country, good for The Piggly Wiggly. Robert also told me that this will be a series and his next is called “Kissing Babies at the Piggly Wiggly�.
I invited him back for our Annual Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend, not only because there will be more ladies exposed to his book than you can shake a stick at, but because Robert concluded the booktalk, question and answer, then autographing with ball room dance lessons! Yes, everyone who attended was ushered off the porch onto the sidewalks in front of my shop to learn the waltz, the foxtrot, and my favorite the cha cha! What fun to see men and women enjoying the dancing that my generation seemed to miss. We were so busy in the 70’s doing our own thing, I never got to experience ballroom dancing or really even dancing as a couple. Now we slow danced at all the school and college dances but if you call shuffling back forth dancing, I can tell you really it was more a reason to be able to get close and personal to some boy or girl.
We took lots of pictures of us learning our new dances and yes, we were dancing in the streets of Jefferson! What fun! And if you have a Piggly Wiggly in your small town or neighborhood, count your lucky stars. These mom and pop store are going by the wayside as fast as they can put in any megamart or supercenter. I personally miss the service of these stores. Try to find someone who will help you fit a shoe, or help your daughter by her first bra, or a dimestore where you can buy embroidery thread, a diary, ten cents worth of black string licorice all at the same time. I miss those stores. Thankfully, we have those great memories when we read. Grab a Robert Dalby book TODAY!
Check out Robert Dalby who is a native Mississippian and lifelong patron of the Piggly Wiggly at www.penguinputnam.com And for more on The Piggly Wiggly grocery stores check www.pigglywiggly.com
Tiara wearing and Book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
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“LIGHTS, CAMERA, REACTION!�
I hate to miss church. First, because it kind of sets the tone for my whole week and second, because I just feel plain guilty. I got up this morning, puffy eyed, with swollen feet, and flat out tired. There was no way I was going to make it to church. I was too tired. I slumped into my favorite winged backed chair with a hot cup of java and thought. Here is what happens to you when you finally get in the movies. Yes, last night or should I say this early, early this morning, I was an extra in the filming of a new movie, “The Agenda.�
I first heard about the film when our Tourism Director, Juanita Chitwood, sent out an email with a call for extras for the film, “The Agenda�, to be filmed in Longview by Azisa Pictures. Below is the write up on the Longview Public Library website and newsletter:
Longview Public Library is a “Star�! Longview Public Library will get top billing when the locally based Azisa Pictures films a large segment of their new movie “Agenda� here sometime during the first two weeks of October. Just like most movie “stars�, however, the library will be temporarily getting a total “make-over�… to an art museum! Statues and artwork will be moved in by the movie company to transform the library courtyard and interior into the art museum as needed for some major scenes in this exciting movie. Oscar night and red carpet, here we come!
Wow, I love the movies, almost as much as a good book. How exciting, red carpet and Oscars here we come. The movie “The Agenda� is a film about three people who are drawn together, through what is perceived as one interest. The truth is each individual has their own “agenda�, thus the title of the film. There’s mystery, suspense, and MURDER! Shades of Agatha Christie, here we come!
After we were called and were approved by casting (the men had to wear tuxedos, the women floor-length gowns), I was told I was to be a wealthy art patron attending a gallery opening. I had the gown and being an art major, felt well qualified for the role except the wealthy part. Well, I had acted before in high school and local theatrical productions, I would do my best. My co-worker and stylist, Nelson Collier and his life partner, John Baribeau would also be attending as they had the tuxedos. Darrell Jones of The Carriage House Bed & Breakfast was attending too and actually drove us to Longview for this theatrical adventure.
When we arrived at the time specified, 7:30 p.m. this past Saturday, there was no one at the table at the entrance of the library. They had a scotch taped handwritten sign that said, “Extras Sign-In�. We did not see a sign in sheet anywhere or a soul for that matter. Finally, we stopped someone walking by and were directed to help ourselves to refreshments at the hospitality room on our left. As we entered, we spied bottles of water and bags of chips slung out on a bare folding table. Chairs were lined up across the room in rows. Someone was scurrying to drop a screen from the ceiling to show us a movie while we waited. Evidently, production was running behind. They would begin to set up the scene now at 9:30 p.m. We had two hours, I was thinking I hope it is a film I had not seen.
We settled as best we could into the chairs for the long wait and proceeded to watch “Second Hand Lions� starring my favorite actor Robert Duvall and co-star Michael Caine. After a long, strenuous Saturday of doing haircuts and color, I suggested maybe we go to find a Starbucks and get some heavily dosed espresso shots of coffee for the long night ahead. I had seen the movie several times before. We left the building.
As we walked into the Starbucks, I knew we created quite a spectacle. Here was a woman in a ball gown with three men in tuxes. I felt just like I was an extra on a Will & Grace Television show episode. We slurped down our lattes and scarfed pumpkin cheesecake muffins to fortify us for the night ahead as we watched the continuous parade of patrons entering and leaving the building. Sated and caffeinated we headed back to the library.
Unfortunately, when we got back, we found out production was running now real behind. It looked like it would be more like 11 or 12 midnight before we started our scene. I silently wondered why I had rushed to get ready for this event. I saw resigned dissention amongst the troops. We conferred. My thought on this was, damn it, if I had already invested three hours of being uncomfortable, I might as well be in it for the long hall. No way was I going home to say I sat in a library in a ball gown for hours just watching movies. By God, I was somehow, someway going to be in this film. Everyone agreed!
We settled in now with a tray of sandwiches that the movie gopher presented as “Look they are from Jason’s Deli�, like caviar for our taste buds. Nelson asked if they were fresh and the young wild haired-blonde replied, “Sure they are, they have only been sitting around for around for like an hour.� I passed and took my seat.
The best part of the evening was watching the next film “Steel Magnolia�, one of my favorite movies of all time. The boys and I laughed our fool heads off at the antics of the Dolly Parton and the women of “Steel Magnolias�. The costumes alone in the movie had us noticing some of the other participants in this extra shoot surrounding us. One woman had I swear swiped a bow off of a Dilliard’s wrapped wedding gift and perched it on top her bird’s nest of a do. Her beaded eighties shoulder padded jacket kept gaping open at the beaded buttons to show gaps of really white bloated flesh as she sat and ate her chips. Another had on a brown imitation snakeskin pantsuit with a real fox boa. Another woman had Rapunzel like red hair with orthopedic shoes and her partners Tux was a Sears Navy blue serge suit with gray cowboy boots. I guess their rendition of what to wear for a gala affair and gallery opening, only in East Texas.
The worst part of evening was right during the grave yard scene in the movie, when Sally Field is crying her eyes out over the loss of her daughter, the producer broke in to report, they would now be starting to set up for the filming and would take only another 20 to 40 more minutes more. He went on and on as we, all were trying to ignore him and catch the most pivotal part of the film, the “Steel Magnolias� reference. I got the giggles thinking about us all being more into the movie we were watching than being in the film as extras. Well, I do have a distorted sense of humor.
We all tried to ignore him best as we could as Olympia Dukakis told Sally Field to hit Shirley MacLaine if she wanted to hit somebody. We laughed as Nelson passed Kleenexes and blew our noses. I am not sure if we were crying for the loss of the diabetic daughter, Julia Roberts, or the fact there was another delay in our scene of the film.
By now, I was exhausted from the wait. Therefore, if any of you are thinking about becoming a movie star go sit in a library for a day in a ball gown watching movies. That should be a mandatory prerequisite of anyone dreaming of stardom. To tell you the truth, I wished I had walked around the corner and found myself a good book and forgot the whole thing. By now I had invested a good 4, 5, 6 hours of wait time and the glitter from my name in lights had fell to the floor faster than feathers on a chicken feather boa.
Suddenly there was action, we were asked to please come and take our places outside of the library for the gala scene. We stood as quickly as our now butt numbing seats would allow and passively stood, herded like cattle out to the corral. Back and forth, we walked in and out of the building so many times, so many takes that I myself was seeing the mystery, suspense, and MURDER of my crocodile killer dress pumps!
The star of the movie came out into view in a chocolate spaghetti strapped dress. Her name may or may not have been Illeana Alexander. We were told the stars were Matthew Mochonahie and Sally Kirkland. Matthew was a Longview native and Sally, hadn’t she been the original “Hotlips Hollihan� in the film M.A.S.H. We never saw those stars. I noticed that the star had the same murderous killer shoes that I did with her shoulder draped with a gym class looking grey hoodie. Evidently, she was feeling a chill. I noticed she kept turning and talked to my friend John, as he was a few steps ahead of me escorting a Longview woman I knew from our district Rotary meetings. They told me she was nice. Some other guy kept running through the crowd to find the co-star and they would have conversation but it was out of our earshot. I walked in and out of the building with a young college age student, or could be high school wearing a bronze satin Carole Lombard number, a stunning girl, maybe an East Texas version of Paris Hilton as a patron of the arts. She was from Diana, Texas so we talked mostly about how my hometown ofJefferson had beaten them in football and the fact that they had an awesome band. They could really march in straight lines. Thrilling evening to say the least but she was a sweet girl.
Finally, the words I was dying to hear, “It’s a wrap.� As I dragged my sorry “Extra� bum to the car, wincing at the bite of my crocodile heels, I slumped against the S.U.V. waiting for the boys to arrive. All I can say is never live to regret anything you have not tried at least once. I tried the movie scene and now I am ready to move on. Next time I am at the movie theatre and I see those glamorous actors on the screen I will remember, painfully, what they went through to get there. Movie stars make millions on films. All I have got to say is they deserve every penny of it. Oh, by the way, a crewmember whispered to us as we inquired what the pay would be for being an extra, “I’m sorry, nothing.� I guess this big budget film was spent on the stars.
In looking back, I find that that was just what I needed to prove my own personal theory. Yes, the book is always better. Next time they make the casting call, I am saying, “No thank you,�, and heading to my nearest stack of books. May I suggest “Steel Magnolias� by Robert Harling? May I also suggest for your own curiosity to check out the movie and trailer of “The Agenda’ at www.agendathemovie.com. We on the way home decided that maybe this was a Spanish made for TV. movie with English subtitles, both the co-stars reminded us of Spanish television. Now that was just our perception as who knows maybe we were just in the next blockbuster film. I think the part we were involved in mostly will be on he cutting room floor. I think the scene on film will involve less than a few minutes.
On the other hand, if you go and see the film, look for me in the gallery opening crowd, I am the wealthy art matron in the killer crocodile shoes dreaming of being in my pajamas and reading in bed. Quote me on this: “Forget ‘Here’s to Hollywood’, all I want is to be tucked into my Hollywood bed in jammies reading a good book.�
Tiara wearing and Book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens, the largest “meeting and discussing� book club in the WORLD!�
Miss American Pie: A Diary of Love, Secrets, and Growing up in the 70’s
I had the most amazing experience happen the other day all because of an email sent to me by my friend and author, Will Clarke of “Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles� and his latest “The Worthy�. Will had emailed me that I just had to check out this author’s book, “Miss American Pie� as he met the author at the Southeast Independent Bookseller’s Association. He did not just think she would be a perfect read for my club, he knew she would. I emailed Margaret. Margaret replied almost immediately (see email message below) and had the book sent to me overnight.
Let me preface this story by saying, I hear about most books that I select by word of mouth. Mostly from other authors, like Will, but also from the authors themselves. I do have a handful of fantastic publisher publicists that have me in their radar. They do send me advance galleys, sometimes a manuscript, but most books come from the authors themselves.
To have the authors email me directly and call is a dream come true for me, as authors have always been my heroes. I worship them as being an avid reader; I am amazed at the brave acts of telling their stories in a way that touches me. Sometimes so deeply that I have to make their book a Pulpwood Queen Book Club Selection.
That is what happened when I read “Miss American Pie� as Margaret’s book will be a book club selection this coming spring. She is coming to my annual Girlfriend Weekend to be a featured author, January 19 – 21, 2007 to be held at The Marshall in Marshall, Texas. I am sure you will read an interview of her in The Marshall News Messenger that is our official sponsor for the event. In the meantime, read the letter I wrote Margaret and you will see why I loved this book so much. I would love to hear from you too on great reads. Oftentimes, my Queens turn me on to book that just stops me in my tracks.
You will be hearing a lot about “Miss American Pie�, mark my words. As a child of the 70’s I am just mad as hell I burned my diaries from those days. (I caught my mother reading them). Lucky for us, Margaret’s were found up in her attic. This book is a slice of America that is a telling of the time and temperament of our neck of the woods, as much as, Anne Frank’s diaries. They may not have had as tragic of consequence but the importance of what Margaret had to say is no less. She has captured an era with the innocence of a teenage girl growing up in a small southern town during a time of social change in America. Check out her website at www.margaretsartor.com for more on Margaret and “Miss American Pie: A Diary of Love, Secrets, and Growing Up in the 70�s. Just so you will know Margaret Sartor is a photographer, a well-known photographer, featured in many photography books. She found her diaries in her attic from the age of 13 to 18 and they were published verbatim.
Last but not least, Will Clarke just made Rolling Stone magazine of which you can read all about as I have copied the feature to below or for more on Will check out www.booktourvirgin.blogs.com/.
Now read our emails and tell me why you shouldn’t just run out and get a copy of this book.
Tiara wearing and Book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs
www.beautyandthebook.com
Dear Kathy,
I am thrilled! This is so much fun! What a brilliant fun way to do a bookclub. I once fantasized out loud about putting free copies of my book in the waiting rooms of hairdressers (like Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms) and I thought it was such a great idea but my publisher didn’t go for it. I get what you’re up to here!
OK. So, first thing is that I will personally send you a copy of Miss American Pie today, then I will pass this on toBloomsbury and hopefully convince them of the necessity of my attending “Girlfriend Weekend” in January. (And I have just the vintage wardrobe for it — that I never get to wear anymore since that time I wore a 50s coctail dress with crinolines to the Vice-President of Duke’s dinner party and well, you can imagine the looks of most of the other women faculty? — so I am aiming for the stars.)
I am off right now for a day of uninteresting but necessary meetings, but I will take a book to post to you and check out the rest of your website later and be back in touch soon. Thank Will Clarke for me — what a delightful young man!
Your fellow book sharer and tiara-wearer-wannabe,
Margaret
Dear Margaret,
I just finished your book and my first thought? Quote me on this, “This is the best book I have ever read�. I wept openly as I finished the book and mostly because every sentence, every word, I lived those experiences and you have truly captured my era. I also cried, as I did not want the book to end. Now I have to go back to the beginning.
I received your book Saturday, read the first few pages, and very reluctantly had to put it down as the first of my seven color appointments had arrived and was waiting in my chair. As I always do, I after I got this new high school majorette client settled and into the routine of color foil highlights, I started to tell her about the book. I showed her the cover and let her read while I foiled her hair. Next client, my niece, same thing then I had a whole crew of my high school daughter’s friends all come in together to get their unique colors done. As I was foiling Adam’s black and deep crimson foils, I asked Lindsey whose color was processing to read from your book. She started at the beginning with “January 1. It rained today. We were going to the movies�. By the time she had gotten to the second page, all the kids were laughing and hanging on every word. Now I was doing color on Adam 18, Lindsey, 15, Mallory, 16, Emily, 16, with their friend, Nick, 17 watching. My youngest daughter Madeline, 12, and her friends, Kaitlyn, 12 and Taylor 11 were also in various stages of flopping on the floor on leaning against the walls sitting on the floor. I had a shop full of teenagers and they weren’t just listening to your book. They were having the time of their lives. By the time you got to saying the word “shitty crazy�, they were hooked. I have never seen kids have so much fun hearing a book read aloud.
Now I am crying as I write this because of your book, I have had the best two days of my life. I was able to time warp back to when I was a teenager (just turned fifty and hot flashing) and I was able to be included in my teenagers and their friend’s lives. I so endorse this book that I am “shitty crazy� going to do just that.
I just announced my book club selections and made you the Bonus Book for this spring but I am switching places and making your book, the book club choice of the month. I will make Eat, Pray, Love, the Bonus Book Club Selection.
Now after we read seriously half your book aloud, one of my daughter’s friends insisted on reading silently. We about killed her as she refused to read out loud and she kept laughing hilariously.
My last appointment was my daughter’s drama teacher for retouch on her highlights. She got caught up in the story and before the now evening was over, Lindsey decided she was going to use an excerpt from your book for her competition piece at U.I.L. with her as instructor, stamp of approval Then I told the group you were coming to Girlfriend Weekend. Utter chaos, the room was out of control.
My mission is to promote literacy. Your book has just made my mission so easy. Congratulations, as far as I am concerned you have written the book of the century. If CBS Sunday Morning does not feature you, you have no fear. Kathy L. Patrick is going to be shouting your name from the mountaintops.
Some time back I discovered Jeanette Wall’s “The Glass Castle�, before the Vanity Fair piece, before Oprah and made her my January 2005 official book club selection. She was Keynote at Girlfriend Weekend and just heard this week her paperback just made #1 on New York Times. Now she is nominated for a Quill Award. I know a good book when I read one, but beyond that, I know an important book when I read one.
You are on your way Margaret. You have written a book though set in the 1970’s will be timeless. Your mention of Anne Frank’s diary gave me chills as I see your book as becoming the read for understanding our time during the 1970’s.
It is an absolute pleasure to meet you and know that we are really going to meet you in person and hear you speak during Girlfriend Weekend. Now I have to figure out a way to feature you even more in the best possible light, stay tuned.
Every time I read a book, it changes me. I become a much better person. With your book, I feel as if I have been “born again� and inspired to reenergize my efforts on my mission to promote literacy and get America reading.
I just wrote this letter right off the top of my head, just like the words in your diary. I would love to post both your letter and mine on my blog site with an intro on how this all came about. I have found that people are fascinated by how I make author connections and your story is just too good not to get out in a big way.
Anxious to hear your reply,
Kathy L. Patrick (known as Murphy in high school)
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs
www.beautyandthebook.com
P.S. My blog for reference is found on my website, please check it out as the latest is all about my 50th birthday trip to New Orleans
WARNING: Waterproof Mascara Must Be Worn to Hear Pulpwood Queen Speak!
Several years ago, I was attending a Writer’s League of Texas, writer’s retreat. There I met many authors including Donna Walker- Nixon, a professor at Tarleton State University. We kept in touch writing emails back and forth on our book events. Earlier this September, Donna invited me to be the Saturday morning speaker at the Langdon Review of The Arts in Texas in Granbury, Texas. In honor of the Pulpwood Queens and our signature look, they held a Pink Jazz Brunch at which I would be the featured speaker.
Now I had never been to Granbury, Texas before, but I heard of Granbury through my friend, Ronnie Claire Edwards, author of “The Knife Thrower’s Apprentice�. Ronnie Claire came and spent about a week with me as I took her around to all my book clubs. She may not be known as an author but she is most well-known for portraying Cora Beth Godsey on “The Walton’s� and the mother of Jean Smart on “Designing Women�. Recently she has been writing plays and performing in them in Los Angeles. Ronnie asked me if it would be okay for her friends from the Granbury Theater come and join us for lunch in Jefferson while she was here. The more the merrier, I always say and it was a delight to meet them. They told me all about Granbury’s theater program of plays and musicals, sounded to me like a town that I needed to check out. Because of their description of the town, I was excited about visiting Granbury and being featured at the weekend.
Prior to the event, Marilyn Robitaille, contacted me to tell me of the wonderful Bed & Breakfast they had booked me rooms. After checking out the website for the Arbor House, I could tell I was being put up in high style. Arbor House at www.granbury-bed-and-breakfast.com was voted one of the top five bed and breakfasts in North America for a weekend getaway.
It took me a bit longer than expected to get to Granbury but when I did I was not disappointed. The Arbor House was just fantastic with my spacious Victorian room, view of the lake and gigantic Jacuzzi bathtub that overlooked the gardens.. I barely had time to freshen up and head on over to the theater where there was going to be a screening for the Sundance award winning documentary, “TV Junkie�. The director, Michael Cain spoke and then Gary Cogill (see below) warned us this was not going to be an easy film to watch. I was sitting by a professor at Tarleton State and another professor who was the head of the journalism department at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. The film was the story of a man who had videoed himself from the age of fourteen until a few years before this filming. Over 3,000 hours of video captured every aspect of this man’s life who became a t.v. reporter on “Inside Edition� and also became addicted to drugs. Sad to watch but I felt an important film to show anyone who might be lured by the escapism of drugs.
I thoroughly enjoyed the recap by Gary and Michael Cain and as the everybody stood to leave I spotted Donna. Donna and I hugged and she introduced me to Marilyn and we were to all gather at the bed & breakfast for some wine.Though quite late, the film was so powerful that I looked forward to the gathering of authors and film people. I met Ellen Gormley and her husband. She was the editor of the film and we ended up talking until about one in the morning. They were fascinated with the story of the Pulpwood Queens. The book Ellen’s mother wrote, in turn, fascinated me. We exchanged cards and she decided to come and film the up-and-coming Girlfriend Weekend, January 19 – 21, 2007. (See website, www.beautyandthebook.com for more information on that event). Could we perhaps be the feature of their next documentary?
In addition, Ellen promised to send me her mother’s book which I am reading at the present, “The Tysen House�.
The next morning I fairly flew to be ready by 9:00 a.m. to leave for the brunch with Marilyn. Skipping what looked like a too die for breakfast, I drank mass quantities of their delicious coffee and prepared for my presentation. The event was held outside. I was introduced to the many volunteers and the jazz combo that were setting up to play. One tent was for the attendees to sit and hear me speak, another nearby to house the incredibly delicious looking brunch spread. They were even serving champagne. I thought. La ti da, I have arrived. I again skipped the brunch as too nervous to eat before speaking. Michael Cain, the director had stayed over to hear me speak and we briefly talked before I went to the microphone. I was sitting next to a man who had owned an independent bookstore in Austin, Texas and we found much to talk about concerning books and the business. More people were introduced and I do not know if it was my new vintage tiara but so many people came by to introduce themselves, I was keep to busy to be nervous. Everybody really did treat me like a Queen. As Marilyn introduced me, I began my presentation on why I am on a mission to promote literacy and the wonderful world of The Pulpwood Queens.
Afterwards, so many of the academia came by to introduce themselves that I was overwhelmed. Professor after professor told me that they really had not known what to expect at this pink jazz brunch but they were not disappointed. In fact, several of them told me I was even better than the speaker they had last year.
“Who was your speaker last year?� I inquired.
“Oh, we had Kinky Friedman.�
I about died. Thank God no one told me before hand that I was following the man who was running for Governor on the independent ticket in Texas. I would have croaked, he is a hard act to follow.
The last couple to introduce themselves was Dominque and Charles Inges, professors of poetry at the Tarleton State University. Dominque told me that I needed to put a clause in my speaking engagement contacts. When I inquired why, suddenly concerned I had said something wrong she replied, “Because Kathy I laughed so hard at some of your stories that I think it should be mandatory that all women who come to hear you speak wear waterproof mascara�. We all laughed and I silently went, woo, boy was I relieved. I thought that maybe she thought my story about reading to the nursing home was a bit too racy.
I had told everyone there that we all have something to give to promote literacy. In fact, several of my Pulpwood Queens had made it a point to go and read to the local nursing home. I told them that they might want to be careful though on their book club selection. I had chosen to read, “Lunch at the Picadilly�, about a young man who’s only living relative was his aunt who lived in an assisted living home. He made it a priority to visit her and would often have adventures with her and her girlfriends at the home. I found them hilarious and thought the nursing homes patients would too. Evidently not, because one of the patients, Ruth, who also just happened to be my former next-door neighbor, created quite a scene. Now I had these women and men all circled around us in their wheelchairs and I was reading enjoying every minute of it when Ruth yells out, “Enough of this crap, I have to live this shit,� as she turned and wheeled herself out of the cafeteria room. I looked up shocked by what I had just heard. Then I looked at all the men and women in the wheelchairs and their little shoulders were going up and down, laughing their little hearts out. I remember Pulpwood Queen Kay and I just lost it. I was thinking that Dominque was thinking that story was scandalous but waterproof mascara I could handle.
I said my goodbyes to everyone and if any authors are reading this, please let them know you are interested in speaking. This is a fabulous event, chock full of people who not only turn out for the weeks events featuring authors, but who really appreciate you and listen to really what you have to say. I have to tell you this was one of the most well received speaking engagements I have ever done. I highly recommend that booklovers go and that authors attend too. Really a fabulous venue, well thought out and well received.
I started to leave Granbury then I thought, oh no, I’m not leaving without looking up the girls from the Granbury Theatre. I headed to the downtown square and there was a festival going on, some kind of classic car show. The town was packed and I quickly scrambled for a suddenly vacant parking spot close to the Granbury Opera House. As I entered, I spoke to a polite young man who told me that the city now owned the theater. He was not sure who the owners were before but I was more than welcome to look around. To support the theater, I bough my daughter’s t-shirts who are really into theater then headed around the square. Shop after shop of delightful coffee houses, cafes, boutiques. I bought a crystal chandelier in one and some stuffed ravens for my shop in another. Everybody was so warm and friendly. I even noticed that many of the shops carried my sister’s wind chimes that she does wholesale from her Cricket Alley store in Jefferson. I grabbed a latte’ and headed back to the car.
As I left Granbury, I was thinking, I sure hope Donna and Marilyn invite me back when my book comes out. Only next time, I am coming for the whole week. The Langdon Review Weekend and Granbury, Texas are what give small towns a good name. Treat yourself to both and I assure you, you will not be more welcomed or have a more pleasurable literary week.
Tiara wearing and book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
The Pulpwood Queen of East Texas!
