An amazing group of women! Kathy Roach Leveille, Sue Hensley, Barbara Oran, Sue Watson, Linda McRae Price, Ann Story Williams, Myrna Roach (instigator of the event, trying to hide), Carolyn Jourdan, Jacki Kirk, Linda Parks, Glenda Newton, Betty Sewell (we invaded Betty’s beautiful house), Carol Mohney.

Had a great time with these ladies from Kingston: Roberta Rhyne, Edde, Marilyn, Rae, Ella, Harriet, Jo, Becky, Mary Elise, Katy, Leila, Bonnie, Ruth Ann, and Jean. (They weren’t all able to squeeze into this photo unfortunately.)

This is possibly the world’s most hardy book club. They are from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. We had a wonderful time together and are now planning a trip to Dollywood. From left to right, we have Marylu, Jackie, Shelley, Renae, and Sally. Darn it, Kathy left before the photo was made. Can’t blame her, though. It was snowing. The rest of the club is probably still trapped at Shelley’s house, buried under tons of snow, waiting for a big thaw.
: )

These are the sorts of events I live for.  I just got invited to them by people in the Columbia and Culleoka, TN area.  Now that community is a HOTBED of prime Southern Eccentrics of the nicest and most entertaining kind.  I highly recommend visiting the area.

Pat Carter loved her cat Willie so much, she got a tattoo of his sweet face!
  

Gosh, but Louisiana people know how to host an event. Here are some photos taken by my friend Matt Williamson of what an author does on the road. He didn’t photograph himself taking me through the McDonalds drive-thru at midnight still wearing my crown.

Me as Queen of the Authors.

John Pritchard and I just before we both got crowned.

Signing Lynn Laird’s amazing Mardi Gras jacket covered with author’s signatures. You can see into the famous Municipal Auditorium through the doors in the background.

On a panel with Darden North, Randy Denmon, John Pritchard, me, and Kenneth Robbins.

Just got back from a fabulous event in Shreveport — Author, Author — a benefit for the wonderful historic building that hosted the Louisiana Hayride.  Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny and June, you name them, all the big stars performed there.  

Shreveport is a beautiful town.  Here’s a simple cottage and then a photo of me, THE Pulpwood Queen, Kathy Patrick, and two other Pulpwood Queens who are ladies in waiting.

I was crowned “Queen of the Authors” for no good reason, hung around for a great party, and then went through the McDonald’s drive thru at midnight, still wearing my crown because I’d forgotten I had it on. The late night dash for a white trash comfort meal was necessary because I’d declined the fried alligator served at the ball.

This is the DEEPEST book club I’ve ever gotten to talk with. What a wonderful treat. We talked religion, spirituality, you name it!

Here’s a photo of about half of the club, with one straggler, Christa and her awesome matched set of cats, shown separately. Hello y’all, especially Cindy in the green sweater!!

A new stray kitten wandered up to my house yesterday but I’m unable to wrangle it well enough to get a photo. : ) I envy matching cats. Mine are very mis-matched!

This is a shout out to Stephanie McKeehan and her fellow book-clubbers. A group of women who are so pretty, I had to get a waiver to get in! Hello ladies!
Back row (L to R): Gwen, Sandi, Amy, Linda
Front row (L to R): Brenda, Bethany, Stephanie, Rebecca

Eric Maynard and Ellen Crayton at the Holmes County (Ohio) Public Library are a wacky duo who intend to have me speak at the 10th anniversary of their library by live video conference over Yahoo! Instant Messenger!!

Thank goodness Eric knows how to work the tech.

This is a photo from our practice run with me inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and them inside the library in Ohio.