Magnolia Market by Judy Christie

I've read and enjoyed most of Judy  Christie's books.  Her Green series got me started and I've been a fan ever since.

Her latest novel "Magnolia Market" kept me reading well past my bed time.  Christie kept me engaged with the protagonist, Avery Broussard, surmounting obstacles with prayer and faith. Broussard tackled a slap-in-the-face, knock-down from the mother of her deceased husband.  But she's not alone.  God gives her companion angels to lift her up with a new soon to become  BFF Katherine Manning and  potential love interest in TJ Aillet.

While weaving Avery's journey to rebuild her life, Christie also tackles the larger community in revitalizing the historic Trumpet and Vine area of  Samford - an issue that hits home to many small towns. Central to the area is the aging Magnolia Market and its transformation.

A wonderful tale of faith love and forgiveness.   Would highly recommend. - Kay Huck

Check out her website at http://www.judychristie.com/index.html

Musicale - Literacy Council Fundraiser

The Pulpwood  Queens are volunteering to help the Literacy Council of Southwest Louisiana with their annual fundraiser "Musicale"!

Musicale is an annual event coordinated by community volunteers to support the Literacy Council of Southwest Louisiana.   

Proceeds from Musicale will support the Literacy Council's educational programs throughout the five parish area. The council serves adults, children and families by providing services that help them improve skills and build confidence so that they may take control of and improve their lives. The Literacy Council is a non-profit organization committed to lifelong learning and a United Way Agency.

To purchase tickets by check or money order, contact the Literacy Council at 337-494-7000.

Deeanne Gist - Courting Trouble

If you haven't read one of my favorite Pulpwood Queens author, now you have an opportunity to get her book on kindle "Courting Trouble" for free TODAY only!

Give her a try, I'm sure you won't be disappointed

The Promise by Ann Weisgarber

Looking forward to our October book.  Author Ann Weisgarber will be visiting!!  Her book The Promise touches on the devastating hurricane that hit Galveston around the turn of the century.  Our  personal experiences with hurricanes will give us much to discuss!

See you soon and bring a friend!

Meanwhile you can explore her website  http://annweisgarber.com/ 

Weisgarber will also be one of the featured authors for the 2015 Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend.

Wow! The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan

Our August read was The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan. And what a wonderful book it was!  The secret of Oak Ridge, TN askept by the women who worked there during World War II to develop the material to fuel the first use of the Atomic Bomb to end WWII.  These ordinary women came nationawide to an unknown place for the war effort.  They came from backwoods and cities with the same purpose; to end the war in order to bring family and friends home.  Conditions were muddy and primitive living in close quarters in a town that was being built as they arrived.  Constant expansion and long lines were the norm.  This narrative non-fiction book is well-written and tells a story that is typical of the thousands who lived there.



I loved reading about these events in our American history.  Thank you Denise Kiernan for also taking the time to arrange your schedule so you could SKYPE with us.  Many of our members have visited Oak Ridge and/or lived there and had much to share.

Kiernan's website  Girls of Atomic City  also has a tremendous amount of information about that era and lots of photographs and newspaper clippings. I lost hours just reading her website.  Highly Recommend!

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

Hey Queens, we will have our next meeting September 24th at our wonderful stellar coffee shop!  Not sure if the author of Lucky Us will SKYPE or not.  If not,  I'm sure this book will generate lots of discussion on the different types of books we enjoy reading.



Stellar Beans Coffee House and Edibles has so many wonderful events scheduled.  You can "like" the facebook page and keep current with all the happenings.  Thanks Danita for all you do to make us feel welcome and support our Lake Charles area. https://www.facebook.com/StellarBeans

Remember advance reservations are required, just email Danita with your food order stellarbeans@yahoo.com

The Orphan Train

Every one loved reading The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.  Amazed to learn of a part of our American history that no one in our club knew.  Well except for Queen Grace who shared that The Orphan Train had stopped in Opelousas, LA and in fact there is an exhibit at the Opelousas Museum.  There is also an official Orphan Train museum in Concordia, Kansas that tells the story of these 200,000 children who rode the rails from 1854 to 1929.  Most of these children were immigrants who came through Ellis Island.

The story of Vivian Daly is fictional in that she is a work of fiction.  However the events in her life are all based on historical facts and first hand stories.

One of the discussion points was about the portage of the Wabanki Indians.  They had to limit their possessions to what they could carry overland in their canoes.  Naturally, this reminded us of our hurricane evacuations and how we choose what to bring with us.  Our values determine what we hold dear and near to us.  Most of us have a Huccicane Evacuation plan or box that contains important papers and photographs of family.  Since this is Hurricane Searson, make sure your hurricane plan is up to date.

Deadly Little Secrets by Kathryn Casey plus a new one!

As I read through my TBR pile of books from the last Girlfriend Weekend, I reached for Kathryn Casey's  Deadly Little Secrets.  I wasn't disappointed.  Kathryn's voice  rings true and full of empathy for the victim and family while maintaining fairness while giving the viewpoint of the victimizer.  I still was angry with this man, Matt Baker, who professed to be a Christian minister and who was a seducer of women and murderer of his wife and possibly his daughter.   The family of the victim perservered to find out the truth and bring justice for their daughter and sister.


Deadly Little Secrets: The Minister, His Mistress, and a Heartless Texas Murder


Finishing this one, I just learned that Casey has a new one hitting the shelves soon so my TBR hasn't grown any smaller since this new one about the I-45 Killing Fields will fill the vacancy left by Deadly Little Secrets.


Deliver Us: Three Decades of Murder and Redemption in the Infamous I-45/Texas Killing Fields

To read more about her books click on her name to go to her website  Kathryn Casey 

Orphan Train: A Novel by Christina Baker Kline

Queens, be ready to discuss Orphan Train for our July 30th meeting.  I understand some of our members are familiar with the orphan trains and will have insight into this part of our American history.

Still Life with Bread Crumbs

is the title of the book we are reading and discussing for our June 25th meeting.  Remember to email StellarBeans@yahoo.com with your food order. 

2015 Girlfriend Weekend Announced!

Queen Kathy Patrick has announced the location of the 15th Annual Girlfriend Weekend.  Discounted tickets are available at the lowest price until May 15th.

I am pleased to announce that the city of choice for our Annual Pulpwood Queen Book Club Convention, which we call Girlfriend Weekend, will be Nacogdoches, Texas!  January 15 – 18, 2015 will be the date for Girlfriend Weekend, always held annually on Martin Luther King Weekend. 

The largest “meeting and discussing” book club began in East Texas so we are staying for our 15th Anniversary in the part of the state that brought us to this book loving party!

Our theme for this coming year’s event is AROUND THE WORLD WITH BOOKS since we are an international book club with 550+ chapters nationwide and in 15 foreign countries.

My co-host for the weekend will be New York Times Bestselling Author, JAMIE FORD!  The authors are already lining up and as always, they are our Official Book Club Selection Authors.

We will feature 50+ authors with an Author Dinner, (the authors wait your tables) two days of panels, and two nights of activities and entertainment including our Grand Finale, THE GREAT BIG BALL OF HAIR BALL.


For the past 14 years, I have held our annual convention for my Pulpwood Queen Book Club Convention, Girlfriend Weekend, predominantly in Jefferson, once in Marshall, Texas. 
Since I have moved my Beauty and the Book to Hawkins, Texas, it was time for a change. 
I have been accepting proposals for a new venue and I am now proud to announce that the City of Nacogdoches, Texas made us an offer that we just could not refuse. 
The City of Nacogdoches and my Pulpwood Queens will be partnering to make this the biggest Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend ever!  from Kathy Patrick's Website   www.beautyandthebook.com

Heart Wide Open by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

Who can resist the enthusiasm and humor that Shellie Tomlinson has when she shares her life with stories???  I can't.  I was captured by her telling of her faith journey to Jesus.  Written in her "let's have a cup of coffee" Southern style, I felt I was talking from the heart to someone who has love written all over them. 

There are Bible verses and quotes as well as discussion questions which makes this a great book to study with a faith-sharing group.  I hope you enjoy it also!

March 26th Meeting

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate will be our book to discuss.  Bring your prayer box and a prayer, prayer card, or token that has meaning to share.  A prayer card could be given to each member to add to their personal prayer box.   Lisa Wingate is planning to do a SKYPE interview!

See you soon!

Meeting February 26th

Looking forward to our February meeting when we will be discussing Fannie Flagg's latest book:  The All-Girl Filling Station Reunion: A Novel.   Her unique characters find a center in the story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II.  I was unfamilar with this part of our American history.  This lead me to our local library to discover that these women were not recognized as having military status until 1977.  

Elements of Eloquence

When I read about the book Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth on another blog I was intrigued.  I really wasn't aware that there is a pattern to adjectives or there was a special name for a line of dots.  Forsyth describes the uniqueness of the English language from alliteration to zeugma.  While I had an idea about alliteration; zeugma was a new word for me (perhaps I can use it in a Scrabble game).

I have a dear friend who is a writer and I thought it would be the perfect Christmas present.  Although it was late in arriving, my friend is enjoying the book very much.  so I thought I'd share it with you also.

Elements of Eloquence