Saturday, January 7, 2012

What makes authors dress up like clowns? Kathy L. Patrick's Pulpwood Queens Author Extravaganza








You know me, the one who always dresses in black, preferably jeans and sneakers, with only a splash of red cowboy boot for color? Well, next week, I am happily hightailing it down to Texas for Kathy L. Patrick's famous Pulpwood Queens 12th Anniversary Girlfriend Weekend Extravaganza!

Kathy's the genius behind the mega-membered Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Bookclubs and she's the owner of the only hair salon/bookstore in the world.

The theme this year is Circus. This Greatest Show on Earth is having an 80" Pretty in Pink Prom Party (I bought a pink wig, black tiara and black lace gloves. Hey, you thought, I'd do without the black, didn't you?) , A Great Big Ball of Hair Ball, a Come as your Favorite Circus Character (I'm going as a fortune teller), a Silent Auction (I donated a 1950s red plastic purse that I drew all over) and an event where all the authors clown it up by dressing like clowns and serving the attendees with a smile. Plus, there are tons of author events, including mine on Saturday the 14th at 2:30  (Books to Share Like Popcorn with Your Bookclub)!

Kathy, (she's the gorgeous redhead in the photo)  is one of the warmest, funniest, most enlightened book lovers around, and I cannot wait to go. I've already got my red cowboy boots packed. Come and have fun! The author roster is amazing, the events are a hoot, and I'm going to be posting live from the book circus. The photo of the women in green regalia is from a previous event and I bet this one is going to be even more outrageous!

12th ANNIVERSARY GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND
AUTHOR EXTRAVAGANZA
The Greatest BOOK Show on EARTH!
January 12 – 15, 2012
Jefferson Tourism and Transportation Convention Center
305 E. Austin
Jefferson, Texas 75657

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lucky You! They are some really fun gals down there! My first TV reporter job was in Tyler. Imagine me finishing up at Hunter College in New York City and moving into East Texas! I was petrified! Those ladies just opened their arms up wide to me and planted some big ol' Texas style kisses on my cheek and welcomed me home. Have fun! cindy roesel

Kathy L. Patrick said...

God Bless Texas and Caroline Leavitt! As THE Pulpwood Queen, I just create the party that I would want to go to! I've been trying to get Caroline Leavitt down to Texas for our big ta do for some time! Accomplished and thrilled to have such an amazing author in our midst. But this event is to bring the author to book connection in full high definition with surround sound. Nothing is better, as a reader, than to hear the author tell the story behind the story in person. Everything comes into focus and book and author connections are made for life!
Thank you for the swell blog. As I told the NPR radio interviewer this past Friday, none of this would have ever happened with out the full embrace of authors world wide.
Yes, the theme is CIRCUS as my life is a three ring circus juggling family, work, and running my 525 chapters of The Pulpwood Queen Book Club Reading Nation! But as a child the wonder of the big top had me filled with joy and anticipation, THE GREATEST BOOK SHOW ON EARTH truly is this year GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND 2012! I too will be posting live on Facebook and Twitter with photos. And for you truly wanting to visually to see what I do, check out our Girlfriend Weekend 2012 video trailer on my Girlfriend Weekend page at www.beautyandthebook.com website!
Thank you Caroline, authors like YOU are what keeping me doing exactly what I and The Pulpwood Queens Book Club do, promoting authors, books, literacy, and reading all while having some BIG TIME FUN!
Now on with the show!
Kathy L. Patrick
Founder of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club

Kim said...

Wish I could be there but am hoping next year. I teach in Illinois so I'd have to take off work. Wish it was in the summer. Oh well. Have fun.
Kim

Anonymous said...

Hey Caroline. I recently purchased my clown and "pink" gear and I'm looking forward to working with you as we wait tables for all those precious readers who are going down to Texas to celebrate books. Hope they'll be easy on me when it comes to my table service abilities. :)

See you soon!

Unknown said...

This will be my first year attending and I am over the moon excited. I initially joined the book club to meet my neighbors. What I found was a group who truly welcomed me with love and friendship. Thank You!
It's hard to find the exact words to describe how much fun it is to get together and discuss the fabulous selections Kathy has picked for us to read. And for a girl who would have never even thought to put a tiara on her head; I was stunned at how easy it fit... :-)
Kathy intrigued me with her easy smile and fun attitude which is so refreshing today.
I really enjoy getting together with the book club each month.

Funky Finds said...

My husband Joe & I are sponsoring the event (we designed & produced the event booklet you'll receive at the event). Upon Kathy's recommendation, I purchased Pictures of You as one of my Christmas gifts from my husband. I devoured it...cried & cried...and have recommended it to everyone I know. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you at Girlfriend Weekend! It would be such an honor!

Vicki said...

Being an avid reader, meeting authors and getting to really bond with them like we do at Girlfriend Weekend is beyond description!!! Women celebrating the broadening of our worlds and the sharing of every emotion in the world from everywhere in the world, this experience is one of life changing influence! Just ask Pat Conroy! and Fannie Flagg! and the hundreds (literally) of authors who have come on down and shared Girlfriend Weekend in Jefferson, Texas! Words, even from the best writers in the known world, fall short in their ability to describe this experience, it is to live, laugh and love out loud, for real.

Shellie Tomlinson said...

Oh, it's a blast for sure. Look forward to meeting you there!

Unknown said...

Our gal group of Pulpwood Queens from Katy, TX will be headed to Jefferson, too. We love the costumes, high jinx and fun but most of all the opportunity to meet authors like yourself, listen to you read from your books and discuss your craft. We are probably all closet writers or wanna-be's and this is an opportunity to meet those that are living the dream. We all benefit from this terrific event that head Queen Kathy Patrick has created and sustained. Thank you, Kathy. See you there!

Christi Borden
Proud Pulpwood Queen

Anonymous said...

Girlfriend Weekend is an event that has to be experienced to truly understand what all happens here. I am not sure there are enough words in Mr. Webster's Dictionary to explain it. We are all looking forward to your first visit... And do I have some questions for you regarding Pictures of You! That book should have had a warning: Kleenex needed from beginning to end of book. Thank you for a great read!!
See you soon. Jean

Anonymous said...

I cannot wait to come and meet everyone! And thank you so much for the comments!

love,
Caroline leavitt

Jessica Keener said...

I can't wait to hear all about it! Congratulations to Kathy for what she has created for authors and readers. What a great achievement.

Unknown said...

Can you please tell me where you found the circus girl December 1948 image? I have looked everywhere and can't find the original, I would love to buy a print of it.
thanks

Unknown said...

Please tel me where you found the circus girl poster! I want to buy a print but can't find any information about her, the artist or where it is from. Help!

Unknown said...

Can you please tell me where you found the circus girl December 1948 image? I have looked everywhere and can't find the original, I would love to buy a print of it.
thanks