Girlfriend Weekend
Author Extravaganza January 13-16, 2011

Part of Classic Inn Reservations way of helping with Girlfriend Weekend Author Extravaganza is to create this page where you can find more information about the event, what specials are available at different lodging establishments, who’s coming, links to their webpages, pictures and whatever else we can come up with to help you get the most from your visit to this annual event. We hope we have all or most of the information here, but, if you can’t find something, please contact us and we’ll see if we can find it for you and add it to this page.

About this Year (the schedule & details)

In celebration of our 11th Anniversary, the theme this year is “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY!” Because you see, it really is. It’s all about the story and our relationships sharing and telling the story. So shall we begin at the beginning, our story, BEAUTY AND THE BOOK!

Once upon a time there was a young girl who always had her nose stuck in a book. Libraries passed through her fingertips as she read and read and read mentored by her wonderful teachers and librarians. A shy child, she grew tall and brave with those words being as nourishing and comforting to her body as food, water, and shelter. That woman was Kathy L. Patrick who became a woman with a mission, a mission to get everybody on the same page that reading was not only important, but leads to an authentic and purposeful life. She had big dreams, really big dreams! What if you created a world where all your favorite authors and readers gathered to share their stories! Her dream became true!

You now may begin to read this story of a book festival like no other. What is this story about? Why don’t you read it yourself and see!

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011 - EVENT SOLD OUT!

INTRODUCTION OF CHARACTERS OF BEAUTY AND THE BOOK AUTHOR DINNER THEATRE

7:00 p.m. Featuring all our cavalcade of author stars: Author chefs preparing the dinner, authors waiting the tables, and author’s play with all roles portrayed by authors! It’s called Conversations at Buzz Cut Barbershop an original play by MICHAEL LISTER.

Author chefs preparing dinner are:

JANIS OWENS of The Cracker Kitchen

KATHY L. PATRICK of The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life

Friday & Saturday, Jan 14-15, 2011 - EVENT SOLD OUT!

Jefferson Convention and Tourism Building, Austin Street

The Pulpwood Queen Package includes all events on Friday and Saturday EXCEPT Pat Conroy/Bernie Schein Luncheon, it’s ticket to was to be purchased separately. Official 11th Anniversary T-shirt, and publisher give a ways will be included for those who purchased Pulpwood Queen Packages ONLY. 11th Anniversary T-shirts with original art by Children’s Author/Illustrator, MELISSA CONROY will be for sale at Pulpwood Queen Booth in VENDOR ROOM as long as supplies last!

All authors featured at their times will immediately go to AUTHOR AUTOGRAPH TABLES in VENDOR/BOOK STORE ROOM following their panel! You will need to pre-purchase books prior to having the books signed. As all authors are encouraged then to participate in all activities, feel free to ask for books to be signed throughout the weekend. But do note, some authors will not be able to stay. To ensure you get your books signed, go immediately to the AUTHOR AUTOGRAPH TABLES after they speak and have books already pre-purchased.

We will have a CONCESSION STAND in back of auditorium at convention center to purchase drinks and snacks run by the Junior and Senior High First United Methodist Youth Group with all the proceeds to go to the kids to help pay for their NEW Youth Building.

Barnes and Noble will provide the BOOK STORE for all the author books for the event unless self-published, in that case the author will provide the books themselves for sale. Also we will have a VENDOR ROOM, (open 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.), Friday and Saturday that will feature the best of the best SHOWCASED for our book loving attendees. For the first time ever we now are offering access to just VENDOR ROOM and BOOK STORE. Tickets are $5.00 per person and available at the outside entrance to VENDOR ROOM and BOOK STORE.

A SILENT AUCTION will be held with showcased items signed and donated by the authors around the perimeter of the VENDOR ROOM. All proceeds from the SILENT AUCTION will go to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Literacy Project here in Marion County that is being spearheaded by the Jefferson Rotary Club which is a not for profit civic organization. The Pulpwood Queens of East Texas endorse this literacy project and are partnering with the Rotary Club to help

Both Friday and Saturday night events will be B.Y.O.B. but we will provide the setups.

Friday , Jan 14, 2011 - EVENT SOLD OUT!

8:00 a.m. Registration and Ticket Sales

CHAPTER ONE

9:00 a.m. BEAUTY AND THE BOOK, THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

KATHY L. PATRICK, founder of The Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs, Author of The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life

ROBERT LELEUX, Author of memoirs of a beautiful boy

Columnist for The Texas Observer, Editor of LONNY Magazine are back to host yet again their version of BEAUTY AND THE BOOK, a television talk show!

Dubbed BOBKAT by their fans, Robert and Kathy will welcome you to their show!

CHAPTER TWO

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. CRAZY IN ALABAMA to GEORGIA BOTTOMS!

Keynote Author and Speaker, MARK CHILDRESS of Georgia Bottoms!

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER THREE

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. EVERYONE HAS A STORY

Author Panel featuring:

MARCIA FINE of Stressed in Scottsdale

JENNY GARDINER of Slim to None

CAROLYN HAINES of Bone Appetit and Delta Blues

TODD JOHNSON of Sweet By and By

TONY SIMMONS of Dazed and Raving in the Undercurrents

HELEN SIMONSON of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER FOUR

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. STORIES THAT YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS

Author Panel featuring:

JUDY CHRISTIE of Goodness Gracious Green

DEEANNE GIST of Maid to Match

DENISE HILDRETH JONES of Hurricane in Paradise

SAM MCLEOD of Big Appetite: My Southern Fried Search for the Meaning of Life

JANIS OWENS of The Cracker Kitchen

LISA WINGATE of Beyond Summer

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

12:00 p.m. Noon LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (historic Jefferson, Texas has many fine eateries, many within walking distance)

CHAPTER FIVE

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 a.m. IT’S ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING to THE MOST THEY EVER HAD!

Keynote Speaker, Author, and Pulitzer Prize Winner RICK BRAGG of The Most They Ever Had!

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER SIX

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. STORIES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

Author Panel featuring:

KATHI APPELT of Keeper

MELISSA CONROY of Poppy’s Pants

KIMBERLY WILLIS HOLT of The Water Seeker

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER SEVEN

3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. MANLY MAN STORIES THAT WOMEN WILL LOVE

Author Panel featuring:

AD HUDLER of Man of the House

MARK E. GREEN, MD of A Night with Saddam

ROBERT GREER of Spoon

CHARLES MARTIN of The Mountain Between Us

NEIL WHITE of The Sanctuary of Outcasts

DAVID MARION WILKINSON of Not Between Brothers

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

4:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks by KATHY L. PATRICK and ROBERT LELEUX

CHAPTER EIGHT

8:00 p.m. PULPWOOD QUEEN, TIMBER GUYS, AND AUTHOR TALENT SHOW!

CHAPTER 9

9:00 P.M. GOODBYE LITTLE ROCK AND ROLLER to THEY CAME TO NASHVILLE

Author, Actor, Singer, Songwriter, MARSHALL CHAPMAN will speak of her book They Came to Nashville and perform of her latest CD, Big Lonesome!

B.Y.O.B, Set ups and soft drinks provided.

Saturday , Jan 15, 2011 - EVENT SOLD OUT!

8:00 a.m. Registration and Ticket Sales

CHAPTER TEN

9:00 a.m. BOBKAT is back to host their BEAUTY AND THE BOOK author/talk show featuring KATHY L. PATRICK and ROBERT LELEUX.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES to I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU!

Keynote Speaker and Special Author Guest, FANNIE FLAGG of I Still Dream About You!

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER TWELVE

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. AWARD WINNING STORIES

Author Panel featuring:

CATHIE BECK of Cheap Cabernet

JAMIE FORD of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

RIVER JORDAN of The Miracle of Mercy Land: A Novel

NICOLE SEITZ of The Inheritance of Beauty

SUSAN PARKER of Walking in the Deep End: A Memoir

ALLEN WHITLEY of Where Southern Cross the Dog

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. STORIES THAT ARE KILLER

Author Panel featuring:

KATHRYN CASEY of The Killing Storm (Sarah Armstrong Texas Rangers Series

KIT FRAZIER of Morgue File: A Cauley MacKinnon Novel

MARK E. GREEN, MD of My Night with Saddam

KATHLEEN KASKA of Murder at the Luther

MICHAEL LISTER of Thunder Beach and The Body and the Blood

M.L. MALCOLM of Silent Lies

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Noon Luncheon: MY READING LIFE to IF HOLDEN CAULFIELD WERE IN MY CLASSROOM

PAT CONROY/BERNIE SCHEIN LUNCHEON

New York Times’s Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller, and Southern Independent Bestseller PAT CONROY of My Reading Life and his best friend and author, BERNIE SCHEIN of If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom: Inspiring Love, Creativity, and Intelligence in Middle School Kids!

Luncheon catered by STAGEDOOR DELI of Mt. Pleasant, Texas!

Pat Conroy’s latest book, a signed My Reading Life will be handed out as all depart the luncheon.

EVENT SOLD OUT!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. THE PULPWOOD QUEEN PRESENTS STORIES I WISH TO SHARE BIG TIME

Author Panel Featuring:

SAM BRACKEN and ECHO GARRETT of My Orange Duffel Bag

MICHAEL MORRIS of King of Florabama

KAREN HARRINGTON of Janeology

JENNIE HELDERMAN of as the sycamore grows

SONNY BREWER of Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Acclaimed Authors and the Day Jobs They Quit

BREAK FOR AUTOGRAPHING AND VENDOR/BOOK STORE

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. STORIES TO SHARE WITH BOOK CLUBS

Author Panel featuring:

AMY BOURRET of Mothers and Other Liars

JEANINE CUMMINS of The Outside Boy

KARL LENKER of For Dear Life

KAREN ESSEX of Dracula in Love

CAROLYN TURGEON of Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale

KAREN WHITE of On Folly’s Beach

3:30 p.m. Break, as we know it gets crazy towards the end to rush out and get ready for the ball. It’s almost your last chance to buy books if you want to get them signed before the closing panel and Awards Presentation! Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase the authors books while they are still at the convention center. Barnes and Noble Book Store will be open too after Awards Ceremony!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

3:45 p.m. – 4:15 P.M. STORIES FIT FOR A QUEEN

Authors featured:

DIANA BLACK and MARY CUNNINGHAM of WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty

DAVID VALDES GREENWOOD of The Rhinestone Sisterhood: A Journey Through Small Town America, One Tiara At A Time

OLIVIA DeBELLE BYRD of Miss Hildreth Wore Brown: Anecdotes of a Southern Belle

CINDY RATZLAF and KATHY KINNEY of Queen of Your Own Life

SHELLIE RUSHING TOMLINSON of Suck in Your Stomach and Put Some Color On: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Southern Daughters That The Rest of Y’all Should Know Too

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. AUTHORS AND BOOKLOVERS WHO ARE AWARD WINNERS FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES OR THE STORIES

Awards Presentation as follows:

MELISSA CONROY to present Pulpwood Queen Children’s Book of the Year

JAMIE FORD to present Pulpwood Queen Bonus Book of the Year

PAT CONROY to present Pulpwood Queen Book of the Year

KATHY L. PATRICK to present The KAT Award

Special Presentation: MARY GAY SHIPLEY to present THE DOUG MARLETTE AWARD presented to an individual for the Lifetime Achievement of Promoting Literacy.

Silent Auction winners announced!

CHAPTER NINETEEN

5:15 p.m. RED CARPET PREMIERE OF BEAUTY AND THE BOOK!

CHAPTER TWENTY

8:00 p.m. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY PARADE OF BOOK CHARACTERS!

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

8:30 p.m. AUTHOR ENABLERS to WRITE THAT BOOK ALREADY!

Authors/Musicians, KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK and SAM BARRY of WRITE THAT BOOK ALREADY!

9:00 p.m. GREAT BIG BALL OF HAIR BALL featuring the band,

DESTINY DUKE AND THE HAZZARDS, back by popular demand.

In celebration of the 11TH Anniversary of Girlfriend Weekend the theme is

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY!

Come dressed for the occasion in costume as your favorite book character or book characters for contests as follows:

BEST GIRL GROUP AS BOOK CHARACTERS

BEST BOOK THEMED DECORATED TABLE

MS GREAT BIG BALL OF HAIR BALL QUEEN, best overall book themed character and

TIMBER GUY OF THE YEAR, the man who is the sexiest reader, books will be provided for reading!

Special Guest and Author, SUSAN VREELAND of Clara and Mr. Tiffany will be featured at the Ball.

A royal feast of appetizers will be served and set ups provided for B.Y.O.B.!

EVENT SOLD OUT!

Sunday , Jan 16, 2011 -

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

11:00 a.m. TELL ME THE OLD, OLD STORY

Worship Services at the First United Methodist Church

DR. MARK E. GREEN will be our Special Guest Speaker on his book, A Night with Saddam as Mark was assigned to be with Saddam Hussein on the night he was captured.

Wear your Sunday crown, that’s your favorite hat!

Noon lunch on your own in Jefferson!

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD FILM FESTIVAL

Featuring: Author, Kerry Madden of Harper Lee UpClose

Author and Independent Film and Television Writer/Producer, MARY MCDONAGH MURPHY of the book, Scott, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird and premiering her film Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird.

In a documentary and accompanying book, Mary McDonagh Murphy explores the novel’s power, influence and popularity. With reflections from Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, James McBride, James Patterson, Wally Lamb, Oprah Winfrey and more, the documentary and the book chronicle the many ways the novel has shaped lives and careers.

Documentary Film Maker SANDY H. JAFFE of On Mockingbird, Our Mockingbird

Two high schools in Birmingham, Alabama – one black, one white – collaborate on a life-changing production of the play, To Kill A Mockingbird. How many lives have been changed by this story?

Details on all films, authors, and program T.B.A. soon!

$25 for Pulpwood Queen Book Club members, $75 for non-members for the film festival. Tickets are limited so please purchase your tickets while supply lasts.

I am here to tell you we make memories to last a lifetime at our Girlfriend Weekend in historic Jefferson, Texas. Jefferson, Texas was the beginning of our story and will continue to the end of our story.

We could write a book on all the adventures and shared stories from our weekends together! My hope and dream is that all of you too will become lifetime readers and writers. Only you can tell and share your story, so let us begin to write, as well as read. And remember, a story not written is a library lost to all your family and friends.

It’s like our official motto, “where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books is the RULE!” Won’t you join us on as our royal story continues to unfold. Life can be a book loving journey because folks, life is not only about the destination, it’s about the ride! And oh what a ride! Thank you for joining me on our weekend IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY! I do believe I will be able to report, a very happy ending!

THE END

For more information on any of the above information, please email kathy@beautyandthebook.com or call Beauty and the Book at 903-665-7520. We accept all major credit cards. Pulpwood Queen Packets and Tickets can be picked up at Registration booth when you arrive!

All information above could be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. For the latest updated version of the program, please email kathy@beautyandthebook.com to send you latest revised program or go to www.pulpwoodqueen.com where updates are reported daily.

No refunds will be able to be given on tickets or packages purchased but we will be more than happy to roll over to the next year the tickets and packages you may have purchased if for any reason you have to cancel. Please contact us immediately if you have to cancel on any events as we do have a waiting list of those wishing to attend.

New This Year

1. A Pulpwood Queen V.I.P. room for Head Queens and Authors only so those running our chapters will get even more up close and personal time with the authors with refreshments and treats too!
   

Remember

Details on the event will be posted as confirmed and do note this event runs through Sunday Worship Service at The First United Methodist Church! Plan to wear your Sunday Crowns, your hats and Dr. Mark Green of "My Night with Saddam" will be our author speaker.

Tickets for Girlfriend Weekend

1. Are all SOLD OUT except for Sunday’s  50th Anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird Film Festival at the Jefferson Tourism Building, Austin Street. $25 for Pulpwood Queen Members, $75 for non-members. Tickets are limited!
   

Reservations for Lodging...click here

Jefferson, Texas, is a small town. As such, there are only a limited number of rooms at the various Bed & Breakfasts and historic hotels. There are not any major chain hotels in Jefferson, so book your rooms early. Several of the bed and breakfasts are offering specials for Girlfriend Weekend Attendees and those specials can be found here. The list of inns offering specials will grow longer as more inns let us know about their specials

Not a Member?

To become an Official Member: Send in your check or call Kathy with a major credit card, 903-665-7520, for $25 and you become a Lifetime Member. She will need this information for membership:

1. Name
   

2. Address
   

3. Phone number
   

4. Email, very important
   

5. T-shirt size
   

6. Name of Pulpwood Queen Chapter you wish to start of join as: The Pulpwood Queens of ? and their city location
   

After she receives this information and payment she will mail out your Pulpwood Queen Packet or Packets :

1. Official Membership Card
   

2. Official Membership Certificate
   

3. Official Pulpwood Queen Hot Pink logo t-shirt
   

After receiving payment you are eligible to purchase your Early Bird Special to the book club convention.