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| Me dressed as Tallulah Bankhead for the Great Big Ball of Hair Ball |
She had a horrible accident in New Orleans once and was run over by a Mardis Gras float (a true story that she can tell on another day), so I doubt we will ever make it to the Big Easy together due to her parade PTSD. Who could blame her? I'm not getting run over for beads either! And anyway, my boobs haven't been bead worthy since oh, 1998. I digress.
I was running a disaster relief operation in Alabama following the 2011 tornadoes, and we needed some big bras. I think I posted on our Facebook page something like "from skeeter bites to milk jugs, we need to cover up the tatas." Melissa had recently had a breast reduction and sent a box of the most beautiful gigantic bras that I had ever seen. We had some very happy ladies, who had been flopping around while they dug through their piles of rubble. Bra day was a good day for my big boobed sistahs! Melissa and I instantly bonded and have been great friends ever since she sent the bras.
Via this crazy new sister by adoption, I started following Kit Frazier's blog and knew immediately that Kit might also be a missing sister from another mother. Doesn't she look like Barbara Eden? Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! You can read her daily blog here Kit Frazier
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| Carolyn Turgeon, author of Mermaid and creator of Faerie Magazine with Kit Frazier, author and blogger together at the Big Ball of Hair Ball in Nacogdoches, Texas. |
Kit and I started talking about the Pulpwood Queens Book Club and its founder, Kathy L. Murphy, and her huge contribution to literacy and women's empowerment. Kathy has made strides for literacy by donating books, empowering female prison literacy programs, and she has opened doors for authors who might not have been given national attention without her endorsements. She's a cool chick and throws a heck of a party!
Kit went on and on about the upcoming Pulpwood Queens celebration in Nacagdoches, Texas, and was adamant that I could not miss the biggest party in East Texas, so I booked a plane ticket. It was right after the Ebola scare and tickets were at rock bottom. I have been looking for an excuse to tease my hair again since 1990, so with an e-ticket and a dress code list, I took off for Nacagdoches, Texas!
Never did it cross my mind that Kit might be one of the crazy murderers that she writes about in her mystery novels, or that she could be totally psycho and that I would end up sharing a room with a nutter for a long weekend.
I think we evened the playing field when she said to me on the phone "I'm not a serial killer, you can call and have me checked out, I have references and the FBI will corroborate that I'm not a criminal."
I responded with "That's okay, at this point in my life, I really don't have much left to live for, just make it quick and kill me in my sleep." There was a long pause and then we both were cracking up uncontrollably. I knew at that point we would be lifelong friends.
We were roommates for the long weekend, and stayed up talking until almost 4 a.m. every single night like teenagers. I laughed so hard that my face hurt. It took me four days to stop smiling when I got home. And even though this friend of a friend of mine was the only person that I actually "knew" at this party before I arrived, I left with at least 20 new friends from all walks of life.
Top 10 reasons that I will never miss another Pulpwood Queens Girlfriends Weekend:
10. Pulitzer prize winning and best selling authors who tell you their stories up close and personal. There were also several first time authors as well as the screenwriter who will be writing the Pulpwood Queens' story.
9. You get to wear a tiara ALL WEEKEND LONG and no one judges, like folks do when they see me vacuuming with my tiara on through the window here in Florida.
8. There were NO MEAN GIRLS at this party, not one.
7. There was a sense of family and community that I have only experienced one other time in my life. Even though I didn't know a soul, these beautiful women took me into their tribe and made me feel like I had been friends with them since childhood.
6. I felt pretty all weekend. I can't remember when I have felt more beautiful, free, and not like the weird chick in the crowd, because there was entire meeting hall full of women just doing their thing.
5. Costumes, as well as a voracious appetite for books, are mandatory.
4. Big hair is considered an asset in Texas- real or bought, they don't judge. The higher the hair, the closer to God.
3. I was inspired all weekend long by stories of strong women, reclusive billionaires, dogs on a mission, and one particular octogenarian who is replete with wisdom, beauty, and is still a girl at heart. Pat Montandon absolutely stole my heart and is one of my favorite new Facebook friends and favorite authors.
2. Nacogdoches, Texax, rolled out the pink carpet and treated us all like queens. Service was superb everywhere we went and the locals were so kind. And, they have radio stations that play nothing but George Strait- all the time- I mean all day, every day!
And the number one reason to never miss Pulpwood Queens' Weekend is...
1. Kathy L. Murphy, the Pulpwood Queen herself, and author of The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life. Kathy brought together the most impressive panel of authors and book club members for the best party in East Texas. You definitely want to get her book and read it if you haven't yet, and then join a chapter near you.
Join the Pulpwood Queens The books on her book club list are all worth reading twice.
And cake...there was cake!
Love y'all,
Holly
Kit went on and on about the upcoming Pulpwood Queens celebration in Nacagdoches, Texas, and was adamant that I could not miss the biggest party in East Texas, so I booked a plane ticket. It was right after the Ebola scare and tickets were at rock bottom. I have been looking for an excuse to tease my hair again since 1990, so with an e-ticket and a dress code list, I took off for Nacagdoches, Texas!
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| Hot pink polish (PQ signature color) with a leopard accent nail. I've never seen more leopard and hot pink in my LIFE! |
Never did it cross my mind that Kit might be one of the crazy murderers that she writes about in her mystery novels, or that she could be totally psycho and that I would end up sharing a room with a nutter for a long weekend.
I think we evened the playing field when she said to me on the phone "I'm not a serial killer, you can call and have me checked out, I have references and the FBI will corroborate that I'm not a criminal."
I responded with "That's okay, at this point in my life, I really don't have much left to live for, just make it quick and kill me in my sleep." There was a long pause and then we both were cracking up uncontrollably. I knew at that point we would be lifelong friends.
We were roommates for the long weekend, and stayed up talking until almost 4 a.m. every single night like teenagers. I laughed so hard that my face hurt. It took me four days to stop smiling when I got home. And even though this friend of a friend of mine was the only person that I actually "knew" at this party before I arrived, I left with at least 20 new friends from all walks of life.
Top 10 reasons that I will never miss another Pulpwood Queens Girlfriends Weekend:
10. Pulitzer prize winning and best selling authors who tell you their stories up close and personal. There were also several first time authors as well as the screenwriter who will be writing the Pulpwood Queens' story.
9. You get to wear a tiara ALL WEEKEND LONG and no one judges, like folks do when they see me vacuuming with my tiara on through the window here in Florida.
8. There were NO MEAN GIRLS at this party, not one.
7. There was a sense of family and community that I have only experienced one other time in my life. Even though I didn't know a soul, these beautiful women took me into their tribe and made me feel like I had been friends with them since childhood.
6. I felt pretty all weekend. I can't remember when I have felt more beautiful, free, and not like the weird chick in the crowd, because there was entire meeting hall full of women just doing their thing.
5. Costumes, as well as a voracious appetite for books, are mandatory.
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| Karen Abbott as Edgar Allen Poe, author of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy; Kathy and Becky- the Hepinstall Sisters, authors of Sisters of Shiloh; and Kristen Harnisch as Scarlett, author of The Vintner's Daughter |
4. Big hair is considered an asset in Texas- real or bought, they don't judge. The higher the hair, the closer to God.
3. I was inspired all weekend long by stories of strong women, reclusive billionaires, dogs on a mission, and one particular octogenarian who is replete with wisdom, beauty, and is still a girl at heart. Pat Montandon absolutely stole my heart and is one of my favorite new Facebook friends and favorite authors.
2. Nacogdoches, Texax, rolled out the pink carpet and treated us all like queens. Service was superb everywhere we went and the locals were so kind. And, they have radio stations that play nothing but George Strait- all the time- I mean all day, every day!
And the number one reason to never miss Pulpwood Queens' Weekend is...
1. Kathy L. Murphy, the Pulpwood Queen herself, and author of The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life. Kathy brought together the most impressive panel of authors and book club members for the best party in East Texas. You definitely want to get her book and read it if you haven't yet, and then join a chapter near you.
Join the Pulpwood Queens The books on her book club list are all worth reading twice.
And cake...there was cake!
Love y'all,
Holly
