The Shores of Our Souls by Kathryn Brown Ramsperger She's a sheltered American. He's a Middle Eastern diplomat. Can their love lead to lasting peace overseas? New York City, 1981. Dianna leaves her small southern town for the bright lights and rich culture of the Big Apple and a prime job at the Met. Sparks fly when she crosses paths with a charming Lebanese diplomat. A shared night of passion launches her into an exciting romance and opens her eyes to a bloody conflict far from home. But as warring factions take hold overseas, she can't shake the feeling that her new love is hiding dark secrets. Qasim has never known peace. When he gets the chance to bring his country's troubles before the United Nations, he abandons his family obligations to heal his war-torn homeland. But his true mission takes a detour when he falls for a beautiful American woman. Against the urging of his closest friend and mentor, he wants to share his heart and hopes with her. In the face of cultural barriers and mounting war, can Dianna and Qasim find the strength to stand up for their love and a lasting peace? The Shores of Our Souls is a moving, romantic multicultural novel that dares to defy convention. If you like star-crossed chemistry, accurate historical details, and tales of redemption, then you'll love Kathryn Brown Ramsperger's award-winning tale of love against impossible odds. Buy The Shores of Our Souls to embark on a barrier-breaking love story today!
Kathryn Brown Ramsperger is the author of the award-winning The Shores of Our Souls, published by traditional publisher TouchPoint Press. Shores, her debut novel, received two America’s Book Awards (one for debut, the other for cover). It was also recognized by Foreword Indies for multicultural fiction, and was a five-star book for its depiction of social issues by Reader’s Favorites. It was also a librarian’s pick by the DC Public Libraries in 2019. Kathryn has been named a Pulpwood Queens’ Featured Author for 2022. Kathryn’s second novel, A Thousand Flying Things, which was a Faulkner Wisdom Literary finalist, is represented by Diane Nine of Nine Speakers, in Washington, DC. Diane also represented the late journalist Helen Thomas, the actor Cindy Williams, and many other renowned public figures and authors. Writing from a global perspective, Kathryn Ramsperger’s themes are universal yet intensely personal and authentic, touching on multicultural relationships, social justice, immigration, and the humanitarian world. Her literary voice is rooted in the Southern tradition of storytelling and is informed by her South Carolina lineage. A graduate of Hollins University (Roanoke, Va.), Kathryn studied under several esteemed writers including—Pulitzer Prizewinning novelist Eudora Welty; her mentor Richard Henry Wilde Dillard and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Henry Taylor. She holds a graduate degree from George Washington University. She began her career writing for The Roanoke Times and The Gazette newspapers and later managed publications for the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland. She has contributed articles to National Geographic and Kiplinger magazines.
Comfort Zone a Novel by Kimberly Fish The award-winning author of Comfort Songs and Comfort Foods digs into the life of single-mom Anna Weber, an appraiser who gives value to other people’s found treasures. On assignment to research a handwritten sheet of music, Anna helps a stranded motorist, only to discover she’s rescued retired NFL quarterback Jack Moses. His confidence and fascination for solving problems makes him impossible for Anna to ignore even as they both dart along separate deadlines to save the finances at an inner-city school. Little does Anna know that as she wrestles with secrets from her past and a suspicious approach to people, Jack is running too—dodging women, pro athletes, and a future with no definable end zone. As a nemesis threatens Anna’s young daughters, these two unlikely partners discover that it’s in stepping back from years of self-sufficiency that Anna and Jack can find the best treasure of all: a series of sweet, second chances. Kimberly writes award-winning novels about women discovering their grit. With accolades ranging from Best Texas Book, Best Romance, and Best Historical Romance, her novels set in the Texas Hill Country transport readers to a place where dreams can grow along with the lavender. Her WWII historical fiction details exploits and spy dramas on the American home front and reveal just what women can accomplish when they work for the greater good. With over 30 years in the writing industry, Kimberly delights in entertaining with wholesome stories, second-chance romances, and people finding their purpose--the books are mental vacations!
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
Hello Readers! Welcome to READING NATION MAGAZINE, THE magazine for readers and booklovers everywhere. This month’s issue is filled with more great books to add to your TBR list, new authors to follow, an essay and beautiful art by Tamra Bolton, Kathy’s Great-Grandma Chisholm’ s Green Tomato Pie recipe, book trailers, pet interviews, and so much more. Enjoy! As of January 31st Reading Nation Magazine has received 68,216 views! PQ & TG Authors - standard pages to advertise your books are only $50 and go down when you purchase more than one - that includes customized graphics that are shared with 12K readers over several social media sites. If you’d like to advertise here email readingnationmagazine@gmail.com.
Just one of the benefits of being a Pulpwood Queen or Timber Guy Book Club Author.
Mandy Haynes
Pulpwood Queen Author Creator, Editor, and Publisher of READING NATION MAGAZINE, Owner of three dogs write press FEBRUARY 2022 6
READING NATION MAGAZINE
PULPWOOD QUEEN BOOK CLUB FEBRUARY PICKS
11
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PULPWOOD QUEEN
15
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
21
WATCH THIS
29
BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
33
SPEED ROUND
51
AUTHORS AND THEIR ART
55
TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE
65
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PULPWOOD QUEEN
69
READER RECOGNITION FRIDAYS
75
IF OUR PETS COULD TALK
77
NETWORKING
83
EVENTS TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
87
FYI
89
PQ SWAG SHOP
91
2021 BOOKS OF THE YEAR
95
Ruthie and Robert winners of the Sexy Reading Contest!
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February’s Official Pick
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom Northwest Washington State, 1985 For years, Harris Hayes has taught his daughter, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods. So when her mother's depression worsens, Harris shows the girl how to find and sketch the nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Aggie is in a tree far overhead when her unpredictable mother spots her and forbids her to climb. Angry, the ten-year-old accidentally lights a tragic fire, then flees downriver. She lands her boat near untamed forest, where she hides among the trees and creatures she considers her only friends--determined to remain undiscovered. A search party gathers by Aggie's empty boat hours after Celia, fresh off the plane from Houston, arrives at her grandmother's nearby farm. Hurting from her parents' breakup, she also plans to run. But when she joins the hunt for Aggie, she meets two irresistible young men who compel her to stay. One is autistic; the other, dangerous. FEBRUARY 2022 10
READING NATION MAGAZINE PULPWOOD QUEEN BOOK CLUB FEBRUARY PICKS
February’s International Pick
Sonju by Wondra Chang Sonju opens on a chilly day in November, 1946 in Seoul, Korea. Japan has ended its thirty-five-year occupation of Korea after the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The American military has become the new occupier. Sonju is on the way to her best friend's house when she sees two Americans in military uniforms walking ahead of her, and her heart stirs. So begins the story that spans over two decades. Sonju comes of age in Japanese-occupied Korea, and having received a modern education, she imagines a life of equality and freedom of choice. Her ideals soon clash with the centuries-old Confucian tradition of order and conformity when her mother arranges her marriage to a man she has never met. The decisions she makes during the Korean War lead to her being disowned by her family, betrayed by her best friend, and shunned by society. Through the period of rapidly evolving political strife in her country following its liberation in 1945, Sonju's private struggle to seek her relevance in a male-dominated society parallels the struggles of Korea on its way to becoming a force in the word. ISSUE NO. 12 11
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February’s Bonus Pick
Sugar Baby and Other Stories by River Jordan A union soldier who deserted, a scared girl in an abandoned, antebellum home, a gravedigger looking for a wife, seven sisters who will kill to protect each other, a stake-out at a rundown hotel, a Spanish priest trying to save his people from the Spanish flu, a young girl sneaking off with an encyclopedia salesman, an old woman aiming to use her last bullet. a woman framed for murder on All Saints Day, a one-eyed outcast who lives down by the river. The characters in Short Baby and Other Stories are infused by desire, touched by love, and seeking retribution and redemption at every turn. Sugar Baby is storytelling of the highest order, plucking up the reader and transporting them to a world of mystery, spirituality, violence, love, and everything in between." "River Jordan writes to the bone, over and over. Take this book to bed, and expect to stay up late." Clyde Edgerton, author, The Night Train, Killer Diller FEBRUARY 2022 12
READING NATION MAGAZINE PULPWOOD QUEEN BOOK CLUB FEBRUARY PICKS
February’s Bonus Pick
The Shores of Our Souls by Kathryn Brown Ramsperger New York City, 1981. Dianna leaves her small southern town for the bright lights and rich culture of the Big Apple and a prime job at the Met. Sparks fly when she crosses paths with a charming Lebanese diplomat. A shared night of passion launches her into an exciting romance and opens her eyes to a bloody conflict far from home. But as warring factions take hold overseas, she can't shake the feeling that her new love is hiding dark secrets. Qasim has never known peace. When he gets the chance to bring his country's troubles before the United Nations, he abandons his family obligations to heal his war-torn homeland. But his true mission takes a detour when he falls for a beautiful American woman. Against the urging of his closest friend and mentor, he wants to share his heart and hopes with her. In the face of cultural barriers and mounting war, can Dianna and Qasim find the strength to stand up for their love and a lasting peace? ISSUE NO. 12 13
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Published by Brother Mockingbird and edited by Pulpwood Queen Author, Susan Cushman, this collection of essays by authors, book club members, and supporters of the Pulpwood Queens is a love letter to the founder and CEO, Kathy L. Murphy. An ode to the written word and the place that literature and reading play in all of our lives. FEBRUARY 2022 14
READING NATION MAGAZINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PULPWOOD QUEEN
Thank you Brother Mockingbird Publishing for letting us share some stories!
Pat Conroy’s Checkbook Tracy Lea Carnes
My debut novel came out in 2009 with little to no fanfare. Excess Baggage spent years trying to find an agent and a publisher. It was an uphill climb. So, when Kathy L. Murphy asked me one Saturday afternoon in her combination bookstore and beauty shop in Jefferson, Texas, called Beauty and the Book, if I would like to be a featured author at her annual Girlfriend Weekend the following January, I was beyond ecstatic, not only to appear alongside so many authors I loved and admired, but to have an opportunity to get my little book out there. That’s what Kathy does: she champions authors and their novels, and now she was championing mine. I didn’t know exactly what to expect at the weekend, but ISSUE NO. 12 15
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
I was ready for the challenge and the excitement to promote my book. What most people do not understand about novelists is that not everyone who writes a novel becomes an overnight success or a New York Times best-selling author. It takes a lot of promotion and readers to make an author successful. It takes someone like Kathy to believe in you and your work and put you up there on a platform with the likes of Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet), Patti Callahan Henry (The Bookshop at Water’s End), Jenny Gardiner (Sleeping with Ward Cleaver), Ad Hudler (Man of the House), and yes, even Pat Conroy (The Prince of Tides, South of Broad, Beach Music). The list of fabulous authors at the event was a Who’s Who of the modern literary scene. And then there was me. I picked up my welcome package at the Excelsior Hotel that Thursday afternoon which included an apron for the event and a nametag. We were all instructed to sign our names on the apron, as we would then wear them that evening as the wait staff for the dinner. All authors, regardless of experience, were required to serve the conference attendees their first night’s dinner. Some authors were better at serving than others, but one such author was excelling at dinner service—Pat Conroy himself. With a water pitcher in hand, he adeptly filled the water glasses of every attendee and regaled them with all sorts of stories. In passing I told him, “Hey Pat, FEBRUARY 2022 16
READING NATION MAGAZINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PULPWOOD QUEEN
if the book writing business doesn’t work out for you, I think you might have found your calling!” He laughed, nodded his head, and kept right on with the dinner service. He was simply a natural. Later that evening, the authors finally got a chance to sit down and have their own dinner. Jenny Gardiner and I fixed our plates and found a place to sit down and eat in the small dining room of the hotel where we were relegated. There was an empty chair beside us, and Pat seemed to gravitate toward us. Without missing a beat, he looked at us and asked if we’d like to hear a story about his morally lenient friend, Bernie. What were we supposed to say, “no”? Bernie, as it happens, was Pat’s lifelong best friend, Bernie Schein, a well-known author and humorist in his own right. While all of us authors were doing the “and what’s your book about?” banter, perhaps Pat was well aware that all of us knew exactly what his books were about as there wasn’t an author in the room who hadn’t read him already. So, to deflect the attention off himself and bring it around to his beloved best friend, Bernie, was a generous move only a humble man could pull off. It was clear to us at that table why Pat Conroy was so beloved and so well read. He was honestly unpretentious and down-right charming— larger than life but extremely down to earth as well. It was there in his writing and it was there in that room. He was just another author like the rest of us, and his friend, Bernie, if only through ISSUE NO. 12 17
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story, was in the room with us too. Once the dinner was finished, Pat stood up and proclaimed that he wanted to buy copies of all our books, even my little novel. He whipped out his checkbook and began writing checks to purchase all of our books—all of them. He wanted them for his library. I passed on having him write me a check and simply gifted him the book. I would have never, ever, cashed that check anyway. It’s why I now have an even greater admiration for the author of my favorite novel, The Prince of Tides. Pat Conroy was the real deal and he proved that, not just to me, but to everyone in attendance that year. In the presence of the great Pat Conroy (and his check book), who now possessed my little novel, Excess Baggage, and so many other wonderful writers, I stood on the stage at Girlfriend Weekend 2010, promoted my book, and even a new stage play I was in the process of writing. I gained the confidence that I, too, was worthy of standing on that stage and presenting my work. Pat Conroy and all the other authors at Girlfriend Weekend made me feel welcome and worthy. I had a wonderful signing that after noon, with Pat cheering me on. That made my day. I was an author and he treated me as a peer. That was everything to me.
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If you’d like to read the rest of Tracy’s story, you can purchase a copy of The Pulpwood Queen Celebrates Twenty Years here.
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THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
In case you weren’t at last month’s International Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Week-Long Girlfriend’s Weekend Book Club Convention, here’s what you missed Six days of fantastic panels, invaluable connections, new friendships, and lots of laughs! TUESDAY JANUARY 11th 9:00 am – 9:45 am CST Kick-off with the PULPWOOD QUEEN DREAM TEAM! 10:00 am – 10:45 am CST: Keynote Speaker/Author Marilyn Simon Rothstein! 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST: Shari Stauch of Main Street Reads presents Lit Power of the Feminine with authors Ruthie Landis, Regine E. Williams, and Sarah Penner 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm CST: Kathy L. Murphy interviews Bollywood & Books podcaster Lovelace Cook
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READING NATION MAGAZINE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm CST: Podcaster Theresa Bakken of Desiduratum and Author Johnnie Bernhard 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm CST: Podcaster Grace Sammon of The Storytellers 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm CST: 2022 Bonus Book Club Selections introduced by Author Claire Fullerton WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12th 9:00 am – 9:45 am CST Keynote Speaker Jim Markham of Big Lucky 10:00 am – 10:45 am CST: Author Nola Nash talks about her podcast, Dead Folks’ Tales as she and author Laura Kemp talk about Kemp Camp, and a fun new project they started together called, BYOB, Bring Your Own Book (or Boys or Booze) 1:00 pm CST: Story Hour and Prose and the Pandemic present: Books as Bridges: How Story Connects, Heals, and Guides Us with authors Eileen Sanchez, Kathy Ramsperger, Anju Gattani, and Debra Thomas ISSUE NO. 12 21
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
3:00pm – 3:45 pm CST – Wilnona and Jade, The And I Thought Ladies 4:00 pm – 5pm CST Blue Sky Book Chat panel of authors Marilyn Rothstein, Barbara Davis, Lainey Cameron, and Patricia Sands 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm CST: 2022 International Book Club Selections introduced by author Claire Fullerton 9:00 PM – Happy, Happy Hour! THURSDAY JANUARY 13th 9:00 am – 9:45 am CST: Keynote Speaker Adriana Trigiani 10:00 am – 11 am CST: Author Caroline Leavitt of Mighty Blaze 11:00 am – 12:00 am CST: Tumbleweed Smith shares some stories
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READING NATION MAGAZINE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm CST: Melissa Carrigee of Brother Mockingbird with author Rebecca Copeland 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm CST: Kim Davis of Madville Publishing presents three of her authors - Wondra Chang, Lee Zacharias, and Francine Rodriguez 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CST: Bookish Road Trip with authors Mary Helen Sheriff, Julie Valerie, Melissa Face, Libby McNamee, Grace Sammon, and Barbara Conrey 7:00 pm – 9:00 : HAPPIEST OF HAPPY HOURS FRIDAY JANUARY 14th 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CST: Authors Reavis Wortham, Jeffrey Deaver, and John Gilstrap 11:00 am – 12:00 am CST Susan Peterson of Sue’s Reading Neighborhood in conversation with these authors: Kathleen Rodgers, Kerry Anne King, Joanne Kukanza Easley, and Annette G. Anders 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm CST: Jacob Marquez from the ISSUE NO. 12 23
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Reading Corner in conversation with authors Robert Gwaltney and James Wade 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CST: Authors Carolyn Haines and Mandy Haynes talk about the Gothic South 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm CST: The Pulpwood Queen Presents author Pat Montandon 7:00 p.m. CST Author Vince Spinatto catches us up on his new adventures! SATURDAY JANUARY 15th 9:00 am – 9:45 am CST: Keynote speaker Mandy Haynes talks about the new anthology and our January Official Pick, Work In Progress. 10:00 – 10:45 Jonathan Haupt of The Pat Conroy Literary Center in conversation with Holland Perryman, Alisha Arora, and Millie Bennett 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST: Keynote Speaker David Dotson of The Dolly Parton Imagination Library 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm CST: Keynote author couple, FEBRUARY 2022 24
READING NATION MAGAZINE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Loraine Despres and Carleton Eastlake reporting from Hollywood 2:00 pm – 2:45 p.m. CST: Author couple Denise Kiernan & Joseph D’Agnesel join author couple Leslie Lehr & John Truby in conversation 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm CST: The Pulpwood Queen Presents her 12 Official Pick Authors of the Year with intermission! 8:00 pm CST Big Ball of Hair Mask-querade Party & Sexy Reading Contest! SUNDAY JANUARY 16th 10:15 am CST: Author Henry Brinton will do a worship service Sunday from his church in Fairfax, Virginia. https://www.youtube.com/c/FairfaxPresbyterianChurch 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm CST: Author Kim Harwanko of Novel Women 1 & 2 2:00 pm – 2:45 CST: Carol Fitzgerald from Bookreporter in conversation with authors Deborah Goodrich Royce and Susan Wingate 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm CST: Chip MacGregor of MacGregor & Luedeke. 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CST: Stephanie Chance of Decorate Ornate Tours, Official Tour Guide of The International ISSUE NO. 12 25
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guys Book Clubs Sunday Jan 16, 2022, 07:00 pm CST The Pulpwood Presents: The Winners of the Book of the Year Awards Ceremonies and more!
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READING NATION MAGAZINE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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HIT PLAY FEBRUARY 2022 28
READING NATION MAGAZINE WATCH THIS
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THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
HIT PLAY FEBRUARY 2022 30
READING NATION MAGAZINE WATCH THIS
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THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
Murder Under a New Moon by Abigail Keam A Mona Moon Mystery - Book 8
Robert Farley is now a bonafide duke, and solicitors from the Duchy of Brynelleth have come to negotiate his marriage contract to Mona Moon. When the three solicitors demand that Mona relinquish Moon Enterprises and live in England full time, she threatens to give Robert back his engagement ring and call off the wedding. She says quite frankly, “I’m not going to give up one of the largest mining conglomerates in the world just so I can host dinner parties at Brynelleth for your snotty friends.” Robert, caught between the responsibilities demanded by Brynelleth and his deep love for Mona, is furious with his solicitors for not being more diplomatic. However, the matter resolves itself when the three English solicitors are caught visiting the notorious bawdy house of Belle Brezing, the most famous madam in the South. Ooops! Events are made worse when one of them turns up dead in the bed of a lady-of-the-evening. Now Mona and Robert must find the culprit before FEBRUARY 2022 32
READING NATION MAGAZINE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
their reputations are torn to shreds by their enemies. Fast-moving events threaten to turn Mona’s world upside-down as she is confronted with seemingly impossible decisions to make. Should she marry Robert Farley or not? Abigail Keam is the award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of several series including the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern beekeeper turned amateur female sleuth. “I hope my readers come away with a new appreciation of beekeeping from my Josiah Reynolds Mysteries.” She also writes the Mona Moon Mystery Series–a ragsto-riches 1930s mystery series which includes real people and events into the story line. The series is about a cartographer who is broke and counting her pennies when there is a knock at her door. A lawyer, representing her deceased uncle, announces Mona has inherited her uncle’s fortune and a horse farm in the Bluegrass. Mona can’t believe it. She is now one of the richest women in the country and in the middle of the Great Depression! The Last Chance For Love Series tells of strangers who come from all walks of life to the magical Last Chance Motel in Key Largo and get a second chance at rebuilding their lives, and The Princess Maura Fantasy Series. ISSUE NO. 12 33
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In the Light of Silence by Linda Carrillo After a drunk driver leaves her with an impaired memory and a consuming anger, scientist Kate Solterra retreats to the Virginia mountains to reconstruct her life. Anticipating a peaceful place to recover, she doesn't expect to find a group of Quakers involved in offering a safe haven to refugees fleeing the Salvadoran Civil War. Kate feels a strong connection to the refugees because, like her, they must reinvent their lives. When Kate's involvement with the Quaker Meeting and the refugees leads to her becoming a target of those objecting to the Quakers' plans, she makes a radical decision. Although Kate believes in science, not faith, she begins making a truce with her limitations and realizes that she indeed can create a different kind of life for herself--and to her surprise, God may be speaking to her out of those deep silences in the Meetinghouse, after all. In the Light of Silence is a story about marshaling courage to respond to fear, maintaining faith in the midst of doubt, and experiencing the redemptive power of forgiveness. FEBRUARY 2022 36
READING NATION MAGAZINE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel is revered for her sophisticated style--the iconic little black dress-and famed for her intoxicating perfume Chanel No. 5. Yet behind the public persona is a complicated woman of intrigue, shadowed by mysterious rumors. The Queen of Paris, the new novel from award-winning author Pamela Binnings Ewen, is fiction based on facts, some uncovered only within the past few years, and vividly imagines the hidden life of Chanel during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII. Chanel--a woman made of sparkling granite-will do anything to survive. ISSUE NO. 12 37
Mamma Mia! Sinners, Saints & Escapades by Stephanie Chance
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
Crazy To Leave You: A Novel by Marilyn Simon Rothstein
From the author of Husbands and Other Sharp Objects comes a witty, bighearted novel about the happy accidents that lead to love and second chances.
Available May 24, 2022 but you can pre-order your copy today! FEBRUARY 2022 40
READING NATION MAGAZINE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
The Forty Knots Burn by Lynn Hesse A con artist trio is stuck in Atlanta without funds when the oldest member has a heart attack and suddenly dies. Clara Shannesey Blyth and her adopted Uncle Roman are crushed at their mentor's death, but she must take over the reins of a cutthroat team and pull off the risky art heist of an Edward Hopper painting. She falls in love for the first time at twenty-seven and realizes too late Hernando is the Hopper painting's forger and his brother is the man trying to kill her. “Author Lynn Hesse takes you on a mystical and magical journey with the Roma…. Be warned, for this is the lyrical ride of a lifetime.” — Jedwin Smith, author of Fatal Treasure and Our Brother’s Keeper
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Playing the Devil by R. J. Lee
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis An enchanting novel about fate, second chances, and hope, lost and found, by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls. Soline Roussel is well schooled in the business of happy endings. For generations her family has kept an exclusive bridal salon in Paris, where magic is worked with needle and thread. It's said that the bride who wears a Roussel gown is guaranteed a lifetime of joy. But devastating losses during World War II leave Soline's world and heart in ruins and her faith in love shaken. She boxes up her memories, stowing them away, along with her broken dreams, determined to forget. Decades later, while coping with her own tragic loss, aspiring gallery owner Rory Grant leases Soline's old property and discovers a box containing letters and a vintage wedding dress, never worn. When Rory returns the mementos, an unlikely friendship develops, and eerie parallels in Rory's and Soline's lives begin to surface. It's clear that they were destined to meet--and that Rory may hold the key to righting a forty-year FEBRUARY 2022 44
READING NATION MAGAZINE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
wrong and opening the door to shared healing and, perhaps, a little magic. I’m a Jersey girl raised in the south, now living and writing in New England. Confused? Constantly. Happy? Deliriously! But then, living your dream will do that! After fifteen years of wearing heels and schlepping a briefcase as an executive in the jewelry industry, I traded in my pinstripes for a little peace of mind, and decided to follow my dream of becoming a women’s fiction author. And what a ride it’s been! Six books later, I’m still pinching myself, and I’m still as much in love with writing as I was the day I began this journey. Maybe it’s because I believe in miracles, in happy endings and new beginnings. Heaven knows I’ve had my share. I’m blessed to be married to my best friend and soul mate, Tom, who I must say, sets the bar pretty high for my on-the-page heroes. We also have a lovely ginger cat named Simon, who is twenty years old, wretchedly spoiled, and doesn’t give a fig if I’m on deadline or not. When I’m not making up stories, you’re likely to find me reading, cooking, watching college football, (Go Gators!) or spreading a little sunshine over on Facebook, on The Sunshine Page. ISSUE NO. 12 45
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Bishop Security Series (3 book series) by Debbie Baldwin FINALIST: INDEPENDENT AUTHOR NETWORK BOOK AWARDS IN THE CATEGORY OF ROMANCE FINALIST: READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS IN THE CATEGORY OF ROMANCE (GENERAL) “Debbie Baldwin is a mastermind writer who weaves a story with so much intrigue and mystery, it is like a well-oiled machine with sexy men controlling every move. Her backstory and world building are spot on and she sets up her new books throughout the current read, with little hidden tidbits here and there. This enables readers to become attracted and engage in the success of the characters and bad future characters' journeys.” Five Star Amazon review FEBRUARY 2022 46
READING NATION MAGAZINE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST
Work In Progress by Mandy Haynes Have you ever finished a book and wondered, "What made the author think of that?" Or wondered if there was a chapter in the original manuscript that didn't make it through the final edits? Maybe you'd like to get a sneak peek at what an author is currently working on. Work In Progress includes fifty-nine excerpts from some talented authors' works in progress in different stages of the writing process, followed up with the story behind the story of the piece, and the story behind the author who wrote it.
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e work by Mik ce, ly enjoyable ra “A thorough interconnectedness of d e Hilbig on th ion, and spirituality … an Milan ce gender, relig riting style that’s at on ice that w Houston! A and original, with a voes.”— e, Kundera lik d to our tumultuous tim e speaks for an author of A Quiver in th a, Amit Verm Purlieu For this anthology, Muddy Backroads: Stories from off the beaten path, the editors asked for stories that moved away from the norms of daily life to explore the side roads that take us away from the known. What do your characters do when they step away from what’s seen as normal or the usual? What happens when they find themselves in unexpected situations or locations? What if nothing about their lives is what most consider typical? When a character takes a “muddy backroad,” he, they or she moves away from society and out into a place where anything can happen. We want to see where those backroads and back alleys take us. Edited by Luanne Smith & Bonnie Jo Campbell March 2022
WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR FAVORITE PUL BOOKS HERE, EMAIL KATHY AT THE
SHE MAY HAVE SOM
LPWOOD QUEEN OR TIMBER GUY AUTHORS EPULPWOODQUEEN@GMAIL.COM -
ME SWAG FOR YOU!
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Speed Round with T. K. Thorne
How far do you live from your childhood home? 125 miles Who is your favorite author? Sue Monk Kid What book is your all-time favorite? FEBRUARY 2022 52
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Dune by Frank Herbert Did your parents have a phrase or saying that you find yourself using? Only the squeaky wheel gets the grease. What's the name of the first story or essay you wrote that was published? Chrysalis Published in Aeoph’s Kiss What's the name of the first manuscript you published? Noah’s Wife What word best describes your writing process? Sporadic Sunrise or sunset? Sunset. Sunrise happens on faith. What’s your favorite color? The blue of airport lights. What’s the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them? Their smile. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever gotten? I couldn’t put this book down; it made me question things I’ve never questioned. ISSUE NO. 12 53
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Describe yourself in 5 words Curious Quirky Writer Artist Stubborn Tell me the nickname your parents used to call you when you were little Monkey-poo (my father’s nickname) In which subject were you worst at school?Geography. I’m still confused. In which subject were you best at school? English and math What advice would you give your young self? Get over it. Cat person or dog person? Dogs rock. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be? On a mountain overlooking the ocean. Tell me one secret about yourself that might surprise FEBRUARY 2022 54
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everyone As a police officer, my hands were too small to hold a gun correctly.
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Tamra M. Bolton “When your heart is full, it spills over into others’ lives… and makes the world around you a better place.”
The dab, sweep, and swirl of the brush, the sound of wind in the tall pines outside my window, the tilted column of winter sunlight at my side, the quietness of the house…I am totally absorbed in the moment. These are the simple joys that our creative moments bring to our lives. Art has always been a part of my life. FEBRUARY 2022 56
READING NATION MAGAZINE AUTHORS AND THEIR ART
I was born into a household full of talent and expression. My Mom and Dad are simple country folks who don’t know much about art or artists, but they are encouragers. They recognized our early childhood expressions of creativity as something to be nourished and cherished…always providing a listening ear or an approving eye to our latest attempts. Being creative is not just for a select few - everyone is creative - just in different ways. My parents have amazing talents that even they didn’t always recognize. The decorative crust flourishes Mom would add to one of her famous cherry pies or the custom colors Dad would mix for one of his painting jobs…all of these were gifts they expressed in our daily lives. Many of our own gifts are like this, used in our everyday lives, often dismissed as ordinary, but these creative outlets are just as important as someone painting and sculpting or writing poetry and music. We may elevate and admire some creative outlets more than others, but that is the invention of man, not God. I believe God created a space inside each individual that only He can fill and in the same way, He has given us a creative space that can only be filled by putting those talents, gifts, and joys into action. Not everyone is blessed with understanding and encouraging parents like myself, but to all those who lacked that support, I challenge you to dust off those old loves, revive those early sparks and see what happens. ISSUE NO. 12 57
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You may rediscover a joy you miss or you might find your tastes and wants have changed and go in a new direction. There is no right or wrong answer to finding your joy – sometimes, just searching reveals what we could not find any other way. Anything that brings a smile to your face or soul…be it quilting, woodworking, making up bedtime stories for your children or grandchildren, planting a garden, decorating a cake…whatever brings joy and meaning to your days is a gift. These are your God-given expressions of who you are – they are meant to be released. Being “good” at something is not a prerequisite, neither is monetary gain. If you do something with only salability or the world’s approval in mind, you can stifle that spark you want to encourage. It is nice to be recognized and even paid for our efforts, but that should not be in the back of our minds when we are working on something for our own pleasure. Those outside voices in our heads can dampen not only our enthusiasm, but rob us of the momentary joy of losing ourselves in our passion. Neither should we think we have to continue in a certain vein, if we find ourselves satisfied and content to leave it and go to something else. I’m not talking about having multiple unfinished projects, because that can lead to depression, dissatisfaction, and drag our spirits down. I’m speaking of completing something and FEBRUARY 2022 58
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finding a deep contentment in that completion, but finding it no longer holds your interest and doesn’t give you the joy you once felt. For example, I love to dabble in painting and once did a portrait of my cat Maxine in acrylic. After I completed that particular painting, I had no desire to do another one of a pet or any animal again. I wanted to do that one, did it, was happy with it, and
then I was ready to move onto other things. Some looked at it and said, “you should do pet portraits…you can sell these…would you do one of my cat?” To all these, I said a polite “no”, because that was not where my joy was and if I had allowed it to be hijacked by outside influences, no matter how flattering, I would have found myself doing something I disliked and ISSUE NO. 12 59
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would be angry with myself. I have learned the hard way…accept compliments graciously, but turn down any requests that you genuinely don’t want to fill. On the other hand, I started a series of equine painted models in mixed media and have not lost my enthusiasm for this project – it still excites me and inspires me – and I think it will for a long while. Each one is so different and I have to use different methods, so it keeps challenging me and pushing me, which I like. Sometimes our greatest gift is the time we give away. Doing something we enjoy and that brings joy to others, is one of our highest
privileges. Sharing your time by cooking a meal for someone who needs help, helping a friend clean their closet or refrigerator when they just can’t summon the courage to do it alone, FEBRUARY 2022 60
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calling to check on a friend or relative you haven’t seen or talked to in a while, writing notes to those you appreciate or who are important to you and letting them know you care or listening to an elderly person talk without interrupting and without showing signs of impatience…all these can be a priceless gift to a lonely or overwhelmed soul. Everyone needs to express themselves, but it doesn’t always have to be about us – our own joy will increase when we share our time and gifts with others. Finally, don’t be afraid to try something new or dive deeper into a subject you already love. Keep learning, keep stretching, and keep having fun. Photography has been a part of my life since I was old enough to talk my Mom into letting me use her beloved Brownie camera to take photos of my pets and the landscape of our farm. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than spending time taking photos of the world around me. Recently, I developed an interest in food ISSUE NO. 12 61
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
photography. What a new world and so much to learn. On my many press trips, I have taken hundreds of food photos, some of them pretty good, but I had no idea of the work that goes into the beautiful images that adorn the magazines, blogs, and products I see every day. This is so much fun! Time gets away from me and I often get lost in this new pursuit. That is the joy I’m talking about…allowing yourself to be in the moment. Don’t be afraid to start something new, if that’s what you want. Keep learning…keep your curiosity. Life has a funny way of letting things work up to the surface, if we let it. Reclaim those things that bring you joy…or find that new thing that makes you smile and begin. FEBRUARY 2022 62
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Your creative expression may be very different from anyone you know, but if it is pure and good, it is a gift you need to enjoy. If you’re like me, you may have many outlets that interest you…don’t be afraid to explore. One day, I may paint or write an essay, the next
day, I might try a new recipe I’ve found or grab my camera and explore the outdoor world in macro…sometimes, just sitting still and contemplating is the ISSUE NO. 12 63
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most joyful thing I do. Whatever makes your heart sing…this is what feeds your soul. Invest in yourself. When your heart is full, it spills over into others’ lives… and makes the world around you a better place. Tamra is the author of three books, all International Pulpwood Queen picks and her memoir of her father, A Blessed Life – One World War II Seabee’s Story is a multiple award winner. Her book The Art of Story Keeping – Saving History One Family At A Time, was a semifinalist in the 2020 CIBA awards. In her children’s book When I Was Small, Tamra and her husband Marc co-illustrated the book with original watercolor plates. All three are available through Goodreads, Amazon, and autographed FEBRUARY 2022 64
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copies are available from the author. Limited copies are available with her Dad’s signature of A Blessed Life. If you would like to share some thoughts or ask Tamra any questions, please contact her by email at: tbcoffee17@yahoo.com
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One of the best things about creating the pages for Reading Nation Magazine is learning about our authors. Some days I’ll find myself in blog an hour after clicking on a website “just to get the link”. So I thought I’d start sharing them here instead - and call the article exactly what it is. Things I find that are too good not to share. Surprise Janet Oakley! This month I’m sharing a treasure I found on your website that is…
Too Good Not to Share
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READING NATION MAGAZINE TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE
I COME FROM A FAMILY OF PACK RATS. History stirs on the shelves in teapots and in boxes full of letters and journals as long ago as 1830. The family story goes back to 1638. But it’s been the stories of my Nana, her mother Martha Parker March and my own mother who have nourished me. There are strong women in the family. Ansenith Parker, Quaker missionary to the Shawnee and Kaw. Martha March, teacher of ex-slaves and Kiowa children and president of the Idaho Womans’ Relief Corps. Mysterious Judith March who was fined for wearing a lace cap above her station in the 1600s. Writing about them has helped me examine my own life and upbringing. Then there was my great-grandfather William F. Osborn. I was seven years old when my mother put into my hand his small, leather-bound pocket journal. He was a Union surgeon in the Civil War writing under the thunder of guns and duress at Gettysburg and many more horrendous places. He wrote quick notes in pencil and pen, sometimes only a few lines at a time. Wednesday, July 1st Found a part of our corps engaging the enemy, about 20,000 strong. A severe engagement followed. Our forces were driven back by superior numbers. I wrote my first historical fiction story in fifth grade. I haven’t stopped. ISSUE NO. 12 67
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Today, I write historical fiction that spans the midnineteenth century to WW II with characters standing up for something in their own time and place. I’m proud that my writing has been recognized with a 2013 Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award, the 2013 Chanticleer Grand Prize for TREE SOLDIER, 2015 WILLA Silver Award for TIMBER ROSE and the 2016 Goethe Award Grand Prize for THE JØSSING AFFAIR. MIST-CHIMAS, set on San Juan Island after the Pig War, is an 2018 IndieBRAG Medallion book, 2018 WILLA Award finalist and won second place in the Will Rogers Medallion Award, Western Romance. When not writing, I demonstrate nineteenth-century folkways in the schools and at San Juan Island National Park. And I have a cat who thinks she’s editing. Though Janet has lived in the Pacific NW for many years, she has also lived in Hawaii, Washington DC and Pittsburgh. She has been a guide at Mission Houses in Honolulu, a museum educator at a small NW county museum, and a Humanities Washington speaker. FEBRUARY 2022 68
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And she can churn some pretty mean butter.
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THE PULPWOOD QUEENS' TIARA WEARING, BOOK SHARING, GUIDE TO LIFE celebrates female friendship, sisterhood, and the transformative power of reading. It includes life principles and motivational anecdotes, hilarious and heart-warming stories of friendships among the Queens, and stories from Kathy L. Murphy about the books that have inspired her throughout her life, complete with personalized suggested book lists. FEBRUARY 2022 70
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I always love sharing different chapters or excerpts from Kathy’s book here in Reading Nation Magazine, but I think this is my favorite find!
Great-Grandma Chisholm’ s Green Tomato Pie Who would ever think that a pie made with tomatoes could be as rich (and sweet) as any you’ve ever tasted? This recipe comes from my mother’s side of the family and has to be tasted to be believed. It tastes just like apple pie, except way richer. This is what they used to make when apples weren’t readily available and too expensive to buy. The pie is fantastic with homemade vanilla ice cream but that’s my daddy’s recipe, and he hasn’t given it to me yet. Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 6 large green tomatoes or 8 small (they must be totally green ISSUE NO. 12 71
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tomatoes with absolutely no signs of ripeness or redness), sliced Juice of one lemon 2 tablespoons butter Pie crust for top and bottom—use your favorite recipe Divide dough into two equal balls. Roll out dough for upper and bottom crust. Grandma Chisholm, who personally taught me this recipe, once said to me, “Now sister, work that dough as little as possible to get the flakiest crust and don’t use too much flour when you roll it out. It makes the dough tougher than that old rooster we cooked last Sunday.” Combine the sugar and cinnamon and set aside. Place bottom crust in pie pan and as you layer in the tomatoes, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Pour the last of the sugar cinnamon on top, squeeze on lemon juice, and dab with butter. Top with upper crust. With a knife, trim excess dough and pinch into flutes around the top of the pie. All four-foot-nine of my grandma Chisholm used to do this lickety-split. Slice a design in the top center to let steam escape. She used to slice KATSOUP into the top as that was my nickname (based on my mispronouncing “catsup” when I was first learning how to read). Bake on a cookie sheet for 1 hour at 350 degrees and check the pie as it bakes. If the top looks too brown, cover the edges with aluminum foil. FEBRUARY 2022 72
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CALL TO ACTION! FRIDAYS ARE ALL ABOUT OUR READERS! PLEASE JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP - THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB. LOOK FOR THIS GRAPHIC IN THE FEED.
LEAVE A COMMENT IN THE FEED UNDER THE GRAPHIC. FEBRUARY 2022 76
READING NATION MAGAZINE READER RECOGNITION FRIDAYS
READERS INTRODUCE YOURSELF - WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU! TELL US WHO YOU’RE READING AND IF YOU MENTION ONE OF OUR PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY AUTHORS YOU’LL BE PUT IN A DRAWING FOR SOME BOOKISH SWAG FROM THE PULPWOOD QUEEN HERSELF, KATHY L. MURPHY. AUTHORS MIGHT POP IN WITH SOME SURPRISE GIVEAWAYS!
HAVE FUN! ISSUE NO. 12 77
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I’m still playing catch-up after co-hosting our fantastic Book Club Convention and I realized I didn’t have anything for the If Our Pets Could Talk section. I tried to interview Pearl, but she wasn’t in the mood. Moe and Curly are too busy reading from the January reading list to be bothered, and Albert - my turtle - is hibernating until spring. Then I remembered one of my favorites Templeton Gwaltney! He is the proud owner of Robert Gwaltney whose debut novel, The Cicada Tree, hits the shelves on 2-22-22. Congrats to your dad, Templeton and have a vodka cocktail on me to toast his success! FEBRUARY 2022 78
READING NATION MAGAZINE IF OUR PETS COULD TALK
My name is Templeton, and I’m 10 years old. I know, I know, I’m named after that ridiculous rat from CHARLOTTE’S WEB. It is an indignity I have long suffered. So on occasion, when my fathers aren’t looking, I pee in their slippers. It’s the little things. When I’m not paraded around the neighborhood like a Royal Lippizanner Stallion by an overbearing father, I enjoy riding in cars with boys. Mostly, I’m trouble. On the topic of treats: Once I was mad for Beggin Strips. But through the years, my palate has matured, and I am a slave to vodka cocktails. Ketel One Cucumber Vodka with a zero-calorie citrus mixer. Refreshing and kind to my waistline. ISSUE NO. 12 79
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Upcoming Events For Our Members *Taken from our Calendar of Events All events will be posted on The International Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Reading Nation Facebook page and on Kathy L. Murphy's YouTube Channel. We encourage everyone to join us live in 2021. Each event is an opportunity to show support, share stories, and make connections! Join Kathy L. Murphy and Robert Gwaltney every Saturday at 6:30pm CST for The Pulpwood Queen Book to Film Club. Links to join are posted on our private PQ Facebook groups under Events.
Guest Host schedule for The Pulpwood Queen Presents Her Picks: Jan 31st – 6th Cheryl Grey Bostrom, Sugar Birds Feb 8th – 13th Wondra Chang, Sonju: A Novel Feb 14th – 20th Kathryn Brown Ramsperger, The Shores of Our Souls: A Novel Feb 21st – 27th River Jordan, Sugar Baby and Other Stories FEBRUARY 2022 80
READING NATION MAGAZINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Featured Author Schedule for Tuesday Night Online Book Club Links to join are posted on our private PQ Facebook groups under Events. Feb 1st
Cheryl Grey Bostrom
Feb 8th
Wondra Chang
Feb 15th
Kathryn Brown Ramsperger
Feb 22nd River Jordan
Writing Workshop (2nd Saturday of each month at 10am CST) Email Kathy L. Murphy thepulpwoodqueen@gmail.com for the link up to one hour prior to the event. February 12th Janet Oakley Award-winning author J.L. Oakley writes historical fiction that spans the mid-19th century to WW II with characters standing up for something in their own time and place. Her writing has been recognized with a 2013 Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award, Goethe Grand Prize, the 2018 Will Rogers Silver Medallion, two WILLA Silver Awards and the 2020 Military Writers Society of America Silver. When not writing, she demonstrates 19th century folkways, gardens and weaves. ISSUE NO. 12 81
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Tuesday, February 8th, Kathy L. Murphy will be featured on Adriana Trigiani's Book Club, Adriana Ink, at 5:00 p.m. CST to announce a NEW reading initiative.
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February 12, Kathy L. Murphy and Stephanie Chance will have a book signing for The International Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys 2022 January Book of the Month - Work in Progress, an anthology of 59 authors edited by Mandy Haynes, foreword by author Leslie Lehr, afterword by Jonathan Haupt. They invite any author featured in the book to join them if you're in the area. The event starts at 1:00 p.m. CST at Stephanie Chance's Decorate Ornate in Gladewater, Texas. Kathy L. Murphy's recent artwork is on exhibition and both authors will have their other books on hand to be purchased and autographed too.
“If you love good stories come on out!”
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Pat Conroy Literary Center 601 Bladen Street Beaufort, SC 29902 Thursday through Sunday noon-4:00 p.m. Other times available by appointment
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Details and registration options are now posted HERE.
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READING NATION MAGAZINE EVENTS TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 AT 5 PM – 6 PM
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If you’re a member of the International Pulpwood Queen or Timber Guy Book Club and have a story you’d like to share in the READING NATION MAGAZINE, I’d love to hear it. Book Club Reader Members that includes you! FEBRUARY 2022 90
READING NATION MAGAZINE FYI
We love our readers and you will always have a place in the magazine to share your news. I’m looking for pets to feature on our If Our Pets Could Talk page, authors’ art, photos of your local bookstores, and libraries.
As of January 29th Reading Nation Magazine has received a total of 67, 998 views! PQ & TG authors - standard pages to advertise your books are only $50 and go down when you purchase more than one that includes customized graphics that are shared with 12K readers over several social media sites. Just one of the benefits of being a Pulpwood Queen or Timber Guy Book Club Author. If you’d like more information on advertising opportunities or how to submit your stories send an email to readingnationmagazine@gmail.com
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READING NATION MAGAZINE PQ SWAG SHOP
Looking for some fun gifts for yourself or a book-lover in your life? Visit the New Swag Shop ISSUE NO. 12 93
THE INTERNATIONAL PULPWOOD QUEEN AND TIMBER GUY BOOK CLUB
Each year, the members of the The International Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Book Club vote on their favorites. I’m very excited to introduce you to the winners of 2021 Books of the Year! Judithe Little and Kathleen Rodgers tied for the 2021 Official Pick of the Year! Janet Oakley won the award for 2021 International Book of the Year! And I’m still over the moon excited that Mandy Haynes (that’s me!) won the 2021 Bonus Book of the Year.
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The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little A USA Today and Globe and Mail bestseller! A novel of survival, love, loss, triumph--and the sisters who changed fashion forever Antoinette and Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel know they're destined for something better. Abandoned by their family at a young age, they've grown up under the guidance of nuns preparing them for simple lives as the wives of tradesmen or shopkeepers. At night, their secret stash of romantic novels and magazine cutouts beneath the floorboards are all they have to keep their dreams of the future alive. The walls of the convent can't shield them forever, and when they're finally of age, the Chanel sisters set out together with a fierce determination to prove themselves worthy to a society that has never accepted them. Their journey propels them out of poverty and to the stylish cafés of Moulins, the dazzling performance halls of Vichy--and to a small hat shop on the rue Cambon in Paris, where a boutique business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns. ISSUE NO. 12 97
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The Flying Cutterbucks by Kathleen M. Rodgers 2021 WILLA Literary Award Finalist in Contemporary Fiction Decades ago, Trudy, Georgia, and Aunt Star formed a code of silence to protect each other from an abusive man who terrorized their family. One act of solidarity long ago lives with them still. With the election of a president who brags about groping women without their consent, old wounds and deep secrets come alive again, forcing hard truths to be told and even harder truths to be left to the dead. On the outskirts of Pardon, New Mexico, Trudy returns to her mother, Jewel, to navigate an old house filled with haunting mementos of her father who went missing in action over North Vietnam. As she helps her mother sift through the memories and finally lay her father to rest, Trudy will do her own soul searching to say goodbye to the dead, and find her way along with the other women in her family, and through the next election. FEBRUARY 2022 98
READING NATION MAGAZINE 2021 BOOKS OF THE YEAR
The Quisling Factor by J. L. Oakley Treason. Espionage. Revenge. In the aftermath of WWII, exintelligence agent Tore Haugland tries to adjust to life in his newly freed country with the woman he loves. But he still has to testify against a Norwegian traitor -- one of the monsters of the German occupation -- whom he helped to capture. When mysterious notes threaten Haugland and his family, he must choose between protecting them or bringing to justice the man who tortured him and destroyed the village that hid him. Challenged by injuries and recurring nightmares, he will have to rely on his former training and old Resistance friends to rescue his wife from the traitor who will do anything to keep Haugland from testifying.
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Sharp as a Serpent's Tooth: Eva and Other Stories by Mandy Haynes You'll meet Eva, the young daughter of traveling Pentecostal preachers, who catches snakes while her parents hide behind the bible and a large wooden crate. Eva's life changes when she makes her first friend and realizes there is more to life than fear. In Plans for Sweet Lorraine, you'll meet Lorraine's mama, Cordelia - a fiery red-head with a temper to match, and a mind as sharp as the sting from a leather strap. She'll do anything to keep her daughter safe. Even if she has to beat the devil himself. Junebug Fischer is ready to set the record straight and let you know what really happened the summer she turned fifteen. It's true, she killed someone, but she never killed nobody on purpose. That was purely accidental. You’ll also meet Charlotte, Cory, and Laurel. Mamas, daughters, aunts, and nieces - with a few snake handling, sweet talking, moonshine drinking, preachers thrown in for good measure. FEBRUARY 2022 100
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