Before She Was the Queen Helen Thompson

Thank you Brother Mockingbird Publishing for letting us share some stories!

Before She Was the Queen Helen Thompson

“Part book club meeting, part costume party, part come as-you-are, the Pulpwood Queens annual Girlfriend Weekend is an extravaganza none who've ever attended will forget. This 20th anniversary commemorative book is like Girlfriend Weekend itself--a warm, wise, tender celebration of friends, reading, and all the ways books bring us together.” --Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

Kathy L. Murphy and I go back to a time before she was the adored leader of the largest book club in the world.

Thirty years ago, Kathy was a bookseller for Barron’s Books in Longview, Texas. Barron’s was, hands down, my favorite bookstore, and Kathy quickly became one of my favorite people. I remember the first time I asked her for a book suggestion and she handed me Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons. I absolutely loved that book and came to love Kathy Murphy for her book suggestions and, most of all, for her friendship.

Kathy helped me choose books for our new little library at Chapel Hill Independent School District based in Mount

Pleasant, Texas. She brought big-time authors to our tiny school. Kimberly Willis Holt won the National Book Award the week she spoke at Chapel Hill. It didn’t matter how small our school was, Kathy brought authors because she knew the kids loved them.

Our Pulpwood Queens group originally met in the school library. When I retired and opened a deli, the book club moved with me. Then a public library job became available and we all moved once again. Over the years members have come and gone, but Kathy and her dream behind a book club where everyone belonged remained.

For years our group has laughed and cried together and hotly debated the merits of each book. While we’ve loved most of the choices, we have sometimes wondered what possessed Kathy when she chose certain books. Great or not-so-great, we’ve discussed them all.

Girlfriend Weekend is the highlight of the Pulpwood Queens’ year. We all gather to listen to our favorite authors and to visit with Kathy. Every year the programs get better and every year Kathy shines!

I am always amazed at the number and quality of authors who assemble to visit with us. It’s like a huge family reunion and Kathy is there as our matriarch.

Thank you, Kathy, for many years of friendship and fun.

Through the good times and the bad, you’ve been there for us all. Long live the Queen!