This year’s event theme was “Take it to the limit”<\/p>\n

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(Shown above, L to R, starting top left: PQGW featured authors as lumberjacks; Texas author Denise Ditto and her Tooth Collector Fairies books; The Pulpwood Queens Celebrate 20 Years; author Johnnie Bernhard and LSLL owner Kristine Hall; Kristine and authors Reavis Wortham and Pamela Fagan Hutchins (dressed for the Dolly Parton look-alike contest); Texas authors Judithe Little and Anne Weisgarber with Kristine; Texas authors Marjorie Lewis and Julie Kibler with Pulpwood Queen founder Kathy Murphy, and Kristine; tDoug Marlette Award winner Jonathan Haupt and Kathy Murphy) <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The world’s largest book club celebrated its twentieth anniversary, January16-18, 2020, in Jefferson, Texas, and Lone Star Literary Life’s Kristine Hall was there to soak it in.  The Pulpwood Queen Book Club, started in 2000 by artist and author Kathy Murphy, has grown to over 780 chapters across the U.S. and fifteen other countries.  The annual Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend, is a chance for members to come together and not only meet and greet with many of the authors of the club’s book selections, but to raise money for worthy causes including the Jefferson Lion’s Club, the Jesse Allen Wise Garden Club of Jefferson, and the Pat Conroy Literary Center. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The event began Thursday evening with a tribute to Tiajuana Anderson Neel, the former Executive Directof of the Pulpwood Queen Book Club, who died unexpectedly in April of 2019. Keynote speakers were authors Mark Green and Layng Martine, Jr., who were followed by the introduction of several of the Pulpwood Queen Tiajuana Anderson Neel Scholarship winners. The schedules for Friday and Saturday included a number of keynote speakers, including the event’s co-host, bestselling author Reavis Wortham.  Additionally, there were eight panels filled with nearly forty celebrated authors — many of them Texas authors. Sprinkled between the panels were opportunities for autographs and photos, or to shop from a variety of vendors and buy books from the on-site official bookstore vendor, Houston’s Murder by the Book. Other activities included a Dolly Parton look-alike contest, a historical dress fashion show, the Authors’ Dinner, where featured authors dressed as lumberjacks and waited attendees’ tables, and the culminating event, the Great Big Ball of Hair “Take It To The Limit” Ball. (For the complete 2020 program, click here<\/a>.)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The weekend revolves around the members’ love of books and especially getting to know the books and authors who are included in the year’s book club selections.  The 2020 Pulpwood Queen Book Club Selections are:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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JANUARY 2020 BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nThe Pulpwood Queens Celebrate 20 Years<\/em> edited by Susan Cushman
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nHawke’s Target<\/em> by Reavis Z. Wortham, of Sonny Hawke Thriller Series
\nWhat Would Dolly Do<\/em>? by Lauren Marino
\nFrom Cinderella to CEO: How to Master the 10 Lessons of Fairy Tales To Transform Your Work Life<\/em> by Cary J. Broussard
\nPermission to Fly<\/em> by Layng Martine, Jr.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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FEBRUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nHome for Erring and Outcast Girls<\/em><\/a> <\/strong>by Julie Kibler
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nBeyond the Book Club<\/em> by Ruthie Landis
\nNovel Woman by Between Friends Book Club<\/em> by Kim Harwanto
\nMade to Win:<\/em> Serial Entrepreneur Jim Markham’s Secret Formula to Success<\/em> by Jim Markham and Echo Garrett
\nTiny Love: The Complete Stories of Larry Brown<\/em> with Foreward by Jonathan Miles<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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MARCH BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nThe Ghosts of Eden Park<\/em> by Karen Abbott
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nLive Wire<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
\nChasing Cleopatra <\/em>by Tina Sloan
\nThe Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton<\/em> by Richard Fifield
\nBlackwood: A Novel<\/em> by Michael Farris Smith<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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APRIL BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nFriends of the Library <\/em>by Susan Cushman
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nWhat We Set in Motion<\/em> by Stephanie Austin Edwards
\nWhat Lies Ahead: A Fireside Texas Novel<\/em> by Marci Henna<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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MAY BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nQueen of the Owls<\/em> by Barbara Linn Probst<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nWalking The Wrong Way Home<\/em> by Mandy Hayes
\nThe Hollows: A Novel<\/em> by Jess Montgomery
\nStockade Bay and Killer of Cimarron Social Club <\/em>by Jennifer Mueller<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nTell Me a Story: My Life with Pat Conroy<\/em> by Cassandra King Conroy
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nA Blessed Life: One World War II Seabee’s Story<\/em> by Tamra Bolton
\nCoconut Island, Volcano House, Hilina Pali<\/em> by Janet Oakley of Hilo Bay Mystery Series
\nHusbands and Other Sharp Objects<\/em> and Lift and Separate<\/em> by Marilyn Simon Rothstein<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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JULY BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nBefore and After: Orphans Who Surround the Tennessee Children’s Home<\/em> by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nFalling Up in the City of Angels<\/em> by Connor Judson Garrett
\nThe True Story of the Murder and Crime that Wasn’t <\/em>by Edward Humes
\nGrand Slam Murders<\/em> by R. J. Lee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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AUGUST BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nLittle Tea: A Novel by Claire Fullerton<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nClover Blue<\/em> and This I Know <\/em>by Eldonna Edwards
\nThe Gumbeaux Sistahs: A Novel<\/em> by Jax Frey
\nMy Sweet Vidalia<\/em> by <\/span>Deborah Mantella<\/span><\/a>
\nFreedom Lessons: A Novel<\/em> by Eileen Harrison <\/span>Eileen Sanchez<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nDragonfly<\/em><\/a><\/strong> by Leila Meacham<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\nSisters of the Undertow<\/em> by Johnnie Bernhard
\nWhen Never Comes<\/em> by Barbara Davis
\nGoing to Solace<\/em> by Amanda McTigue
\nTil Health Us Do Part <\/em>by Julie <\/span>Louise Rooney<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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OCTOBER BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nAmerican Dirt <\/em>by Jeanine Cummins
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nTrouble the Water<\/em> by Rebecca Dwight Bruff
\nA Veil Removed: A Henryetta Inspector Howell Novel Series<\/em> by Michelle Cox
\nThe Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires<\/em> by Grady Hendrix
\nEther <\/em>by Bobbie Rooney <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Jade Academ<\/em>y by Scott Boyers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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NOVEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nThe Chanel Sisters <\/em>by Judithe Little
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nMax Attacks<\/em><\/a><\/strong> and Angel Thieves<\/em><\/a> <\/strong>by Kathi Appelt
\nBack Home<\/em> by Bev Marshall
\nGardenia Duty: A Novel<\/em> by Kathleen Varn
\nGrandparenting: Renew, Relive, Rejoice<\/em> by Pam Seigel and Nancy Zeiberg
\nThe Book Woman of Troublesome Creek<\/em> by Kim Michele Richardson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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DECEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH<\/strong>
\nMamma Mia! Sinners, Saints & Escapades<\/em> by Stephanie Chance
\nBonus Books of the Month:<\/strong>
\nCity of Peace: A Novel<\/em> by Henry Briton
\nLouisiana Night Before Christmas<\/em> by Rickey E. Pittman
\nFinding Deep and Wide<\/em> by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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For more information about the Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend or joining the Pulpwood Queen Book Club, visit the website: <\/span>https:\/\/www.thepulpwoodqueens.com\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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