The Pulpwood Queens Talks of AHA Moments!

Today’s blog I wish to discuss those AHA moments. That was a new phrase for me back years and years ago when I first began writing “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life” published by Grand Central Publishing My literary agent, Marly Rusoff of Marly Rusoff and Associates in New Yor, who gave me the title for my book on my memoir on how books saved me and why on was on a mission to get everybody reading, asked me to write of AHA moments when writing my book. “What is that?” I asked. To paraphrase her she just told me to write the stories of those epic changing points and importance in my life. So I did and I am now writing on those AHA moments in writing the sequel, “The Pulpwood Queen Goes Back to School”. I have always said that all the lessons I have learned through my life were from my mistakes and failures but which I now call discoveries. But since that first book, I have really started to pay attention to those AHA moments. I have also learned that you can never move forward without those discoveries, take risks and learn that those will make you a better person. I have been listening and learning but sometimes we forget, it’s human nature. Then last night..

I had been waiting to go see the film, “Same Kind of Different as Me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore as it was a past Official Pulpwood Queen Book Club Selection. I never saw it come to a theater near me and so sad as this is a life-changing film, but an even better book. So much to my delight and surprise, there is was, finally for purchase to watch on Amazon Prime video. I made the click and sat back to watch.

The special movie edition of “Same Kind Of Different As Me” is on-sale now! The New York Times bestselling book that inspired millions across the world… a true story of unexpected, life-changing love.

Learn more & get your copy:www.SameKindOfDifferentAsMe.com

What happened when I watched the story unfold was all the memories of reading that book for the first time came back. But before I get to my first reading I have to tell you how that book came into my hands. I was on book tour January 2008 with my tribe of Pulpwood Queens, Kay Brookshire, Jean Wright, Joyce Smith, Elizabeth Stokes, who set out with me fearlessly on the ultimate book tour. Jean ran shotgun and handled the GPS, Joyce did our morning prayer, Kay and Liz rounded out the read alouds in the spiffy Suburban that Grand Central Publishing had rented for me. We were on the ultimate road trip, 27 stops, 10 states for a month and half with Girlfriend Weekend in the middle, it was the best trip ever. A life changing trip and bonded me with these women forever, they are my tribe, as well as, my Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys authors and members. I owe them everything!

While in Nashville, a woman, wish I could remember who, came up to me in the bookstore I was about to speak and handed me a book. Wait, I better state that better, shoved a book in my hands. “You have to read this book.”. I thanked her and told her my space was limited on my tour due to the fact that I had all these women with me plus cases of my own books, 24 suitcases and boxes crammed in the back of the mega ROCK STAR platinum suburban. She would not take NO for an answer. “Take it, you have to, it will change your life.” I thank you, THANK YOU for giving me that book forever. So I took it and placed it in my evergrowing book bag.

Fast forward to months later, finally rested from the total exhaustion of the book tour on Saturday night in 2008, I opened that book to read. When you find a book so mesmerizing that you lose all sense of space and time you know you have found a story. This one was so profound and so truthful, I had almost finished when I decided I wanted to be rested to read the very end. I woke up the next morning and after brewing some seriously strong coffee, I settled in my favorite reading and writing wingback chair for the final pages. I was sucker punched. I was so caught up in the story that I began sobbing. Sobbing so much I was clutching the book and gasping for air. As I read the final page I just stared at the book. I was not sad. I was changed forever. After I got myself together I sent off a message to the author as I wanted everything to be exactly as I experienced it that morning. He quickly wrote back his phone number with a message and I called Ron Hall.

I missed church. I never missed church back then but I got lost in the story and my eyes were so red and puffy I figured if I did go somebody would think that something was very, very wrong but actually something was so right. Ron invited me to come and hear him speak in Longview as he was going to do a speaking engagement to benefit Newgate Mission, a Methodist-based homeless shelter in Longview, Texas. Because of Ron and Denver, I volunteered for a full year to lead a life writing class at that homeless shelter. And it is just as Denver had once said, the more you give the more you get. I will be forever grateful for that incredible life-changing experience. You can read all about what happened since that meeting with Ron Hall and Denver Moore in my first book. But why I am writing this today all the memories of everything that happened since I met Ron Hall had slowly dissipated. I had forgotten how I felt when I read that book. I had forgotten how I felt when I met Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Everything came back with a flood of memories. That is what books and films do for me, they take me outside of myself to help me figure out things in my life. Those are the kind of books and authors like I like to choose for my Official book club selections. They make you think about your life choices.

So below are photos of Ron Hall coming to my Girlfriend Weekend back in 2010. Him helping me do a fundraiser for my church, The First United Methodist Church of Jefferson, Texas back then. Him helping us raise the funds to provide the church with a new nursery. Danielle Woods baby, Julie now ten years later, and all the babies of my church reaped the benefits from Ron’s generous trip to speak for me to do this amazing thing.

When I asked Ron the first time I talked to him why his book wasn’t on the bestsellers list he told me that his book was published by a small publisher in 2006, Thomas Nelson, and really couldn’t afford a big marketing campaign. I went to town on that book. He called me later to tell me his book had debuted on the bestsellers list and he had sold the film rights. This was 2008 and now it is out in 2018. That’s how long it takes folks but if you truly want to help this fact and help book to film get out their sooner, YOU need to get behind the books I select and share, Share, SHARE, like this blog.

I am asking the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs to follow our truly only rule, READ the Book of the Month. Share it with friends, libraries, schools, write reviews on all the online booksellers, and we too can change the world to a better place. I believe in this book club so much. I want you to believe as much as I do that reading can change the world for the better. You never know whose lives you may touch as we all are making a big difference like Ron Hall and the late great Denver Moore. Reading can change our lives for the better. I cannot say this enough. Won’t you join my crusade for literacy at www.thepulpwoodqueens.com, click Membership at the top of the page, then click Yellow Membership button.

Ron has a new book too, I will be adding it to our 2019 up-and-coming reading list. My life is all about sharing the stories and making a truly great human connection with all of your wonderful friendships!

There is good reason that the theme for our 19th Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club Convention which we call GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND’S theme is HOW THE WEST WAS WON! Through reading folks of great books like “Same Kind of Different as Me” and “Workin’ Our Way Home” and all our fantabulous Official book club selections. To get your Pulpwood Queen package to the event, January 17 – 19th, to be held at The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center in the oldest town in Texas, historic Nacogdoches go to our Official website, www.thepulpwoodqueens.com, click Girlfriend Weekend at top of page and scroll to button.

Truly, Tiara Wearing and Book Sharing,

Kathy L. Murphy

Founder of the 750+ Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club Reading Nation

www.thepulpwoodqueens.com

Email: thepulpwoodqueen@gmail.com