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Gracie Lee’s Anniversary and a fab GIVEAWAY!

January 26, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner 31 Comments

Gracie Lee's Anniversary! One year later...

It’s Gracie Lee’s anniversary!

Today marks the one year anniversary of the release of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. To those of you who are still with me on this journey (and if you’re reading, I suppose you are), a humongous thank you all the way from the bottom of my heart.

Gracie Lee Anniversary

No really.

THANK YOU.

On Gracie Lee’s anniversary, the book is selling well and may even be picking up steam. That’s a cool thing, especially for a first-time author one year later. And I have you to thank for it. Because when you tell a friend about it or write a review or post something on Facebook, the buzz builds little by little.

Of course, we must celebrate. Right?

Celebrate = cool GIVEAWAY! (Woodworx Workshop is sponsoring this giveaway, but all opinions are my own.)

But first, a few thoughts on the year.

One year later, I have lots to say about the experience. Being an author is definitely not all glamorous. I’m not gonna lie—things have happened along the way that made me wonder if I was on the right path. Yup. If you want to feel all the things, put your first book out into the world for anyone and everyone or no one to ponder. But I’m happy to say, one year later, I realize the parts that gave me the greatest joy are well worth the angst involved. And bottom line, the thing I want more than anything is for someone to read my words. Lots of someones. And I want those someones to relate and take something away.

Is that asking too much?

I realize one year later, the best part of the entire experience is what’s wrapped around the book. What the book allowed. For me and those who read it.

It’s about the connections made, the people I’ve met and somehow touched. It’s about making new friends through commonality and realizing we are all so much alike.

It’s about reconnecting with old friends. It’s about starting a conversation with a total stranger. Conversations about social issues in the 70s that are so timely today. It’s about the hard-working farmer who feels pressure from all directions every day. And the farmer’s wife who softens life’s edges as best she can.

It’s about the land. Seasons. Carving a life truly by the sweat of the brow.

It’s about being a young girl with no voice but speaking up anyway.

It’s about the joy we still feel when we hear old church hymns played on an upright piano or see a combine in the field or taste Nana’s strawberry cake.

It’s about not taking things at face value.

It’s about life around the kitchen table and on the front porch and between rows of cotton when the sun is so hot it burns the part in your hair.

It’s about the writing and storytelling and doing something fulfilling that provides contentment while losing track of time. Forgetting to eat. Forgetting to bring the mail in three days in a row.

It’s about saying yes and finding your voice. Finally.

And y’all, I’ve received so many priceless cards, handwritten letters, and emails from readers I’ve never met. So unexpected and cherished!

Readers say: about The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee

This time last year…

Oh my goodness. I was excited and nervous and had no idea what to expect. Leading up to book release, I wrote lots and lots of blog posts to introduce the world to Gracie Lee. If you’re new to my blog and haven’t read the book yet, or you’d just like to take a trip down memory lane, I’ve included links to a few of my favorites below. (Based on the titles of these blog posts, maybe I should write an entire middle school series starring Gracie Lee?)

Meet Gracie Lee
Gracie Lee & the Fortune Teller
Boo! What Would Gracie Lee Do?
Gracie Lee’s Favorite Strawberry Cupcakes
Silly Putty Dreams
Gracie Lee’s Spaceship Squash
The Eudora Welty Connection
One Book, Two Book, Accidental Survey

Be Like Gracie Lee
The “Woods”
About the Setting
Book Launch Eve
Recipe for a Delicious Book Launch
The Question I Get Asked Most

The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee by Talya Tate Boerner

Calling all Gracie Lee Fans!

There are still a ton of folks who haven’t met Gracie Lee. So how can you spread the love? 

  • If you’re a fan of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, tell someone.
  • If you haven’t done a review on Amazon or Goodreads or Barnes & Noble, write one.
  • Follow my Author Facebook page and invite your friends to like it.
  • Share this post on your Facebook Timeline.
  • Pin the post pictures to Pinterest.
  • If you haven’t read The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee yet, add it to your Goodreads bookshelf.
  • Better yet, buy the book and read it. ?
  • Post a picture of your copy of Accidental Salvation on Instagram with #RWBookClub —can’t hurt!—and tag me @gracegrits
  • Are you in a book club? Hey, I love book clubs:)
  • Ask your local library to carry it.
  • Share my tweets.
  • Come to an event.
  • Enter my giveaway below!

Now for the GIVEAWAY.

You deserve a giveaway for making it this far.

I’m pumped to collaborate with local Fayetteville wood artisan, Jake Lewis, owner of Woodworx Workshop. To celebrate Gracie Lee’s anniversary, we are giving away one of his very cool, one-of-a-kind, wood art pieces!

If you are the lucky winner, you’ll receive your choice of the following: Butterfly, Flutter By (8″ x 7″) or I Heart Arkansas (9″x8″). Lewis’s work is locally handcrafted and not found at big box shops. Be sure to check out the company website linked above and follow all his links below. You’re gonna be impressed.

Grace Grits Giveaway for One Year Book Anniversary!

Woodworx: Twitter; Instagram; Facebook


Woodworx
pieces are so fun and creative made from reclaimed materials and scrap wood. Doesn’t this fit perfectly with The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee? With life in general? Because if you think about it, we are all fashioned from the bits and pieces we take away from our parents and teachers, our surroundings, the things we read and see—and nothing is wasted, everything valuable.

Deep, I know.

Next week (or sometime soon), I plan to offer up some practical insights I’ve gained about the actual writing, publishing, marketing, so you want to be an author topic. The good and the not so good. But for today, again, thank you readers.

This giveaway lasts until Valentine’s Day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[tweetthis]Happy anniversary to The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee! @Woodworx789 @amazonbooks #ad #GIVEAWAY #bookboost #win[/tweetthis]

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:
Asia Victoria Stuck In The South

 

Filed Under: Reading & Books, Writing Tagged With: Author life, book signings, giveaway, local artisans, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, Woodworx Woodshop, writing a book

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Comments

  1. Georgeanne @ Southern Fried Soprano says

    January 26, 2017 at 7:45 am

    Happy birthday, Gracie! Such an important milestone. Congratulations, Talya!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 27, 2017 at 6:36 am

      Thank you, Georgeanne!

      Reply
  2. Barbara Tat says

    January 26, 2017 at 7:49 am

    I have really, really, really enjoyed this year with Gracie. Happy birthday Gracie Lee.

    Reply
  3. Colene says

    January 26, 2017 at 8:12 am

    You’ve come a long way Gracie and it has been a joy being along for the ride! Happy anniversary and congratulations for a successful, exciting, and fun filled hard working year (years)!

    Reply
  4. Frances Creecy says

    January 26, 2017 at 8:22 am

    Happy Birthday Gracie Lee, I have enjoyed following you this past year just keep up the good work. Congratulations Talya.

    Reply
  5. Kathy Hess says

    January 26, 2017 at 8:35 am

    Happy birthday Gracie Lee!!

    Reply
  6. Jamie Davis Hicks says

    January 26, 2017 at 8:37 am

    It was great reliving the memories of “Boon Chapel” with Gracie Lee. I find myself remembering the days of yesteryear more and more. I often found myself smiling while reading to the point my granddaughters asked what was funny! Happy birthday Gracie Lee!! Much continued success Talya. Thanks for bringing back my favorite memories of that little white church and our awesome Christmas programs!!!

    Reply
  7. Tammy Henard says

    January 26, 2017 at 10:08 am

    Happy Birthday! I’m actually fixing to read “The Salvation of Gracie Lee” again. It is so amazing how much the story mirrors mine and what our family dealt with during the same time period. Wishing you and Gracie Lee another successful year!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 27, 2017 at 7:47 am

      I love hearing this! Thank you!

      Reply
  8. cathyv says

    January 26, 2017 at 11:27 am

    It took me back to those days when I had QUESTIONS that no one wanted to answer!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 27, 2017 at 7:47 am

      Thank you! I’m glad you could relate.

      Reply
  9. Martha Orlando says

    January 26, 2017 at 4:59 pm

    Happy Birthday, Gracie Lee! I’m so glad you came into my life a year ago today. What joy you gave me as I read your story, so beautifully told by Miss Talya. I will be sure to leave a review on Amazon, and link to the Facebook page. If you’d like to link to mine, please do!
    http://www.facebook.com/nantahala55
    I think you will love the stories you find!

    Reply
  10. Dorothy Johnson says

    January 27, 2017 at 10:53 am

    I’m so happy for you and Gracie Lee’s journey over the past year. I look forward to that next book.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 28, 2017 at 7:29 am

      Thanks, Dorothy! I’m looking forward to yours!

      Reply
  11. shirley says

    January 27, 2017 at 9:41 pm

    I am sorry I have not read yet, it is now on my to read list.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 28, 2017 at 7:28 am

      I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  12. Margaret S Porter says

    January 30, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    I have it on my wish list

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 31, 2017 at 7:38 am

      I’m so glad, Margaret! Thank you.

      Reply
  13. michelle stpierre says

    January 31, 2017 at 12:20 am

    I love it all!! Thank you for sharing, I have read your journey since you started.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 31, 2017 at 7:37 am

      Awww, thank you Michelle!

      Reply
  14. Denise Northcutt says

    February 1, 2017 at 10:02 am

    Happy Birthday Gracie Lee!

    Reply
  15. Chrisy Beason says

    February 2, 2017 at 2:52 am

    You have a nice site

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 3, 2017 at 7:38 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  16. Beth Macre says

    February 2, 2017 at 12:04 pm

    I love that Gracie Lee grew up in NE Arkansas! I didn’t grow up in NEA, but I did live there for 32 years of my adult life! I have also enjoyed following your journey the past year and becoming friends with you! I look forward to your next book!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 4, 2017 at 3:32 pm

      Thank you, Beth. I love that you can relate to NEArkansas. It’s like we have our own club.

      Reply
  17. Julie Waldron says

    February 4, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    I haven’t read the book but I read the review on Amazon. Gracie reminds me a lot of myself, she sounds like a worrier and so am I. It sounds like a wonderful book that I’d like to share with my daughters.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 4, 2017 at 3:32 pm

      Oh yes, Gracie is a worrier (and so was I). If you decide to read it, I hope you’ll let me know what you think. Thank you!

      Reply
  18. Gabrielly says

    February 12, 2017 at 9:12 am

    Happy birthday Gracie Lee.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  19. janet m says

    February 13, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    love your giveaway and your site:)

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 14, 2017 at 6:31 am

      Thank you!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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