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“The Woods”

February 26, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

The Woods - The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee

“The Woods” provided mystery. “The only patch of woods in our flat world of cotton and soybean fields passed the window in a dark blur.” Kids see the world through creative and colorful lenses, their imaginations pushed to high gear. If you’ve read my book, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, you know about this particular stand of trees. Gracie Lee and her little sister, Abby, studied the woods from the back seat of Momma’s car each time they traveled to and from Boon Chapel—at a minimum, twice on Sunday.

Any place unusual in the Delta was considered interesting and worthy of extra thought and usually given a special name such as Thrill Hill or Dead Man’s Curve or Blue Hole.

But especially The Woods.Continue Reading

Lucy and Annabelle go to Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen

February 25, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

Lucy and Annabelle go to Zuppa Zuppa Soup

Last Saturday, Lucy and Annabelle went to Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen. The spring-like weather had all of us headed outside, and besides, Ann Harris, owner of Zuppa Zuppa, was introducing a soup in honor of Gracie Lee—Amazing Gracie Chicken and Dumplings!

A Gracie Lee favorite, for sure.

Since Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen is one of the food trucks at the Yacht Club on College, I thought it would be perfect for Lucy and Annabelle. Casual. Outside. Pet friendly. Sounds good on paper, right?Continue Reading

Accidental Cinderella…

February 23, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

Thursday night I felt like Cinderella. Accidental Cinderella.

Confession: I’m no fashion plate. I normally wear Converse tennis shoes and logo t-shirts, and my favorite jeans have patches on the knees. BUT, Thursday night, I got dressed up (for me), added extra eye liner (which may have been a mistake), and even wore a bejeweled necklace on loan from Vintage Cargo. Stan and Jeff, owners of Vintage Cargo, evidently worried I wouldn’t clean up sufficiently for my Fayetteville book signing.

So they loaned me this gorgeous piece…

necklace from Vintage Cargo

I mean seriously. Isn’t loaning jewelry an Oscar night sort of thing?

I felt like Cinderella.

I wore cute shoes.

And it was a great night.Continue Reading

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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 (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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