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AWBU: my conference takeaway

September 4, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

Hot Springs, Ar

I returned home from Arkansas Women Blogger University (AWBU) with thoughts enough to fill ten blog posts. I scribbled ideas in my journal and attempted to reduce the weekend down to one key conference takeaway. Beyond the connections made and information absorbed and enjoyable time spent with like-minded bloggers, what was the primary benefit for me?

Everyone arrived at The Arlington Resort Hotel with different goals, different experience levels, different expectations. We attended the same educational classes, heard inspirational speakers and packed over 10,000 rice meals for the hungry (a definite highlight facilitated by The Pack Shack and Wells Fargo Advisors which you can read about HERE and HERE). We each left with more swag than anyone could imagine—thank you generous sponsors!

AWBU Sponsors for 2015
After spending a weekend together, I imagine we all took something slightly different home.Continue Reading

Just a quick post ~ ~ ~

August 28, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

Arkansas Women Bloggers - conference time!

Hi, y’all. Just a quick post to let you know I’m hanging in Hot Springs this weekend with my Arkansas Women Blogger friends. This is the fifth annual Arkansas Women Blogger University (my third), and I’m excited to serve as hostess of the Foodie Friday event this afternoon. I get to wear a cute apron all day.❤Continue Reading

I have a publisher!

August 9, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

I have the best news! And if it’s possible to truly walk on sunshine, I’m doing it. Yesterday, I signed a publishing contract with SYP Publishing, a Florida press that specializes in southern authors. Someone pinch me. I have a publisher.

I have a publisher!!!

I love the way those four little words feel in my mouth and melt on the tip of my tongue like old-fashioned butter mints, the sort served in a crystal compote at baby showers and weddings.

Know the mints I mean?

♫♫ Wonderful feeling, wonderful day! ♪♫

I plan to enjoy the floating-on-cloud-nine-feeling for as long as it lasts. And, yes, the clichés are flowing in this post, but I can’t help myself. The air is light, the sun is bright, and the view is brilliant.

I'm floating on a cloud!

Right this very second, I want to thank every single person who reads my writing (on-line and print) at Grace Grits, Front Porch Magazine, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Blog, OnlyinArkansas(dot)com and wherever else I am lucky enough to finagle an article. I am especially grateful to those who stop me in Wal-Mart or tell my Momma at church how much they enjoy my writing. This often keeps me going, and having a following, however modest, has helped me obtain a publishing contract. I truly believe this.

I'm grateful!

More coming on this later, but for now, I have a publisher, and it feels like one of those Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah days!

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

And p.s. this is for the publication of my first novel…might help if I told you that:)

[tweetthis]Oh my stars, I have a publisher! @SYPPublishing @BookPeople @nightbirdbooks #AccidentalSalvationOfGracieLee [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (original)

Youtube video

 

 

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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 (2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: September 6, 2026
  • Why a Rainy Day Is the Best Time to Visit a Botanical Garden
  • Happy Birthday, Theo Gruene!
  • Sunday Letter~ 05.17.26
  • Sunday Letter: 03.29.26

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

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