TBIB - grace grits and gardening

My 1,000th Blog Post: GIVEAWAY and book signing NEWS!

February 6, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

News and a Giveaway: Today marks my 1,000th blog post. That’s so crazy to me. I wrote my first post in January 2012 while sitting at the Osceola Public Library. I had recently left my Dallas banking job and was thinking about writing a book. And just so you know, there’s lots of “thinking about writing a book” that occurs before the book actually gets written.

Fast forward to today. I was already planning to blog about my upcoming book signing at That Bookstore in Blytheville when I noticed that yesterday’s play dough post was #999. What perfect serendipity. My #1,000th blog post should be about the book I was “thinking about writing” back when I wrote post #1. So perfect, in fact, that I’ve decided to celebrate with a giveaway. Details of the giveaway can be found at the bottom of this post, but first…

If you live in Northeast Arkansas, the bootheel of Missouri, or simply think the time has come for a road trip, consider attending my first official book event at That Bookstore in Blytheville scheduled for Saturday, February 13 at 1:00. I hope to see lots of school friends, family, teachers, blog readers, people I’ve never met but who know Momma, and complete strangers who will soon become fast friends (I feel certain). Don’t expect a typical book reading. Expect more.Continue Reading

That Bookstore in Blytheville – New Owner!

October 7, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

Have you been to That Bookstore in Blytheville (TBIB) lately?

In 1976, Mary Gay Shipley opened That Bookstore on Main Street in Blytheville, Arkansas, as a place to swap one stack of used paperbacks for another stack of ‘un-read’ paperbacks. Only a little hole in the wall, Mary Gay nurtured and grew her bookstore, which eventually attracted New York Times best-selling authors to her little spot along the Arkansas Delta Byways.

When she announced her retirement, I worried. I don’t like change, especially when books are involved.

I am happy to report I still love it. The new owner of TBIB, Grant Hill, is book knowledgeable and friendly. He humored me as I ‘practiced’ being on book tour.

See? Here I am pretending to be at my very first book signing. The picture is blurry because I’m too excited to be still.

My friend Harold says I’m the only person he’s ever heard of who promotes a book yet to be published. So? I’m just extreme vision boarding…

TBIB dedicates rows of shelving to regional books by local authors. There are many. I stared at the books lining this section and pictured copies of my book stacked right beside Reflections from the Black Lagoon by Julie Adams. (Julie, from Blytheville, was the Creature’s bathing beauty…)

Grace Grits candle posing at TBIB in front of Julie Adam’s Creature book…:)

If you live or travel anywhere in Northeast Arkansas or the bootheel of Missouri, be sure to stop by TBIB and buy a few great books (or a whole stack like my mother and I did). And be sure to follow TBIB on Facebook and Twitter. Wherever you live, go out today and support your local independent bookstore.

Now, I need to find a publisher…

talya

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

change of scenery

September 1, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

A change of scenery is good for the soul. Stirs the brain cells. Left brain-right brain stuff. A different view of life, a new place to write. Varying sounds and smells.

Today I am writing from Nightbird Books in Fayetteville. LoveThisPlace. Almost as much as That Bookstore in Blytheville.

From my spot at the window…

I see the bustle of Dickson Street decorated with Razorback red light post flags welcoming Hog fans to the first game of the season…

I hear the chirp and chatter of tiny yellow birds in the aviary beside my table…

I smell books. Volumes and volumes of new books, unread, unmarked, perfect. Arranged like art. As exciting as Christian Louboutin pumps at Nordstroms to some women.

I taste fresh brewed coffee in my cup, black, strong, smooth.

I feel at home.

talya

Musical Pairings

Knee Deep – Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett

I have wanted you to see out of my eyes so many times. – Elizabeth Berg