Paulina herself was poised, intelligent and kind. I couldn’t help but like her. She was stunning and spoke of her book A MODEL SUMMER in an endearing, honest manner. However, I was a bit surprised to see how the event seemed to be so focused on her, considering that there were many other esteemed authors present who didn’t seem to get much play time. Much to their credit, if this bothered any of the writers, they didn’t show it in the least. Also, Paulina was extremely gracious.

I was prepared to find Andrea Portes to be full of herself, given her recent HICK success and general cool-girl status. Nothing could be further from the truth. Apparently, she was stranded in the Shreveport airport, hitched a ride into town, walked into the local watering hole and said, “Where are all the book people?” Luckily, someone’s relative was there who directed her two blocks away to the opening “author welcome” party. I, also, noticed that she seemed much more friendly and genuine with the Jefferson locals than the other out-of-towners, who were more standoffish.

Particularly amusing was the night of the Ball of Hair, when Geoffrey M. Gluckman (author of DEADLY EXCHANGE) ,who appeared to have been the kingpin of the Paulina entourage, donned a three-piece bright red suit, horned-rim glasses, black ear muffs and funny teeth, only to win the Timber Man dance off.

Surprisingly, all of the “girlfriends”, authors and locals alike, dressed up in full HAIRSPRAY regalia and were dancing up a storm all night. The Tyler, Texas group won the dress-up contest, beating out the particularly smashing group from Houston and the truly inspired “Aqua-net Girls”.

I was delighted to see that many of the authors dressed-up, having had their hair done at Kathy Patrick’s BEAUTY AND THE BOOK. It showed a devil-may-care spirit that one wouldn’t expect from writer-types. I’ll be buying many of their novels to show my appreciation. I am posting a list below, in the hopes that everyone will go out and buy their books immediately. Thanks, Jefferson! We had a blast!

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Buy these books asap:

Debbie Rodriguez: “Kabul Beauty School”

Paulina Porizkova: “A Model Summer”

Andrea Portes: “Hick”

Carolyn Haines: “Ham Bones (A Southern Belle Mystery)”

Kathy L. Patrick: “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life”

Cai Emmons: “The Stylist”

Kim Sunee: “Trail of Crumbs

Ellen Baker: “Keeping the House”

N. M. Kelby: “Whale Season: A Novel “

Geoffrey Gluckman: “Deady Exchange: A Novel”

Darnell Arnoult: “Of Sufficient Grace: A Novel”

Lynn York: “The Sweet Life”

Virgina Boyd: “One Fell Swoop”

Rosemary Poole-Carter: “Women of Magdalene”

Rickey Pittman: “Black Orphan in the Confederate White House”

Janis Owens: “The Schooling of Claybird Catts”

Michael Lee West: “Mermaids in the Basement”

Robert Dalby: “Kissing Babies at the Piggly Wiggly”

River Jordan: “The Messenger of Magnolia Street”

Denise Hildreth: “The Will of Wisteria”

Jimmie Ruth Evans: “Bring Your Own Poison”

Judy Larsen of “All the Numbers: A Novel”