Welcome to the the Wonderful World of Beauty and the Book and the Pulpwood Queens! You are now in the know on all that is happening at Beauty and the Book!
I opened my Hair Salon/Book Store January 18, 2000 and have never had so much fun in my life. Oxford American Magazine surprised me by coming to my Grand Opening of Beauty and the Book. They sent Dallas photographer, Patricia Richards, and Texas author, Carol Dawson to cover the event. They have been close friends ever since. I was so busy giving Carol an author make-over I practically missed my own Grand Opening. Patricia captured those historic moments and Carol wrote the story, “Hairdresser to the Authors” for the magazine. I have a shrine to John Grisham (he was the publisher at the time) and Oxford America for putting me on the literary map. Authors have been coming ever since and so has the media. I guess opening a hair salon/bookstore is a little out of the ordinary. To me, it’s just combining my two passions in life that I think just make good sense. We really roll out the red carpet, or should I say hot pink carpet for all the authors that grace our doors. I offer them all our hair care services. We love to treat them royally and bow to the feet of our author Kings and Queens! Then we have some amazing book signings all hosted by my Pulpwood Queen Book Club chapters.
Beauty and the Book is a bit off the beaten path but well worth the trip. We are a full service hair salon and specialize in Chi, Redken, and Paul Mitchell Products. I have two other co-stylists, which are two of my best friends, and stellar salon professionals, Marla Keith and Nelson Collier. Nelson and I both are makeup artists. Marla and I are called to Shreveport often to do celebrities hair for concerts and we have done The Go Go’s, Art Garfunkel, and my favorite party band of all time The B-52’s! We attend every beauty show and continuing education class that we can fit into our busy schedules. Besides being terrific stylists, colorists, and haircutters, Marla and Nelson are also voracious readers. Oh, it’s a wonderful world at Beauty and the Book!
I carry many unique items that are very queenly. Because Beauty and the Book is the Headquarters of The Pulpwood Queens are shelves and displays are covered with our Official Hot pink t-shirts, Girlfriend Weekend T-shirts, tiaras, rhinestone encrusted jewelry, some vintage jewelry and clothing, and other items leopardlicious!.. We even have a ostrich plumed, gilded cherubic throne for you to be seated and crowned to receive royal treatments, such as, A Day of Beauty at Beauty and the Book. We also do gift certificates and can do special custom gift packages for that special someone who would enjoy a truly special and royal gift. Many a bride and prom Queen has had her hair and make-up done at Beauty and the Book.
Stewart Cohen Pictures has even dubbed us “HOME OF THE TEXAS BIG HAIR” after doing a photo shoot for them for a gallery exhibit in Dallas. You never know who may walk through our doors and just this year from Don Henley of “The Eagles” fame to America’s favorite cowboy group, “Riders in the Sky”! And Darlings, the photo opportunities here are endless. We have three vintage turquoise hair dryer chairs with hoods that just scream, Kodak moment! Bring your tiaras, boas, and girlfriends and I will snap the shot! Some people have declared that my shop looks just like a jewelry box exploded! What a delightful image!
My bookstore features local, southern, and regional books and authors, children's books, beauty and girlfriend books, and any book or author that I take a fancy to reading. I pride myself on selecting books that are from first time or yet undiscovered authors. I feel if given the opportunity to be seen, they should be and read. I have had over 100 authors involved with book events visit us since I opened. Therefore, we do carry many first edition signed copies. Many, many of these authors have since then have gone on to The New York Times Bestseller list, the Booksense list, Oprah, Good Morning America, the Today Show, and we are thrilled in every way. Every time I read a new book that I love, I think what if “To Kill a Mockingbird” had never been discovered or read by the millions of adoring readers. That just gives me that added incentive to help authors get their books known, loved, and discovered in a big way. Besides in January 2008, my first book will debut “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life” to be published by Warner Books and I guarantee you that I will have those stacked to the ceiling! It’s my story on my world of reading and books and I hope it will be a springboard to get everyone reading! We like to do “book makeovers” to by tailor making our clientele’s interests into the perfect selections for great reads!
I always say if I can get you to come all the way out to my neck of the piney woods in East Texas just once, you’ll be back to grace my doors again or at least you’ll tell all your friends, “You have got to go there, it’s a hoot!”. And besides, as I always say tongue in cheek, “We’ll keep the hairdryer on for ya!”
Tiara wearing, Beauty and Book sharing,
Kathy L. Patrick
Hairdresser to the Authors and Founder of The Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs
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