Carolyn Brown | The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee
March 7, 2013
Hello to everyone at Fresh Fiction. Thank you for inviting me back to your site
to talk about THE
BLUE-RIBBON JALAPEÑO SOCIETY JUBILEE, my debut woman's fiction book. And a
big thank you for the absolutely awesome review on the book. I'd like to welcome all y'all to Cadillac, Texas, a fictional town that lies
just south of Sherman, Texas and right in between Tom Bean and Luella, all of
which are very real. As it is in most small towns, everyone knows everyone. As a
matter of fact, everyone knows everyone's mamma, their granny and their
great-aunts. Everyone knows everything about everyone and the gossip is more
accurate most of the time than DNA. Everyone knows everything everyone else is
doing and that's like vitamin pills for the gossip vines. It's been said that
the only reason folks in Cadillac buy the weekly newspaper is to see who got
caught. So there might be secrets but they would come out eventually and to have
one that was kept quiet for more than sixty years...well, now that's worth
writing about, isn't it? Plan to visit Miss Clawdy's Café and enjoy the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.
Don't forget to try some pepper jelly on your biscuits or cornbread and a few
tablespoons of their homemade salsa on your red beans. Cathy and Marty, twin
sisters, grew up right there in the house where Miss Clawdy's is located. When
their folks both passed, they and Trixie, their best friend since childhood, put
in a café in the old house. The three women live in the bedrooms upstairs and
use the kitchen as a general gathering place. Darla Jean, the hooker turned preacher, who runs a non-denominational church
across the street, might drop by or maybe Agnes will pop in for a piece of
chocolate cake. She's the twin's great aunt—pushing eighty-years-old,
opinionated as hell and absolutely hates Ethan, her niece, Cathy's fiancé. Of
course she would since she and the Ethan's mamma, Violet Prescott, have had a
sixty year feud going that would make the Hatfields and McCoys look like a
kindergarten spat. Actually things have been pretty quiet in Cadillac. Trixie is having sex with
her ex-husband. Marty is writing erotic romance under a pen name. Cathy is
reading her sister's romance stories but has no idea that the author lives in
the same house with her. All secrets but no one has found out so the gossip
vines are about to wither up and the newspaper is about to go bankrupt. Then right before the Jubilee Agnes declares war on Violet and all hell breaks
loose in Cadillac. It's all Trixie, Marty and Cathy can do with the help of
Jack, their other friend from childhood, and Darla Jean, to keep Agnes out of
jail. Wait! They didn't do such a good job one evening and both Agnes and Violet
end up behind bars! I convinced Jack to come along with me today so if y'all have any questions
we'll be glad to answer them. The lady in the cowboy boots in the corner has her
hand up. What's your question, darlin'? Lady: I'd like to ask Jack what it's like to have grown up with three girls for
best friends and did you ever play football? You are all muscled up and sexy
like a football player. Jack (blushing and grinning): Yes, ma'am, I did play a little football in
high school. Your other question, though. I've always been like the brother in
the family with Trixie, Marty and Cathy as the sisters. Darla Jean is like our
cousin who has recently moved to Cadillac. What's your question, darlin'? (Jack
is pointing to a lady on the front row.) Lady: I'd like to know how you get along with Agnes? Jack (still smiling about that football question): Miz Agnes lived across the
street from me the whole time I was growing up. My mamma, Beulah Landry, and
Agnes are good friends. That is, if anyone can claim friendship with Agnes other
than the twins. And sometimes I'm not so sure about Marty. Now Cathy, Agnes
loves that twin and would probably kill for her. That's why I worry about this
engagement between her and Violet's son, Ethan. Agnes wouldn't have a problem
going to jail for the rest of her life to prevent that marriage from taking
place. What's your question, sir? (Jack points at one of the fellows sitting
toward the back.) Fellow: I'd like to know if there's a sequel and if y'all will have cameo parts
in it? Jack (chuckles): Yes, there is. The Red Hot Chili Cook-Off should be
published in the spring of 2014. Yes, sir, I do have a nice little minor part in
it. Few people come to Cadillac without visiting Clawdy's for a bowl of beans
and greens so they'll have a shout out in the book. Mark your calendars and get
ready for a chili cook-off that sets Cadillac on its ear again next year. And
after that, The Yellow Rose Barbecue Ball, is on the schedule. I get my
hair cut down at The Yellow Rose Salon so I might pick up a little role in that
book as well. And our time is up for this session but Jack and I will both be around all day,
unless of course Agnes blows another hole in the ceiling at Miss Clawdy's with
her shot gun. Then I suppose Jack, who is a policeman, might get called back to
Cadillac to straighten things out again. But if Agnes is having a good day maybe
he can stick around. Got questions? Comments? THE BLUE-RIBBON
JALAPEÑO SOCIETY JUBILEE BY CAROLYN BROWN - IN STORES
MARCH 2013 You Are Cordially Invited...Come early, eat until your buttons pop, and dance
until you drop! Miss Clawdy's Café has won the Jubilee blue ribbon every year since the dawn of
time. This year, town matron Violet Prescott is going after that ribbon with an
iron-clad determination only thinly disguised by her perfect coiffure and
flawless manners, bless her heart. It's time for café owners Cathy and Marty and their best friend Trixie to pull
out their secret weapon. And this is where a lifetime of friendship, combined
with just the right recipe at just the right time, might carry the day—or
blow everything to smithereens. Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the jalapeños are hot, the gossip is hotter,
and at the end of the day, it's the priceless friendships that are left
standing... Praise for THE BLUE-RIBBON
JALAPEÑO SOCIETY JUBILEE "Brown brings her cowboy-romance writing talents to bear on this hilarious tale
of women in a gossipy small town... Fast-paced, the intertwined tales collide
along a bumpy road toward a surprising calamity at the jalapeño jubilee. A
high-spirited, romantic page turner." —Kirkus "Humor and down-home charm make this a first-place prize winner. All the
character quirks and small-town appeal are used to the fullest advantage."
—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars "An excellent book. I loved every bit of it..." —FreshFiction.com ABOUT THE AUTHORCarolyn Brown
is a bestselling and award-winning author with more than forty books published,
and credits her eclectic family for her humor and writing ideas. Born in Texas
and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in
the town of Davis, Oklahoma, where she is working on her next cowboy romance, BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY,
which will be in stores in June 2013. THE BLUE-RIBBON JALAPEÑO
SOCIETY JUBILEE is Carolyn's first fiction novel, and there are more to
come, including The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off (April 2014)! For more
information, please visit http://carolynlbrown.com/. Leave a comment and you might win your own copy of THE BLUE-RIBBON JALAPEÑO
SOCIETY JUBILEE
Comments
61 comments posted.
Re: Carolyn Brown | The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee
Can you tell us how many books you are planning for this series? (Donna Holmberg 12:33pm March 7, 2013)
It sounds delightful! The characters are ones I'd love to meet :) (Adriane Coros 1:00am March 7, 2013)
Great giveaway. Love Carolyn's books. And always love a new series. (Pat Lieberman 7:33am March 7, 2013)
Good morning everyone! It's great to be back here at Fresh Fiction. I always love to visit y'all! Donna: There will be three books in this series. The Red Hot Chili Cook-Off (April 2014) and The Yellow Rose Barbecue Ball (TBD). Thank you for asking and I hope you love all three!
Adriane: Miz Agnes says to come on in to Clawdy's, that she would love to meet you, also.
Pat: THANK YOU!! This series is just as sassy as my cowboys. Hope it makes you giggle! (Carolyn Brown 8:04am March 7, 2013)
I love your books and look forward to a new series!!! (Bonnie Capuano 8:14am March 7, 2013)
This sounds like a very fun sexy read. I can't wait. Loved the interview
Sandi (Sandi Shilhanek 8:23am March 7, 2013)
This sounds like a great read! It reminds me of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show... Aunt Bee is determined not to lose the annual pickle contest to Clara--who has won every year for a decade. Don't ask me why your book brought this to mind. lol I don't know why. It just did. :) :)
Thanks for the opportunity to win THE BLUE-RIBBON JALAPEÑO SOCIETY JUBILEE. Love the title. :) (C.E. Hart 8:39am March 7, 2013)
Bonnie: Welcome to Cadillac...come for the Jubilee and have a good time!
Sandi: Thank you. Hope to see you in Atlanta this summer!
C. E. Hart: Credit for the title goes to the Sourcebooks' staff who worked very hard to come up with just the right title. I LOVED it when it was passed by me for approval! Loved your story about the AG show! (Carolyn Brown 8:52am March 7, 2013)
Carolyn's books are always one's you can't put down;and ones you always save to read over and over again. Loved this interview (Kathy Copeland 10:09am March 7, 2013)
Hi Kathy: Good to see you here today and thank you for all your support! (Carolyn Brown 10:19am March 7, 2013)
I am captivated with this book which is heartwarming and wonderful. So special and appealing. Best wishes. (Sharon Berger 10:25am March 7, 2013)
Sounds wonderful - like Mayberry with secrets. Was this inspired through small town living? I have lived in 3 small towns and know the secrets each carried (of course they were whispered over coffee by multiple people in my house, which made it all so much more delicious). (Carla Carlson 10:34am March 7, 2013)
Will there be a recipe for that pepper jelly at the end of the book? Sure hope so (Joy Isley 10:44am March 7, 2013)
look f/d to this new series. love Carolyn's stories. (Karen Triolo 10:55am March 7, 2013)
Sharon: Does that mean you are reading it now? Thank you for the awesome kind words about it.
Carla: Cadillac does have it's secrets. I've lived in small towns my whole life and they tend to have a pulse and heart beat all of their own...and their own secrets which definitely are whispered over coffee or margaritas!
Joy: No recipe for the pepper jelly at the back of the book...darn it, wish I'd thought of that! But there is a little companion cook booklet that goes with the book...Sourcebooks was running a deal that if you sent them the proof of purchase where you'd bought the book, they'd send it to you free. Don't know if that's still going or not...check their FB page!
Karen: THANK YOU! Agnes says that you will like my women's fiction as well as the cowboys! (Carolyn Brown 11:41am March 7, 2013)
Sounds like my mom's home town - only spicier! (Janis Milford 11:47am March 7, 2013)
I'm sure this is a great small-town tale. I like the idea of the recipes! (Clare O'Beara 11:53am March 7, 2013)
Love all the gossip! (Connie Schultz 12:24pm March 7, 2013)
Janis: Small towns are basically alike...one queen bee or she-coon tries to run everything and there's always one who is going to oppose whatever she is doing! LOL
Clare: Thanks for stopping by. Cadillac is a small fictional town but it's close enough to Sherman for Wal-mart and shopping!
Connie: The gossip vines never go dormant or die in Cadillac! (Carolyn Brown 12:49pm March 7, 2013)
I've never read any of your books. I'm going to start for sure. I love books that take place in small towns. Thanks for this oppotunity to win a book. (Lucy Pinto 1:27pm March 7, 2013)
I haven't read your books but would love to! Thanks. (Dianne McVetty 1:48pm March 7, 2013)
This book sounds really great, a new and different plot for me. Thanks for the giveaway. (Kathleen Yohanna 2:59pm March 7, 2013)
Believe it or not, this is already on my TBR list. I wish I could show it to you! My favorite genre is Southern Lit and this book sounds amazing. Even the title is enchanting. Please enter me to win!!!!!! Thank you, Carolyn. (Susan Coster 3:48pm March 7, 2013)
Small towns are the best! Can't wait to read your new book! (Susan Dyer 3:51pm March 7, 2013)
Can't wait to read the book sure sounds like somewhere I would visit if it was real just love small towns (Ava Curtis 4:52pm March 7, 2013)
What a fun read, looking forward to the book. (Sheila True 5:18pm March 7, 2013)
I love the name of the town Cadillac, Texas even if it is fictional. Can't wait to go there via your book (Shirley Younger 5:42pm March 7, 2013)
Sounds like a fun book! (Vicki Hancock 5:47pm March 7, 2013)
I live near a very small town and look forward to enjoying this book! Blessings, Marjorie (Marjorie Carmony 5:51pm March 7, 2013)
Would love to win and review this. It sounds like a good book. (Jane Squires 6:02pm March 7, 2013)
This series sounds like it is going to be so much fun! I'm excited!!!! (Chelsea Brooks 6:08pm March 7, 2013)
The book sounds great. I grew up in a small town. (Pam Howell 6:12pm March 7, 2013)
Carolyn, This sounds like another great one! I'm loving the characters in this book already--hooker turned preacher! I've loved reading all your books with the cowboy themes and the humor thrown in. You're one of my very favorite authors and I'm really looking forward to reading this one! My middle name is Luella, and I didn't know there was a small town in Texas with that name. Love those small towns and all the grapevine gossip. I grew up in a small town. I will be anxiously awaiting reading the next two also. (Linda Luinstra 6:12pm March 7, 2013)
I really enjoy your books and I am sure this one will be great. (Gail Hurt 6:22pm March 7, 2013)
I Love that title! Perfect for a small town story - bet there are all sorts of quirky fun characters! (Diane Sallans 7:26pm March 7, 2013)
love the title and if I'm not picked then I'll go out and buy it. I love all your books! (Carole Fiore 7:50pm March 7, 2013)
Looking forward to reading about the Cadillac townfolk. (Mary C 8:14pm March 7, 2013)
I've been waiting for this book to arrive ever since I read the teaser in the back of the last book! (Laura Gullickson 8:50pm March 7, 2013)
gossip is grand. Good gossiper is even grander. (Lisa Fitzgibbons 8:55pm March 7, 2013)
First of all, I wanted to say that the cover reminded me of the old-fashioned, State Fairs that used to be held, especially in the State that I live in. Ours was the oldest one in the country, and after the costs involved, along with budgets and other things, our State finally had to drop it, much to the dismay of our citizens. Anyway, your book sounds like it's going to be like one heck of a ride on the ferris wheel that's shown on the cover!! I know that I'll enjoy every moment, by just reading the short excerpt you provided on your blog today. You have quite an expressive way of putting things with words, as well as coming up with your characters, and they already feel like a part of my family!! This should be one book that I won't be able to put down!! Congratulations!! (Peggy Roberson 9:34pm March 7, 2013)
can't wait to read your spicy sounding book, thanks (Debbi Shaw 10:00pm March 7, 2013)
I was cooking today and got to thinking about Lucky. I love how real and well rounded your characters are. Have you ever considered writing the broken hero who needs serious fixing or are you drawn to the more put together heroes? And I love your heroines. Not a whiny loser in the bunch! (Jennifer Beyer 10:07pm March 7, 2013)
This sounds really good. I can't wait to read the series. (Tina Rucci 10:14pm March 7, 2013)
Thank you for having this contest. I may not have heard about you before but I do love reading different authors' works. Can;t wait to read yours :) (Meghan Anderson 10:20pm March 7, 2013)
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for a chance to win. (Linda Hall 10:32pm March 7, 2013)
Sounds like a fun read. (Rita Wray 10:43pm March 7, 2013)
Congratulations on your first fiction novel! Love the title and enjoyed the gossip about Cadillac, Texas. Thanks for the giveaway. (Bonnie H 10:55pm March 7, 2013)
I love Red's Hot Cowboy. After reading this book, I'm looking forward to reading many more of your books. (Kai Wong 10:55pm March 7, 2013)
This one sounds really great!! Love that title. Thanks for the chance to win it. (Martha Lawson 11:26pm March 7, 2013)
Lucy, Dianne and Kathleen: Welcome to Cadillac...come right on into town and make yourselves at home! Go on in to Clawdy's and have the buffet...it's well worth the price and the gossip is free!
Susan Costner: Southern is what I know so it comes easy for me to write about it! (Carolyn Brown 11:37pm March 7, 2013)
Susan, Ava and Sheila: Agnes says that if you come to town to look her up...she'd love to visit with you!
Shirley, Vicki and Marjorie: The book actually started off in a real town but Cathy and Marty liked Cadillac so much better and they really thought Clawdy's should be in a small town. There wasn't any living with them until I wrote it just the way they said to do.
Jane, Chelsea and Pam: Small towns have their own way of getting things done. Usually at a lot slower pace than the big city life! That's why Jack came home and settled back down in his home town.
Linda: There really is a Luella and it is really small. My Aunt lives not far from that little town and I love the area! (Carolyn Brown 11:44pm March 7, 2013)
Gail, Dianne and Carole: Yes, there are quirky characters but shhh...they think they are just normal folks...normal folks (at the age of almost eighty) do shoot holes in the ceiling with their shotguns, don't they?
Mary: Well, darlin', just come right on down to Cadillac and read all about the folks...they'd just love to make your acquaintance. (Carolyn Brown 11:46pm March 7, 2013)
Laura: Trixie really liked the idea of putting a teaser in the back of the last book. Glad that you enjoyed it!
James: Amen! Testify and hallelujah!
Peggy: I LOVED those old carnivals and fairs, too! They were so much fun and the snow cones and cotton candy were wonderful.
Debbi: It does have a bit of spice! Happy Reading!
Jennifer: I'll leave the whining heroines to someone else to write! LOL! A broken cowboy hero...something to definitely think about!
Tina, Meghan, Linda and Rita: Thank y'all so much for dropping by today and good luck on the drawing! (Carolyn Brown 11:52pm March 7, 2013)
Bonnie: Thank you so much. It's always been a dream of mine to write women's fiction. I've written historical, contemporary, series in both, country music and cowboy series and now I finally get to put out a women's fiction! It's so exciting.
Kai: So glad that you liked Red's Hot Cowboy...it was so much fun to write and Lucy plays a part in the future books in that series.
Martha: Credit goes to my awesome editor for the title. I LOVED it so much that I squealed when I heard it the first time! (Carolyn Brown 11:56pm March 7, 2013)
Oh, have always love fairs and carnivals. So much fun and things to see and do. Loved the review. Thank you (Diane Castiglione 11:55am March 8, 2013)
I love a story which has down home charm and humor. (Anne Muller 12:26pm March 8, 2013)
This is going to be such a fabulous read!! (Mary Preston 1:38am March 9, 2013)
Loved the book of yours I have gotten to read I'm looking forward to reading this one (Becky Whitehead 12:35pm March 9, 2013)
I really like the characters in this book. Please include a recipe or two in your next one. (Debbie Penny 8:15am March 10, 2013)
Diane: When we were kids we always looked forward the carnival coming to town.
Anne: Then you should love Cadillac, Texas and all its quirky characters.
Becky: So glad to see you here today. This book is at the Davis Library!
Debbie: We are thinking about doing just that and Thank You for reading my books! (Carolyn Brown 4:59pm March 10, 2013)
This sounds like the kinda book that I would love to read. I will have to check it out in the book stores. I always like to read books that continue the story in a series. (Sharon Salituro 8:34am April 7, 2013)
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
|