{Giveaway is Closed} The winner is Susan from NC!
I’ve met so many fascinating, talented and creative women since I started blogging all those years ago. One of them is Leslie Anne Tarabella, who is as Southern as I am and lives in Fairhope, AL. I’m trying to remember when we first met and it’s been in the last 4 years, I think when she came here to Georgia for a visit and we got together with another mutual friend (who Leslie Anne introduced me to via email, if I remember right). She was longtime friends with Rachel, who I’ve shared here on the blog with her beautiful Victorian house off the Marietta Square, the Trammell House. I’ve shared the Trammell House two times, so check this one out too. Leslie Anne lived in Marietta for many years with her husband and then they moved closer to home in Fairhope, AL.
{the 3 of us 4 years ago touring another local house: me, Leslie Anne, and Rachel, 2 of the most charming Southern girls I know!}
So, back to when I first met Leslie Anne online. She used to use a fake name when she left comments on my blog, because she was nervous about putting her real name out there. She started her blog, Fairhope Supply Co. several years ago and when she would visit from the blog and leave a comment, I think she called herself Hope. I thought that was hilarious once I found out her name wasn’t really Hope. It wasn’t until years later that she finally started using her real name and I got to know her as Leslie Anne. She’s so cute and witty and a great writer. I’ve met up with her in Marietta and Fairhope and always have fun with her. It’s no wonder that her book is entertaining and funny too, since Leslie Anne is such a happy positive Southern gal!
Leslie Anne has been writing her blog for over 5 years and she’s also a contributor to AL.com and her blog is filled with her Southern stories about home, family, church, and more. Leslie Anne says she’s an accidental author after her blog was discovered and she was asked to be a newspaper writer. The book is a compilation of her most popular blog posts and columns, with witty stories and fun anecdotes.
On a side note, I have to ask her though if she makes up these Southern names woven through her stories. Southerners are known for their 2 name handles, but some of hers are a little suspect. There’s Great Aunt Vina-Mae, cousin John-Jack, Rosie Belle, Billy Mac, and many more. I have to get to the bottom of these Southern styled names! Are they for real? I honestly don’t know anyone with names like this. But Leslie Anne has a fun way with words and you’ll enjoy her short stories.
Leslie Anne and her rescue dog, Doug. Go read the Doug story, it’s cute! She has another dog, a beagle named Lois Lane.
There’s a whole section on Our Charming Southern Ways….oh how fun these are! I relate so much to these Southern ways, since my family is Southern to the bone too. From Are Southern Women Prettier to Humidity Threatens our Crowning Glory, these humorous Southern anecdotes will have you chuckling along and nodding your head, especially if you’re Southern too.
The other book sections involve our Precious Southern Families, Our Darling Southern Manners, Our Delicious Southern Food, and our Divine Southern Churches. And by the way,Leslie Anne married a guy from New Jersey and calls him her Yankee husband.
If you’re Southern (or even if you’re not, you’ll enjoy Leslie Anne’s cute and witty book. She does have a Fannie Flagg style of writing, with humor and hilarity. It’s definitely a feel good book that will have you smiling as you’re being entertained with words. She reminds me a bit of the old newspaper columns here in Atlanta and two of my growing up favorites, Lewis Grizzard and Celestine Sibley. I loved reading their columns in the newspaper when I was young and looked forward to their columns every single week. They are both gone now.
From Leslie Anne’s blog….Although my viewpoint is from my life in a small Southern town, I’ve learned that people everywhere love their families, dogs, good food, God and a good story . . . not necessarily in that order, of course.
If you’re in Birmingham, Leslie Anne will be signing books at Barnes and Noble at The Summit at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feburary 17th, so mark your calendars!
Here’s a little snippet from the book about being Southern:
Some folks call themselves Southern just because of where they were born or where the moving van dropped them off. Others know they are Southern because the South lives within them. You can see the sparkle in their eyes when they see a friend walking they way or someone mentions a fish fry with hushpuppies and grits or suggests, “Let’s go out and sit on the porch.” The answer is never “I’m watching my cholesterol,” or “It’s too hot.”
Rachel and Leslie Anne’s friend, Beth, hosted a really nice book signing party in Marietta before Christmas and Mark and I went. It was so fun to meet Judy (above right) who is a faithful reader of Leslie Anne’s and my blog. Hi, Judy, great to see you that night. She was so sweet!
Rachel set out a beautiful spread of food in her dining room and it was such a fun night. You can see I was noshing on the goodies in this pic.
Back to the book….you’ll also hear a few Bless Your Hearts along the way. I also see on Leslie Anne’s blog that she’s not a fan of sweet tea either…just like me. I get the strangest looks when I tell people I don’t drink sweet tea. Like how in the world could I possibly be a real Southern girl?! For some reason, when I was growing up in a house that had sweet tea in the fridge at all times, I just never acquired a taste for it and never did drink it. I see some of you mentioned peach tea and oh my yes, I love some peach tea. Totally different flavor!
Today I’ve got an extra copy to give away of Leslie Anne’s book, so please leave a comment below and I’ll choose a random winner in a week to send the book to.
Tell me where you are from and if you are Southern or Northern (or Midwestern or from the West Coast) and what do you all think about the South? If you’re Southern, I know you’re proud to be a Southerner, but it’s fun to hear what the rest of the country thinks! And while you’re answering, do you drink sweet tea?
Leave a comment to be eligible to win the book!
If you’d like to order the book, you can find it here:
This book looks like a great read! I live in South Carolina and don’t like the taste of sweet tea either.
Love reading your blog.
Born in Chicago, but I’ve lived in Florida and California. Currently in California, but want to move to the South. Plain tea for me, sweet tea is too sweet.
I too loved reading Lewis Gizzard and Celestine Sibley’s columns in the AJC! Will have to look this book up.
I grew up in the South and have deep Southern roots. We now live out in Idaho in a country setting, but not too far from Idaho Falls. I love grits, okra, collard greens, fried chicken, and more, as do our six children, spouses, and grandchildren. We struggle to get some of those delicious foods out here, though! I absolutely love to read Southern tales, and have enjoyed Jan Karon’s “Mitford Series” so much, especially the Southern slang and dialect! That tickles me to death! This book sounds just up my alley! I don’t drink sweet tea, never have…… Have loved the pictures, Rhoda, of your Mom and Dad. Your Mom’s meals look just like my dear Mom’s and Grandmother’s! Such great, great memories!
Hi Judy,
Jan Karon was actually a big influence and when I got to meet her and spend time with her, she encouraged me to dream big and “go before the throne boldy!” Love her so much!
I also enjoy Jan Karon’s books and know I’d love your writing. Although I’m a native Texan, my ancestors were southerners and I’m ‘all about the South,’ right down to the sweet tea and being a majorette for nine years (1959 was my last year).
Yes we are southern! We live in Lexington Kentucky but born in Huntsville Alabama! We love to talk to others about southern food, hospitality and just how we love loving on others! The only drink we drink is sweet tea-our favorite!!!
Would love to read this y’all!!!!
I’m from South Carolina and have lived here all my life. I have the accent, love sweet tea, Southern traditions and family stories and photos. I have always loved to read and have been know to have two or three books going at the same time! Jan Karon, Miss Read and Gladys Taber are my favorites.
I grew up and still live in the Bootheel of Missouri about 3 miles from Arkansas on a cotton farm. We have more southern ways that mid western ways in our part of the state. I love Leslie Anne’s blog, and am certain I would enjoy her book. I couldn’t go a day without my sweet tea!
This book sounds great and I would love to have a copy. I am a true southerner with deep roots in GA and AL. In fact I have family in Fairhope and Marietta 😉 I do like sweet tea..I’m sorry that you don’t…Bless your heart 😉
Hello!!
I grew up in Tennessee!! Moved there from Minnesota when I was in 5th grade! I instantly fell in love with the people and the southern accent!! However everyone thought I had the accent!! I pretty much love everything southern. Strawberry pie, pecan pie, grits, barbecue and of course Sweet Tea!!!
I’m back in Minnesota because I married the love of my life a”Yankee” man!!! But in my heart I’m forever Southern. I still say “fixin” and y’all, bless your heart. 😊 Southern charm is a way of life, incorporated with Minnesota Nice!!
Love to read your book!! I live for Southern stories. Makes me feel like I’m still there. 💙
I have a double name!! My best friend in Tennessee is Periann!! Roi Anne and Periann 👯♀️💙
I was born and raised on the Northeast coast in the tri state area, but I am now a midwesterner. My sister in law is a Southern girl through and through and I just love her southern ways! My screen porch was a direct reflection of those southern traditions – although I don’g drink sweet tea!
I was born in Macon, Georgia and you can’t get much more southern than that! I live in Texas now and I love sweet tea and everything about the south. I love seeing your family and the wonderful southern food your Mother cooks.
I’m a southern girl to the bone. Born in SC and lived there until I was 50. Moved to Las Vegas 10 years ago. You can take me from the south but I will remain southern always. Love sweet tea, but seldon make it because I drink too much of it when I do. Miss my Dukes, country ham, sausage, and grits, wisteria, magnolia, and cotton fields. Take goodnes for goodie boxes from back home.
Well, bless your little southern heart!!! My daughter was a high school majorette and is definitely a pretty southern girl who would love to read this book. So would her mother. By the way, she is also a media specialist who might possible put this book on the shelf for others to read. Thanks, Rhoda, for sharing your life with us.
I currently live in Birmingham, but grew up in Hokes Bluff, AL. I regularly drink sweet tea, was a majorette at one time in my life and read all time. I just finished Joshilyn Jackson book, and am partial to all southern authors.I am southern though and through, I can not imagine living any where else. I regularly am known to say “Roll Tide Roll”!!!
Hi Colloni,
Join my Birmingham readers on Feb. 17th at The Summit!
. southern gal all of my almost 74 years (1-22) and always thankful for my southern heritage!!! I do love Sweet Tea with my favorite being Peach Tea that I make myself. I make it for lots of church events and it is now known as Nancy’s Liquid Gold!!! Enjoy all of your posts and love it that you share others ideas and projects just as much as you do your own That alone shows you were raised in the south being taught good character.
I am from Gainesville Georgia and I guess that makes me a true Southern girl! I was raised on sweet tea, peaches,fried chicken, collard greens, banana pudding and all the other wonderful southern foods. We would go to church on Sunday’s and either go to my MamMaw’s house or my MA’s house and enjoy our family and all the wonderful foods. So blessed to be a Southern girl!!💝🙏
Thank you sweet Rhoda for sharing Leslie Anne’s book. Wow, so many wonderful comments! I love Leslie Anne’s gift of storytelling! Everything she writes resonates with me. She is honest, funny, and genuine! I am Southern through and through. I was born in NE AL and still live in the same place. I do love sweet tea, but have to pass now…I had rather eat than drink my calories! I highly recommend her book and blog. She is a Southern sweetheart!
I love a good southern story and can hardly wait to read this selection if I win! Thanks for sharing!
I would love this book, Southern gal, 63 yo! Even southerners talk about how “southern” I am!!!!🤣