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PrintPawhuska blogger Ree Drummond and New York City writer Kaylie Jones tell their tales in Tulsa
One reason why books will always be coveted, no matter the form — print, audio or electronic — is readers can travel to places and into minds around the world different from their own.
Recently, two distinctly disparate women, Kaylie Jones and Ree Drummond, were in Tulsa on the same mission: to sign copies of their recently published books.
Jones is the daughter of James Jones, notorious author of “From Here to Eternity,” et al. She must be sick of always living in his shadow; after all, she has written five books. Yet it’s difficult to introduce her without this foreknowledge. Her latest book, “Lies My Mother Never Told Me” (William Morrow, $25.99), describes her tumultuous relationship with her mother. She wrote about her father, who died when she was 18, in her second book, “A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries.”
Jones lives in New York City. She grew up in Paris and Sagaponack, N.Y., among writers and celebrities. She teaches writing at the University of Southampton on Long Island, has earned a black belt in tae kwon do, speaks several languages fluently and is urbanely charming in looks and speech. She mingled and signed books in the home of Chloe and Trent Baulch Oct. 6. This came about because a close friend of the Baulches is Oklahoma Citian Lyn Holmes, who met Jones at a birthday party in Paris. There, along with another Oklahoma Citian, Judy Denwalt, they hatched the plan for Jones to add OKC to her book tour. Holmes and Denwalt encouraged Baulch to host a reception in Tulsa so Jones could maximize her Oklahoma visit. Some 50 guests, including local headliners such as Peggy Helmerich and Michael Wallis, sipped wine, nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and purchased books.
“Lies My Mother Never Told Me” overflows with stories about growing up amid literary giants such as William Stryon, Irwin Shaw, Truman Capote, Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut. Beyond the ultimate gossip story, Jones’ book admonishes the sins of alcoholism, including her own, and delves into navigating life with a choleric mother.
On Oct. 27, Ree Drummond answered questions from a crowd of approximately 300, mostly young women in their 30s and 40s, at the Tulsa Historical Society. Sponsored by Book Smart Tulsa, she launched her 19-city tour here for her cookbook, “The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl” (William Morrow, $27.50). Drummond is a blog phenomenon who lives on a remote ranch outside of Pawhuska but networks with thousands across the nation.
Despite the fact her husband’s family owns most of north Oklahoma, Drummond is demure and homey. The striking redhead stays on the ranch, home schools four children, cooks, snaps incredible photos and writes a daily blog.
Her cookbook has a running narrative showing off humor and sometimes persiflage. Having tried some of her recipes, I vouch for them. They are the antitheses of trendy, low-fat, vegetarian diets. Exception: Her versatile roasted corn relish is crunchy and savory thanks to red peppers. Thank goodness someone at sometime roasted a red pepper.
These two uncommon women have two things in common. Notice the publisher they share. They also both wear cowboy boots. Jones made a point in her 36-hour visit in Tulsa of buying blue snakeskin boots. Drummond wears boots because she has to.
Here are two reading and/or cooking experiences worthy of your time that might guide you down the road less traveled.
