Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Stovall.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carolyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Howdy Folks, I am a Texas Gal, and I have written “A Texas Gal Cooks” cookbook. This has always been a dream of mine for years to write a Texas cookbook with authentic Texas recipes in it… I talked about doing this for years and kept jotting down ideas in my notebook. So… when I got to be a senior citizen, I decided it was now or never. I did my cookbook the “Red Neck” way. I got all of my recipes out and put on my dining table, and started separating, and dividing into categories. Then, I started typing and taking pictures of everything that I had cooked. I was pretty computer challenged, so this was a brave undertaking for a small town gal.
I was blessed to have been taught to cook by Aunt Lena Crawford, lovingly called “Auntie.” She was my husbands’ aunt that raised him. Auntie was the best cook ever, and she passed recipes down from the 1800s from her family. I was sort of forced to learn to cook because my husband would not eat my food!!! He went to Aunties house to eat at night. My food was pretty “yucky” back then. Aunt Lena was the most amazingly gracious lady that I ever knew. She and her husband had a large farm and grew everything that they ate practically. Each and every day she cooked this huge meal with 2 meats, fresh veggies, homemade rolls, and cornbread. She also had homemade butter and jellies and jams made from the fruit trees at the farm, and always this delectable dessert. She always let her family invite how many people they wanted to each day so she never knew if she would have five people or 20.
Finally… I finished my cookbook. Whew, I was so happy to be though with it. My first big break came when I sent an email to The State Fair of Texas, Go Texan building, with a picture of my cookbook and a little about it to see if they wanted to sell it. My daughter said, “Now, Mother, you know that the State Fair is not going to choose your cookbook!” She said that I was an unknown author and my first book, and that was not going to happen. I said, “Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I went in the kitchen and was cooking, and about an hour later, my phone rang and it was the Go Texan people from the fair, and they said, “Yes, we want to sell your cookbook in our building. I was thrilled beyond description. I did a little dance on this one, I was so excited.
I think one of the reasons that the Fair chose my book to sell is because I live in the town, Kerens, Texas, where “Big Tex” was our Santa from 1949 -1952. The State Fair purchased our Santa in 1952 for $ 750.00. R.L. Thornton was the head of the Fair at the time. He rode a passenger train through our small town and the train stopped so the people could see our gigantic Santa down at the end of Colket Street. Mr. Thornton had the idea of buying Santa and making him a talking cowboy that is now world famous. I have the authentic story of Santa to Big Tex in my cookbook.
Our town of 1500 people has a Cotton Harvest Festival every October. I had a booth there to sell my cookbook. I looked up and I had a line backed up down the brick street to buy my cookbook and get it autographed. Talk about feeling like a celebrity. WOW!!! I am now known as the cookbook lady here.
My next big thrill came when I got an email from The Texas Association of Authors that I had won “Best Texas Cookbook” of 2018. I was so excited about this. I got to attend an Author’s Banquet at Los Colinas, where I was honored with an award and a medal like the Olympics get. Can you imagine a country girl that used to pick cotton herself winning that award. Oh my Goodness!!
I have had many wonderful things to happen with my cookbook. A Texas Gal Cooks was chosen to sell at Amazon and to sell at the world famous Collin Street Bakery.
This all has been such a great honor to me. I was older when I fulfilled my dream, but no matter how old or wherever you are in life, NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!!!
Update: I have now fulfilled another dream to write a children’s book-“Granny Ozarks Treats.” This is a story that I made up when my kids were little. It is about a Granny that lives by a bus stop where her neighbor kids got off the bus. She and her dog, Suzy, met the kids every day with a homemade treat. They had lots of fun at Granny’s house. She had ponies to ride, and a pond to fish in and a cow to pet. They go on picnics, make a snowman, and snowboard in the winter. They make homemade sugar cookies for Christmas. Recipes are included also of Granny’s treats.
Granny Ozarks Treats won second best children’s book of 2019, and first place on the cover design from Texas Association of Authors. I really am just in awe of all of the wonderful things that have happened in my older years.
Has it been a smooth road?
I had a lot of struggles figuring out how to write the cookbook and put it all together. The publishers charge so much per colored page, so I came up with the idea to make a collage with several pictures of foods. I had a difficult time figuring out all of how to size and do those. I also had trouble finding time to type with my busy lifestyle. I made it though HOORAY!!!
What do you do? What do you specialize in?
I am so very proud of “A Texas Gal Cooks” Cookbook, and my children’s book, “Granny Ozark’s Treats.” They are both very special to me.
I think what sets me apart is that my cookbook is so unique, and not like any ordinary cookbook. My cookbook has so many sections in it. I have Cooking with Children-How to Make Gift Baskets-Taking Time for Me-Mug Desserts for One-100 Year Old Recipes for Soda Fountain Drinks-Breads to Make for Gifts- Decorative Desserts-Mexican Food, and many more. I am well known for my recipes and the food that I take to people as gifts.
I think what makes my Granny Ozark’s Treats so neat is the Mothers that have bought the books say that the children love the book. They also love making Granny’s recipes with their Mom. Dressing up like Granny and going to schools to read my Granny Ozark’s Treats, and making homemade cookies for the children and teachers.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I have what I consider a huge success for a country gal. I hope to write more books, and keep on cooking.
Pricing:
- A Texas Gal Cooks- on sale for $ 25.00
- Granny Ozark’s Treats-on sale for $ 12.00
- Also available on Amazon.com books
Contact Info:
- Address: Carolyn Stovall
410 S. E. 5th St.
Kerens, Tx 75144 - Website: atexasgalcooks.com
- Phone: 903-654-1800
- Email: atexasgalcooks@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Carolyn Stovall
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