DreamWorks to do movie on East Texas book club founder

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TX (KTRE) - The Pulpwood Queens annual convention is back for a second year straight in Nacogdoches. The largest reading book club, with more than 600 chapters nationwide and in 15 foreign countries, is founded and led by East Texan Kathy Murphy.

Typically women wearing tiaras, flashy attire, and purchasing a lot of reading material are found at Pulpwood Queen Gatherings. The annual convention held in Nacogdoches is no different where founder Kathy Murphy is always dressed to the hilt.

"The theme is 'Once Upon A Time," Murphy said. "That's why all the fairy dust, because we believe that fairy tales can come true."

It certainly has for Murphy. Through divorce and hardships, the East Texas hairdresser found refuge in reading. That love led to a book club, which has an international following.  Murphy's daughter, Heleina Wilkerson, stays grounded by remembering the first Pulpwood Queen event.

"I was ten-years-old I think whenever we had our first one in our backyard," Wilkerson, said.

Now Murphy is shoulder to shoulder with authors on the New York Times Bestsellers List, including Paula McLain. Her exclusive announcement can lead to big sales.

"The exclusive news is that my novel, 'Circling the Sun' has been selected by the Pulpwood Queen as the 2016 Book of the Year," McLain said.

Murphy's own big news is still a secret. Currently, she's waiting anxiously to see who will play her role in a DreamWorks movie about her life.

"I know they have meetings with someone next week, I can't say," Murphy said.  "It's big. We should know maybe in the next couple of months."

In the meantime, Murphy is obtaining a degree at UT Tyler. She continues to operate her hair salon/bookstore and is a Methodist youth director. She's contemplating a future move to Nacogdoches.

"If I can find a job, for anybody out there, I might do that," Murphy said. "Yes I would. My daughter is thinking about going to graduate school here. Down the road I could see me moving here. Definitely."

Perhaps it'll be another chapter of Kathy Murphy's life. If and when, Nacogdoches is certain to roll out the pink carpet.

The Pulpwood Queen convention had a street party in downtown Nacogdoches Friday night. Saturday author panels will continue at Mast Hall.

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