- I grew up in Tucker, Georgia, near Stone Mountain State Park. I climbed that granite mountain countless times in the first 22 years of my life (and not since!).
- I used real pies for my team’s “pie graphs” in my senior college capstone business class—Chocolate Chess Pie and Buttermilk Pie! We won the simulation and got an A in the course—all due to the incredible smarts of my team mates, mind you!
- I love to sing and used to lead worship on occasion at our church back in Colorado. I also led Women’s Ministry for 12+ years back in Colorado, too. Great memories… #GodswomenROCK
- I eat bacon nearly everyday. Love bacon. And bake mine in the oven. It’s only one of the blissful benefits of living a low carb (Keto) lifestyle.
- I also love boiled peanuts. LOVE them! Served warm is best!
- For as long as I can remember, I’ve baked. And I absolutely loved making my kid’s birthday cakes and being “homeroom mom” and bringing class snacks. I remember making 50+ of these cookies for a field trip.
- I had a Christmas wedding—December 15, 1984—complete with poinsettias (saved a bit on the flower budget!).
- All the years our kids were growing up, I kept this laminated Family Circus cartoon in the area where our kids played to remind me of how swiftly time passes and of what’s truly important. aka: Not a clean house.
9. Joe and I are a product of an arranged marriage. Joe’s mother Claudette was my girl’s club sponsor at Harding University and when I graduated, I wanted her to meet my mom and visa versa. So I got the two couples together for breakfast at Kings Inn in Searcy, Arkansas. Our mothers met, loved each other, and as we were getting up from breakfast that morning, Mom leaned over to Claudette and said, “I wish you had a son!” Claudette’s face lit and she whispered, “I do! I do have a son!” And that was that.
Both of our moms are Home now, cheering us on in that great cloud of witnesses. And Joe and I are still going strong—32 years and counting.
June and Claudette
10. I never dreamed that I’d some day grow up to write novels. Much less that people would actually pay to read them. But being able to visit the places I’ve written about is an extra special blessing. Especially the Hapsburg Palace in Vienna that’s included in A Note Yet Unsung, the third and final Belmont Mansion novel.
But one of the coolest things about writing so far… I dreamed the opening scene of my first published novel, Rekindled. I still remember waking up with that scene so vivid in my mind. Wish that would happen again!
So which of these things do we have in common? Are we kindred spirits of boiled peanuts? Bacon? December weddings? Mountain climbing?
Tammy
Did you know that A Note Yet Unsung has a playlist?
Tamera Alexander
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Love you, love your books and love getting to know you better! we go way back, but it is always interesting to read some things about you that I did not know! Did not know that you sing!That is so cool! I do too!
Anxiously waiting for your new book to come in, know it’s going to be another good one! Have a great day Tammy! BTW how’s your pup doing? I know that you still miss Jack, but your new one is adorable! 🙂
Thanks, Veronica! Now I not only want to watch a movie with you—I want to sing with you! Whenever our paths cross, babe, we’re doing both! ; ) Murphy is doing very well, thanks for asking. He just turned a year old and has settled into our home well. He’s still a puppy, of course, and has so much energy! And yes, I still miss my precious Jack. So much. Hugs to your sweet babies!
We have our love of bacon, writing, and traveling in common. But boiled peanuts? Nope. Haha
I’m looking forward to reading A Note Yet Unsung!
Yay, bacon lovers unite! Thanks for sharing, Cheryl, and I hope you enjoy ANYU!
Alabama girl, here. I love those boiled peanuts. No climbing of Stone Mountain, but I did take the cable car up once and I enjoyed the laser show when I was in college and then again when my kids were small.
Yes!! A boiled peanut lover! Cool that you’ve been to Stone Mtn. Pretty place. Next time I visit, I’m taking the cable car! ; )
I envy your baking talents, Tammy. The real pie graphs were brilliant! I did make my kids’ cakes when they were small, but I had to find clever ways to decorate without actually decorating. I had no skill. One of my favorite was a cake for my daughter’s pioneer party. Round cake with white icing. Green sugar sprinkles for grass with a graham cracker crumb road down the middle with nilla wafer rocks. Then a plastic wagon and team sat on the road. I had an Oreo crumb race track with plastic race cars for one of my boys, too. Anything with crumbs seemed to be my go-to style. Ha!
I admire your creativity, Karen! “…crumbs seemed to be my go-to style.” Love it! And hey, whatever works! About the pie graphs… After we finished our presentation, we whipped out plates and forks and served them whatever portion they wanted (advertising budget, R&D, etc…), then they each took the rest home. It was fun! I have a pic of that somewhere. In some box. In some room. Upstairs.
I live in Alabama so Stone Mountain has been one of our favorite vacation spots. One of our trips was in our RV. They have a great campground. I got highly upset when some PC people wanted to have the image blasted off the side of the mountain. Trying to erase history? Can’t be done…
I love boiled peanuts too, yum! 👅
Another Stone Mtn and boiled peanuts buddy! Love it. And yes, Gail, let’s please not erase history. We must be mindful and prudent. But forgetting history is just an invitation to make all those same horrific choices/decisions all over again. Which we must not—cannot—do. Thanks for sharing!
Yes on baking and bacon!!! I’ve never tried boiled peanuts.
I love your story of using real pie for the pie charts. Reminds me of when my third-grade teacher used peanut butter fudge to teach us fractions. 🙂
I’m loving A Note Unsung, although I’m having to go a little slower because of my sister’s passing. But last night I needed a break and immersed myself in the book. I already have some wonderful passages marked! I’m loving Adelicia’s wisdom, daunting though she is! <3
Woohoo, Linda! Next time you’re in Nashville, we’ll get you some warm boiled peanuts. Be still my heart! GREAT 3rd grade teacher you had! My kind of teacher. Thanks for the kind words about ANYU, and know that I’m praying comfort and peace for you on your sister’s passing. First your brother and now your sister. So sorry, Linda, for your loss and holding you close in prayer.
I’m so grateful to Adelicia Acklen of Belmont Mansion and for the chance to tell her story. There’s still so much to tell about her. Maybe someday.
I love these posts!! And I just have to say, I have more in common with yours than any other!
While I don’t eat bacon daily, I make it nearly every day! I think that it should be considered the primary food group for my children. They are super picky, but never turn down bacon! I’ve also baked it before, but usually use my special bacon plate in the microwave.
I didn’t have a December wedding, but my parents anniversay is December 15, 1973!
I also love to bake, but my creations aren’t nearly as cute as yours!
And finally, my mother-in-law’s name is Claudette! She told my husband in high school that I was “the one” but he didn’t figure it out til about 4 years later. 😉
Thank you so much for sharing!
P.S. A Note Yet Unsung is fabulous! I’ll hopefully be finishing it tonight and passing it on to my reading bff tomorrow!
Cool, Julie! I knew I’d find a kindred bacon-loving, December-15th-wedding-date-sharer, baking-enthusiast, MIL-also-named-Claudette spirit in this bunch! ; ) So glad your husband finally wised up! And thank you for the kind words about A Note Yet Unsung. It was a LONG labor of love (and a lot of late and sometimes fretful writing nights), so I hope you enjoy Tate and Rebekah’s story. And thanks for the word of mouth. No better advertising around. Blessings!
I have yet to read one of your books, but after this I will for sure! Who does not love Bacon? I wish I ate it every day, I also bake mine in the oven when I cook it. I would love a Christmas wedding..(big sigh here). We did get engaged at Christmas though. I too love to bake, and my husband loves to eat the finished product. I am going on amazon right now to look for your books.
LOL, Karen. Love it. Bacon brought us together! I have a feeling we have a beautiful bacony future together! ; ) Thanks for sharing!
I even learned some things! And I thought I knew you pretty well! 😉 LOVED reading this! Oh, but I could TELL a couple more secrets people probably don’t know… heh heh heh. 🙂
my daughter Erika lived in Tucker, GA for about 5 years and still misses it. She says Tucker is a great place. Love reading about you, Tammy!
We have a January anniversary – 28 years and counting. I did have red at our wedding, but no poinsettias..lol. I have never had the opportunity to try boiled peanuts – something I will need to rectify, I’m sure.
We were married in the same church building 🙂
Bacon!! I also love to sing. I’m an alto, so no leading. I am a southerner, SC. I also love to bake. My mama is in Glory, too.
We have in common a December wedding and I dearly love bacon. 🙂
We also have in common your books; I love them and I’m sure you do too.
I have them all.
Oh and I sing in church plus play a bass guitar even in my old(er) age. Lol!
Let’s see….we have Colorado in common….and we were both married in the ’80s….I’m sure there must be something else, but what?
In common… Music ministry, baking (but not decorating!) and an almost December wedding. We planned to marry on Dec 18 but my dad insisted we get married sooner bc December was such a crazy, busy month. We didn’t argue! (We’d only dated four weeks before getting engaged so we weren’t sure how our parents would take our news.)
Loved your post, Tammy! It’s fun to learn new things about you–in addition to the insights I gained while traveling in Germany with you! Ha!
My sister-in-law sent me a copy of that Family Circus cartoon years ago, and I also kept it posted on my refrigerator for many years while raising my three children. At first, I was not sure if my housekeeping skills were being insulted, lol, but I took it in the spirit I’m sure it was intended and used it of a reminder of how fast that time goes. Now I am blessed with six beautiful grandchildren, and often think about those days. I think I must have thrown the comic out, but I recognized it instantly and it brought back many great memories.
I’ve climbed Stone Mountain my whole life, and have the blessing of continuing to do so. 🙂
Also, I love bacon and boiled peanuts- I just love salt! 😉 I do the travel thing, too.. being a flight attendant rocks! Your books are amazing, they’re my favorites… you have SUCH a gift!! 🙂 Kindred spirits- check! 😀
I am a stay at home mommy of a 20 month old and a 3 and a half year old….so my life consists of toys EVERYWHERE!!! I love the perspective of the Family Circus cartoon, as I often wish my house were cleaner!! May I share on Facebook? 🙂