Hey, y'all, ABC Wednesday is the perfect time for you to meet Jill Conner Browne, Boss Queen of the Sweet Potato Queens. Jill's tour for her latest book, "The Sweet Potato Queen's Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit," brings her to Portland on Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Hip-hip-hooray! She'll be at Powells on West Burnside. Mama and plan to be in the great big crowd, suitably attired as true followers of the Boss Queen.
I took these photos in March, 2005, at the Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade in Jackson, Mississippi. Boss SPQ Jill and the Sweet Potato Queens ride a vividly tacky float around a loop through the heart of downtown. As I explained in my random facts, 2005 was my second year to be an official SPQ Wannabe Wannabe, marching along behind the float, in I-never-knew-how-much-fun-marching-in-a-parade-could-be heaven!
Every few minutes loud, danceable music blares from the float, initiating a rolling floor show from the Sweet Potato Queens, therefore, this blurry but fun photo below.
Please note the water bottles you can see all around the edges of the float. That big white cooler is packed to the gills with water! Parading around in pounds of sequins, foam and fringe take it out of a gal.
I'm happy to report that I got to interview Jill in 2004 for the Jackson Free Press. Click here
to read the interview. Plus, you can read a summary about Jill here.
P. S. Believe it or not, in the mid to late '70s Mama and Jill worked together at the Sears credit department. I discovered that when I reviewed Jill's last non-fiction book, “The Sweet Potato Queens’ Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide”. In between it and this latest non-fiction one, she wrote "The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel: Stuff We Didn't Actually Do, but Could Have, and May Yet." For a bit about the tour for the novel as well as the essence of Jill and the Sweet Potato Queens, please read this article in USA Today. You'll be glad that you did, I promise.
29 comments:
OMG what a picture!! Love the post and the Sweet potato Queen...the things I learn blogging!
FANTASTIC !!!
She's over the top! Fun photos, great atmosphere, loved reading you too.
Excellent post.
WOW what a fun Q post :o)
I tried leaving a comment earlier but blogger seems to have chewed it and now I've forgotten what it was I said!
..Republican America's continuing flirtation with the mystique of Monarchy!
This seems to be in the long and very old English tradition of the "naughty postcard".
Wow, what photos and a story you tell! Love this post.
Wow.......Great post
Bet she can do wonders with sweet potatoes! The mind boggles! LOL!
Lynette, I have laughed my way through several of the SPQ's books. Now I will imagine you laughing your way beside the float. What a fun experience.
I KNOW women who are like this naturally right here in the South, women who've never heard of sweet potato queens.
To quote our dearly departed Elvis, "Thank you. Thank you very much."
Too funny - I enjoyed your very original post!
Great "Q" photo. Looks like everyone was having a lot of fun!
Oh my, Linette! That queen is something else. Are those boobs real???? She seems to be filled with energy and good vibes! Fun post! :)
What a great post that was, i too have to ask are they real?
One hundred percent real foam rubber! Way over the top fun, front and back.
WOW! AMazing, OTT is right! SUPER! Great photos, how cool!
Fun times! Great photos
Wow! She certainly is colorful. Love the crown!
Great post, well over the top! What a laugh!
From South Shields Daily Photo
Looks like everyone had fun.
Paz
Lynette, I've never heard of such. Thanks for informing me.
Thansk for the chuckle. I needed one!
Too funny. I enjoyed reading your post. Looks like a wonnderful time for all.
Ok. I had the same reaction as Fénix, lol! Painful to watch. :D
Until now, I'd not heard of the Sweet Potato Queens. Enjoyed the photos, and reading the interview.
Oh golly yes, I've heard of the Sweet Potato Queen before! Great shots and great words, on this entry.
Mari-Nanci
New one on me too. Crikey we do live a sheltered life here in the UK - I'm moving to the U.S. asap! ;)
Great photos and what a fun time! There are some meat on them taters!
I guess Jill is up to bigger and better things since Sears. Thanks for the entertaining Q photos.
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