Author Story Time: Laura & Ron Hester

We are so excited to welcome local authors Laura and Ron Hester at Lark & Owl Booksellers for a super fun story time with their book, TOM PETTIE AND THE TIMID CALICO!

RSVPing is not required to attend the story time but does help us get a more accurate head count!

About the book: There is an adage which states that “art imitates life.” These stories began with our own cats and an outdoor male we named Tom Pettie. Laura chose the name based on a line from Mary Jane’s Last Dance by Tom Petty, which goes, “take me as I come cause I can’t stay long.” The line totally sums up Tom Pettie who loves anybody who will rub his tummy as he rolls on his back. When he has your undivided attention, he simply gets up and saunters away looking for his next gig. He is an outdoor pet with a collar, but he enjoys making the rounds on the ‘Green’, which is the pocket park where our houses circle. The other cats belong to me and my son and daughter-in-law. Tom breezes in and out of our lives daily with his carefree and fun-loving nature. He shares his philosophy with our indoor cats by showing them that life is simple…be kind, generous, and brave. The experiences the cats share is filled with challenges but, by following Tom’s suggestions, they discover simple solutions and manage to learn a lesson along the way. Enjoy the adventures Tom shares with his “compadres” as they explore the world from the cats’ unique perspectives.
"To err is human, to purr is feline." — Robert Byrne

Ron is a retired speech and theatre arts teacher who taught 35 years in Texas public schools. He is very proud to answer his calling to be an educator and appreciates learning the lessons his students taught him. He has spent his entire married life with at least one cat sharing his wife’s attention. At this moment he and Calliope, a three-year-old calico, are vying for Laura’s focus.
Laura is a retired elementary teacher who spent 28 years in the kindergarten classroom and serving 2 years as a district reading coach. Reading, cats, and teaching are her passions. She instilled the love of reading in her classroom by bringing her passion and reading hundreds of stories to them. Her love of teaching is only shadowed by her love of cats. Her message is simple……. Reading is fun, creative, and connective!
Ron and Laura Hester share their love for cats, children, and kindness through a series of children’s books that reflect their life’s journey.