Back Porch Musings

WOOHOO! My books and custom greeting cards are officially in my Etsy store! Check it out.

There's Teresa Staggs Graff reading TEENY-TINY TINA AND THE TITMOUSE to her granddaughter. ❤️
Get your copy on Amazon. It's grandkid-approved! 🥰
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H8KDXN65

KIZZI’S NOVEL NOOK
By Terri White

In the 1850s, England established the first mobile libraries using horse-drawn carriages. Then by 1905, Mary Limist Titcomb, aiming to create more community access to literature, created the first bookmobile in the U.S.A. The Works Progress Administration (WPA), during the Great Depression, supported bookmobile programs, especially in rural areas, and many of those communities continued the programs long after the Depression.

I have fond memories of the bookmobile that visited our elementary school in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In the 1950s, our school’s tiny library was a nook at the end of a hallway, so the bookmobile augmented out meager collection.

Today, about 900 bookmobiles operate across the U.S.A. serving various demographics: schools, retirement homes, and rural communities. They have even evolved to include modern technology like Internet access, e-readers, and multimedia resources. Thus, bookmobiles provide tailored resources and materials to diverse populations with limited access to traditional libraries.

Enter Kizzi’s Novel Nook, a new wave in bookmobiles. Much like the food truck popularity, Kizzi’s Novel Nook travels to local weekend venues. You will find her friendly trailer parked at festivals, wineries, breweries, farmer’s markets, and book fairs. Hosting a party for your book lovers? Kizzi’s your girl!

Unlike a bookmobile that loans books to patrons, Kizzi stocks popular new books of various genres for purchase. Romance? Fantasy? Action? Thriller? Mystery? Poetry? Short stories? All stocked in the Nook for adults, teens, tweens, and younger children. You will even find my books, Back Porch Musings and Teeny-Tiny Tina and the Titmouse, there!

But what prompted a 30-year-old mom to launch this business? Kizzi Rowland grew up in Missouri near her grandma. Due to her severe dyslexia, Grandma never learned to read. Because of this handicap, her grandma stressed the importance of reading to Kizzi, who became a voracious reader. Kizzi regularly read to her grandma, enriching both of their lives. And no surprise that Kizzi dreamed of owning a bookstore.

Later, Kizzi moved to Texas, and eventually settled in Cleburne with her husband and four children. Over the years, her dream of a bookstore simmered on the back burner. Realizing that a brick-and-mortar store was not financially feasible at this stage of her life, Kizzi determined to buy a trailer to establish her traveling bookmobile.

With $1,200 from her savings, Kizzi found a rundown 7x12 trailer for sale on Facebook Market Place and purchased it in 2025. It was in such deplorable condition that she and her husband had to gut it. With their limited budget, they whittled away at the renovation for an entire year. Bit-by-bit it shaped up into a welcoming atmosphere, with books nestled on cozy shelves.

But wait! Kizzi has added some pizzazz to her regular book sales. Her “Blind Date” adult surprise book packages come with a book, self-care items, stickers, and hints of the book title. Not to be left out, children’s “Play Date” surprise packages are filled with a book and other goodies. The teen’s surprise package is still in process. With Kizzi’s sparkling imagination, it is sure to capture your teen’s interest. Wait for it!

And surprises keep rolling in at Kizzi’s Novel Nook. Recently, she hosted a “Tote Bag Paint Night” at the Nolan River Coffee Shop. After participants shopped for books, they painted their book totes. Coming up in August, the Nook is partnering with another business to offer a build-your-own mini bookcase, a 3D decorative piece for your book shelves. What a creative idea! I predict that these innovative events will not only be reoccurring, but also a great success for our young entrepreneur. Books, creative projects, and conversation. What’s not to like?

All this, though, would be impossible without the support of Kizzi’s husband. When they began this journey, she often grew discouraged, but he refused to let her give up. From renovating the trailer to holding down the fort on weekends to cheering her on, he’s her anchor. That’s a team effort.

Kizzi’s story is possible because we live in the U.S.A., where dreams still come true. I applaud Kizzi for not only daring to dream, but launching into the unknown to make her dream a reality. I have no doubt that one day she will own a brick-and-mortar bookstore, but until then, look for Kizzi’s Novel Nook. What a “novel” idea!

To reach Kizzi, email her at [email protected] .

If you enjoyed reading this, find more stories in Terri’s book, Back Porch Musings, on Amazon in hard copy, Kindle, and Audible.

https://a.co/d/iEmYezn. You can also find Terri’s children’s book, Teeny-Tiny Tina and the Titmouse on Amazon amazon.com/dp/B0H8KDXN65 .

Woohoo! "Teeny-Tiny Tina & the Titmouse" are ready to purchase on Amazon! It's the perfect book for your littles!

Teeny-Tiny Tina and the Titmouse Join Teeny-Tiny Tina on her unexpected adventures with the titmouse.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
By Terri White

Not only is Cleburne a thriving community packed with ‘Mom and Pop’ shops, one-of-a-kind restaurants, year-round family-friendly events, inviting wineries, but it also offers numerous charities. One of those charities has served Cleburne’s youth since 1987.

East Cleburne Community Center’s mission is “to provide every child with a positive interaction with his or her community and to enhance pride in self and community. It is through this mission that ECCC has successfully connected generations to invest in their neighbors and community.

Although ECCC provides services and programs for all ages, the youth in Johnson County are the primary target, with a special emphasis on economically disadvantaged elementary through high school age students.” (eastcleburnecc.org)

With four main goals, ECCC enables at-risk youth to strive for a brighter future. It provides a “haven for recreation, education, mentoring, health awareness, and socialization; builds relationships through mentoring and group activities; encourages and develops an appreciation for cultural arts; and partners with other community resources”.

The Center’s motto, Together We Can Make a Difference, has impacted hundreds of Cleburne’s youth for almost 40 years. I volunteered, serving on the board and as chairman of the board, for several years.

I fondly remember Charles Jenkins, a teenager who shared that ECCC was his safe place. Growing up, Charles lived in a household with nine siblings and his parents. Charles was blessed with parents who loved each other and held a vision for each child to thrive. To that end, they required their children to be respectful and instilled discipline in them.

However, although both his parents were home on the weekends, they worked long, hard hours from Monday through Friday. They earned enough to get by, but with no extras. While the parents worked late into the night, the children had to manage for themselves.

This left them vulnerable. Life in an economically deprived neighborhood offered many temptations. All the paths that led to destructive lifestyles were readily available.

So when Charles’ mom heard about East Cleburne Community Center at church, she encouraged her kids to participate. Thus, Charles and his siblings faithfully attended all the programs. Weekly programs and summer camps offered enriching and wholesome experiences. From ballroom dancing to learning manners to homework help to boxing to museum field trips to mentoring – and more – Charles thrived.

He warmly remembers joining a board member to pick up food from the food bank – food that fed them in every program. During day camps, the children ate breakfast and lunch. At Kids Night Out, they ate supper. No one ever left hungry. That meant a lot to Charles coming from a family of twelve on a limited budget.

Christmas at Charles’ home was slim. While his parents always gave their children what they needed, they weren’t able to give them what they wanted. So the Center’s Christmas program, providing several gifts for each child, was the highlight of his year. That’s when he got what he wanted. Santa never failed to visit the Christmas party!

In his senior year of high school, I counseled him about career options. He yearned to become a chef, so I found a nearby college program. However, since his mom did not think that was a good path for him, he lacked the means to attend. So Charles continued participating at ECCC after graduation while he searched for a job. Once he found one, he moved out of his parents’ house and has fully supported himself ever since.

During this time, he married and began his family. But he still wanted a more promising career. Charles’ father emphasized that if you want something, then you work for it. With that mindset, Charles enrolled in the police academy while working full-time. Upon graduation, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department hired him. He has risen to the rank of corporal in the past thirteen years and works at the judicial courthouse keeping order.

But he has never forgotten his dream to be a chef. “It’s a retirement dream now,” admits Charles. No doubt, he will achieve that goal. “Without East Cleburne Community Center, I could have gone in the wrong direction. It was a safe place not only for me, but also for my friends. A safe place to meet and expand our horizons. A place that fed us, taught us, mentored us, and loved us. For that, I am deeply grateful. And without that positive influence as a teen, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

As I wrapped up our interview, I asked for his email address. Looking at me, he grinned, “Dexter (ECCC Executive Director) told me that I needed an email address to function as an adult in this world. This is the same one I created 20 years ago.”

Later, I contacted Dexter Baldwin to jostle his memory of Charles. He pondered, and then remarked, “Charles was a good leader for his siblings. He not only watched out for them, but he was also a good role model.”

Charles is one of many who have thrived under the influence of ECCC. Today, as a family man, a homeowner, and a man with a promising career, he invests in our community just the way the Center invested in him. He represents hope for our town’s youth who struggle to find their way – all thanks to East Cleburne Community Center’s purpose to make a difference in their lives.

Terri is a contributing writer to the Cleburne Times-Review. This article was published in the CTR Saturday, June 27.
Find Terri's book of short stories, BACK PORCH MUSINGS, on Amazon. https://a.co/d/iEmYezn.

I wrote the children's picture book that I never wanted to write. Gasp! And I'm loving it - images and all! Look for TEENY-TINY TINA AND THE TITMOUSE this August on Amazon.This book will be a MUST have for your toddlers! Many thanks to Giovanna White for her delightful depiction of Tina and the titmouse. You'll find some of my paintings in it, too! Woohoo! Sneek peek of Teeny-Tiny Tina.