Thursday March 28th, 2024 9:29PM

Schlapman serves up hospitality, autographs new cookbook in hometown

CORNELIA - With a 26,000-pound red apple monument just outside, Cornelia native Kimberly Schlapman spent more than three and one-half hours Saturday signing copies of her new cookbook.

"Oh Gussie" was released on April 14, and features recipes and stories from the Little Big Town singer who grew up in Habersham County.

More than 500 people stood in line at the Cornelia Depot, some for a couple of hours,for the chance to get their cookbook autographed and have a cell phone picture made with Schlapman, who also hosts television program "Kimberly's Simply Southern".

Schlapman spoke of the significance of Habersham County in her life.

"This is where I learned to cook by standing beside my Mama and my grandmothers and watching what they did," Schlapman said. "My Mama would should up at people's houses when they were sick or had a baby and she wanted to take them a casserole and I would go with her."

Growing up, Schlapman sang at churches, school functions and community events throughout the county, including on a stage at the Big Red Apple Festival within sight of Saturday's signing venue.

While singing is her vocation, cooking has played an integral part in her upbringing and continues to be an important part of her life.

"I just learned that cooking for people is how you take care of them down here in the South," Schlapman said. "Being here, it's just like full circle. These people mean everything to me - they raised me. It just fills up my heart to see their faces and to know that this book might mean something to me, too, so I'm thrilled."

Glenda Boling of Books with A'Peal, who organized the event, said the turnout far exceeded anything she imagined.

"We started ordering books as soon as they were available, and kept reordering and reordering and ended up with over 300 that we've sold," Boling said going into Saturday's event.

The limited quantity of extra books was quickly snatched up by those in attendance, with orders taken for some 300 more. Those books will be shipped to Schlapman this week for autograph, then returned to Boling for delivery at her store in Cornelia.

"Customers who had to order will have those in plenty of time for Mothers Day," Boling said. "That's what a lot of people are wanting."

Boling has hosted book signings for romance and science fiction writer Diana Palmer, children's author Jan Walker and many others through the years, but the turnout for this weekend's event eclipsed those.

"We've had several large signings, but this is the biggest I've ever done and we were a little bit unprepared for it," Boling said. "I had lots of help: Joni Mabe, Rosy Brown, Sandra Black, and today Sandy Watson, Linda Wilbanks, Heather Sinyard, Linda Anderson and Sandy Foster.

"We've had lots of help getting ready for this," Boling said. "I'm so glad that we were able to have it here."

The Cornelia Depot is home to the city's Main Street Program and is located in the heart of downtown, an area where Schlapman performed numerous times in her youth.

"We're just happy to have her come back to her hometown for this book signing," Boling said.

Those attending Saturday's signing event were treated to a special surprise.

"We were so excited when Barbara, Kim's mother, volunteered to make some of the food that is in the cookbook," Boling said. "She made the [Mama's] Teacakes and the Schlapp Happy Bars and a couple of other items, so people are enjoying that today."

Fans of all ages attended, including one baby who is only a few weeks old. Others were a little older and listen to Little Big Town's music.

"Awesome!" is how 11-year-old listener Bobby Stallings of Clarkesville described meeting Schlapman, who graduated with his mother, Leigh Stallings-Wood. "I got an autograph."

Schlapman will be back in Georgia next week for a signing at 7:30 p.m. May 8 at Eagle Eye Bookshop in Atlanta.

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  • Associated Tags: Kimberly Schlapman, Cornelia Depot, Downtown Cornelia
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