The February 2024 Literary Road Trip Box is themed to the state of Alabama! I have been through Alabama on a road trip, but I don't think that I even got out of the car, so this state is a bit of a mystery to me. I do remember that it was very green, even in the middle of winter, and this makes sense, as Alabama is known for its natural beauty including mountains, forests, and coast.
While researching Alabama, I also learned that the state has the last remaining all-water mail route, was the place where the first 911 call was made, and has a road side attraction that is the World's Largest Office Chair. Of course, Alabama is also known for its many important historical sites, especially involving the civil rights movement. In Montgomery, you can visit the Rosa Parks Museum and also see various locations where Martin Luther King Jr. lived and worked during the bus boycotts. For a literary tie-in, Montgomery is home to the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum.
Heather Webber's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is the February box featured book. It is set in the fictitious mountain town of Wicklow, Alabama and follows a young woman who comes to the town following the death of her grandmother. If she agrees to work for two months at her grandmother's cafe, she will inherit the estate. However, the cafe is more than it seems as the signature dish is a magic pie that town lore states will give dreams with messages from deceased loved ones to those who eat it. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is an endearing small town story of love, loss, and having the courage to forge ones own path.
The indie bookstore partner for February is Thank You Books. Thank You Books ( such a fabulous store name!) is a female-owned store located in Birmingham. We have included their store sticker in the February box. The store sticker comes in a variety of colors and the color you receive may not be the same as shown in the picture above.
Hummingbird cakes are a southern treat and this month's box includes a cake mix from We Made. We Made is a company in Birmingham that has been around for over a century. They run a workshop that provides job training for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. This is a feel good company that happens to make delicious treats. If you make a hummingbird cake, I'd love to see pictures! Please share them to the Books Inside Boxes Instagram Account.
As a nod to Valentine's Day, two bookish seasonal items, both from Fly Paper Products. The first is a memo pad to keep track of your loaned books. In the photo, the pink page is showing, but each pad has pages that are pink, red, and white. Show your love for reading with a button! I have a special bookstore tote bag that I have filled with book-related pins and buttons. I only use it on special occasions, but it brings me a lot of joy. I'm guessing that some of you also do the same thing!
A limited number of the Alabama themed Literary Road Trip Boxes are still available. Shipping within the US is included in the purchase price, and if you are sending it as a gift, I can include a personalized card for the recipient.
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