Roachdale Hardware featured in book

Thursday, July 12, 2007
Fans crowded around Danville author Phillip Gulley during a book signing held at the Roachdale Hardware store Tuesday evening. Gulley is the author of a series of books called "Porch Talk," one of which features a chapter on the hardware store.

Danville author Phillip Gulley signed copies of his newest book "Porch Talk" at Roachdale Hardware Tuesday evening. The store and its owner Charlie Riggle are included in the book.

Gulley claims his book is all about stories of decency, common sense and other endangered species. It is the fourth in his Porch Talk Series.

Gulley said he "stumbled" across the hardware store about four years ago and has been coming back frequently ever since. He has high praise for Riggle and the store in downtown Roachdale.

"Charlie is walking sunshine and a balm to the spirits," Gully writes. "I cannot separate Charley from his store; one without the other would seem incomplete, like a nut without a bolt."

On Tuesday, Kelly Stanley came from Crawfordsville for the event.

"My parents live in Ladoga and heard about this signing. It's pretty rare to have a book signing in a small area like this. I've read some of his books and really enjoy them," she said.

Gulley, who is also the pastor at the Fairfield Friends Meeting in Camby, Ind., spoke to the crowded room about how he became an author.

"I was pastoring to a church of 12 elderly women who asked me to write the front page of a newsletter. Several years later I was introduced to a publisher who asked to see my essays, which I kept in a shoe box. The first time the publisher called me I hung up because I thought someone was playing a trick on me," he states.

Six months after that phone call, Gulley's first book was published.

"I tell people its real easy to get a book published. Become a Quaker pastor with a meeting of 12 elderly women," he exclaimed.

Steve Newman came from Danville to have his book signed. He too is mentioned in one of Gulley's books. After making Gulley's acquaintance several years ago, Newman began pestering the author to make him a character in one of his books.

"I wanted him to make me a doctor, a neurosurgeon," Newman told the BannerGraphic.

Gulley did include him in a book as a doctor -- not a neurosurgeon, but as a podiatrist. Newman was thrilled.

"Gulley is my favorite author. I've read all his books," he said. "My wife told me I had to come and get a book signed because he was going to be in Roachdale."

Bonnie Kruse, a former Greencastle resident who now lives in Bainbridge, also reads Gulley's books and attended the book-signing.

"I missed three of his book signings and I wasn't going to miss this one," she said. "I love reading about people you know and places that are familiar. His writing really brings it home."

After Gulley introduced his wife of 23 years, named Joan, he read another chapter from his book which discussed aspects of their relationship.

At the end of the reading, she appeared pleased as she commented, "He's told worse stories about me. This one isn't too bad."

Gulley says he writes the books but doesn't let his wife read anything he writes about her until the books are published for fear that she will edit them.

Gulley also hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.

The author will be at the Putnam County Library in Greencastle in September. He also has a new book coming out next July based on his memories of growing up in his family's Danville home.

Gulley moved into his current home, situated on Broadway Street in Danville, as a 9-year-old boy. The house remained his parents' home until two years ago.

The new book is appropriately titled, "My Life on Broadway." For information about Gulley you can visit him online at www.phillipgulleybooks. com.

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