The founder of Women Behaving Badly fundraising event, Tammy Barrows, the General Manager of Books a Million, wanted a platform for women authors, who were coming to the Festival of the Book, to speak to women readers. Barrows felt that certain genres with a woman-based readership may have been over-looked by the organizers of the South Dakota Humanities who planned the bi-yearly event in Deadwood. So, she and her friends decided to create their own event. The event has found a following and is now in year six.
This year the WBB will be held at the Dahl Arts Center on Wednesday, Sept 20 at 6:00pm. The once “outsider event” is now considered the kick-off of the Festival of the Book in Western South Dakota.
Women Behaving Badly has featured authors from diverse styles, including: fashionista vampires, women as gun-toting detectives, biker women in the Black Hills, or women who write novels with an erotic flair.
Barrows had seen the success of these genres in sales at Books A Million. Certainly, the unrivaled success of the 50 Shades of Grey series, proved her to be correct in her assumption.
Since the first event, Women Behaving Badly has featured women authors, bikers, tattoo artists, rock singers, dance troupes, roller derby queens, the Buffalo Chip Poster model, the TRASH women’s comedy troupe, some unusual baked goods and delicious chocolates.
There are three book authors featured this year. Writers Karen Abbott and Susan Elizabeth Phillips are both New York Times bestselling writers. Karen’s latest book is “Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover During the Civil War” she is a non-fiction writer and part-time private eye.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips latest book is “It Had to be You”, She is the creator of sports romance and has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy”.
The third author is Rapid City’s own Barbara Evenson, who has just finished the book “The Shadow Tiger, Billy McDonald, Wingman to Chennault”. The book is the true story of Billy McDonald, who with his brave team of flyers, flew planes over the Himalayas to drop much needed supplies and munitions to the Chinese who were being blockaded by Japan. The book about a well-known war hero was recently accepted into the Smithsonian collection and is now for sale in the Smithsonian Bookstore in Washington, DC.
Also on hand for Women Behaving Badly, is another Rapid City original, The Flaunt Girls Dance Troupe. “This hit show has been seen coast to coast. Currently filming a documentary this group is Flaunting its way to the top loving the art of the tease and wowing audiences with amazing Aerial Dance performances along with several inspiring cirque numbers.” (from the Flaunt Troupe Facebook Page) Flaunt members will represent the troupe with an explanation of the girl- power message of the troupe, give a short performance, along with a burlesque teach for audience members.
In conjunction with the WBB, Homeslice Media, will run a contest for a lady listener to have a make-over from local businesses that will include hair, make-up, and a new outfit. This make-over will be documented and the outcome revealed at the event.
Tickets are available at the Dahl. Tickets are $10 dollars in advance, will be $15 Day of Show. A Women Behaving Badly T-Shirt can also be purchased as an add on for an additional $10. A cash bar will be available.
All proceeds go to the Dacoda Instrument Drive and the Readiatrics Book Drive.
For more information on Women Behaving Badly, please visit the event Facebook page. It is also recommended that audience members hang out with some smart, bookish women to get ready for the fundraiser. Event organizer, Tammy Barrows can be reached at 605-545-1249 or barrows0@
