By Renea Winchester, author of SIBA Book Award Nominee: In The Garden With Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes

Most people do not notice the paper plate-sign with the words “Eggs, Firewood, Okra” scratched in black and duct-taped to a weathered piece of wood.

Most people, like me, are too busy.

However, a multi-level paper plate with the words, “Baby Goats 4 Sale” served as a beacon for my then eleven-year-old daughter, Jamie.

“Mom, can we stop…can we?” was the beginning of what I knew would be incessant begging. Reluctantly, I parked my car in the drive and met someone whom I had overlooked daily for almost ten years. Someone who would change the way I see others.

What do an Atlanta mom and a seventy-eight year old goat farmer have in common? At first blush, absolutely nothing. Extending his hand in the tradition of a true Southern Gentleman, Billy cast his magical spell by shaking my hand, then pulling me into his world. A world where chickens crow, rainwater is recycled and “hocus pocus” must be spoken before the tractor will crank.

Hours after our initial meeting, Jamie and I were so touched by this stranger that we skipped her tennis lesson and returned to his “little strip of land” where we became garden helpers. We still help Billy in the garden today.

Since meeting Billy, I’ve learned more about myself than I have about him.

His patience revealed my impatience.

His generosity revealed my selfish tendencies.

His acceptance of others revealed my exclusive nature.

These silent lessons occurred while I worked beside him picking “tow-maders” and “pink-eye-purple hulled peas.”

Some of my experiences were captured on napkins. My dirty hands scribbled fast, leaving a thin layer of dust as I attempted to keep up with the remembrances in my mind. I intended to share our garden experiences with my mother who has Stage IV ovarian cancer. Except the more I shared with her the more I realized that the world needed to hear what I call, “The Message of Billy.”

That message is that everyone matters. Regardless of where they live, what they do for a living, who (we think) they are, everyone matters.

Those napkins became a manuscript, and the book a nominee for the SIBA 11 Book Award. I immediately called Billy after learning of the nomination from fellow nominee Jennie Helderman. A smile lined his face. He lifted his chin a fraction of an inch and said, “I’m right smart proud.”

We tried not to cry…but the emotion was too strong. We cry often at the farm. Saline drops of appreciation for an unexpected friendship that is changing how others see strangers.

We launched In The Garden With Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes at his farm in what is arguably the most exciting day of my life. Imagine a blend of fall festival and family reunion where strangers are friends we just hadn’t met yet. Many traveled for hours and stood in line to meet this remarkable man. Afterward, I received emails such as the one that said: “It’s like Billy fills an empty place in my heart I didn’t know I had. Meeting him made me rethink the way I see others.”

That is the magic of Billy.

Since the sell-out October release, Billy has traveled with me to Yawn’s in Canton, Georgia where (after eating Nadine’s delicious chicken salad sandwich) he wove his magic on a crowd whom, I’m certain, came because of him. We’ve spoken to civic groups and garden clubs on the importance of slowing down and “seeing people.” We urge others to give the most precious gift you have … your time. However, the most important message from Billy is the education of “young folks.” We’ve spoken to schools and established a children’s area on his “little strip of land” where we will teach the future about the importance of gardening, relationships, and of course, tomatoes.

To Wanda and the Indie Booksellers, “Thank You,” for believing in Billy’s message and for allowing me to share the Good News with readers throughout the South.