Gregory Johnson, a Tallulah native who now divides his time between Shreveport and Syracuse, has published his first book, Donuts, Baby Donuts. Johnson is an attorney who said he has long wanted to write about his childhood in Tallulah.
Johnson said he grew up in Tallulah during the 1970s and 1980s. He attended Wright Elementary, McCall Junior High and McCall High School. He described summers spent at the public library, the summer lunch program, the swimming pool and the summer baseball program. He said those experiences shaped his youth and formed a daily routine that included reading programs, time at the pool and baseball practice.
Johnson said the book begins with him coaching his son in baseball. He said the experience became central to the story. After the death of his father, Johnson returned to Tallulah with his son for the funeral. The service was held across from the baseball field where he played as a child. Johnson said conversations with friends at the service led him to begin writing. The book moves between those present-day events and his childhood memories.
He said the book focuses on the value of time given to family and loved ones. Johnson said that theme is tied to the reflections offered by speakers at his father’s funeral.
Johnson said he does not comment on Tallulah today because he has not lived in the city for many years, though he visits family and handles occasional legal work in Madison Parish. He said he wrote the book to provide a perspective from someone who grew up in the community and to counter depictions he has seen in documentaries made by people from outside the area.
The main baseball field where Johnson played was located behind Wright Elementary, near the former McCall High School football stadium.
Johnson said the book is intended for a wide audience. He said readers who value childhood memories, baseball, family or small-town life may connect with it.
Donuts, Baby Donuts is available through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
