At 70 years old, Patty Boyd has ventured into new territory — as a writer.
Boyd, who lives in Colbert with her husband, Mike, said she has devoted her life to faith, family and a career in accounting and printing.
But in 2025, she’s published two books.
The first, released in May and titled “Life, Love & The Laundry: An Old Southern Woman’s Perspective” is a short, satirical book containing anecdotes and wisdom about everyday home life.
Boyd said the book’s style is inspired by Erma Bombeck, a 20th-century humorist known for her newspaper column about American suburban life.
Humor has gotten Boyd through many of life’s hardships. She described it as a “defense system” that she got from her father.
Boyd drew from her love of fairies for her second work, a children's book titled “Twinkle and Sparkle — The Backyard Adventure: Fairy Fun,” published in July. She has several fairy gardens in her yard.
Boyd and her husband lost their dog, Radar, two years ago. He is now a main character in her children’s book, along with two fairies named Twinkle and Sparkle.
“He was my heart, my absolute heart,” Boyd said about Radar.
Boyd was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After graduating from Lake Charles High School and McNeese State University, Boyd continued to make a life for herself in Southwest Louisiana, starting a payroll business.
But after two devastating hurricanes, Boyd and her husband decided it was time to go.
They moved to Colbert in December 2012.
Boyd’s love for Oglethorpe County has only grown throughout her time here. In fact, she said she wants to base her next book on the area.
“I love where I came from. I love my home,” Boyd said. “But I also love here. It is so nice here. Everything is just so green.”
Boyd and her husband attend Winterville United Methodist Church, where they have found community and friendship. One of Boyd’s close friends, Marcia Warmkessel, has been an encouragement to Boyd’s writing.
“The musings of someone who’s been through a lot, who’s been on Earth for a while and who can invoke humor into it, to me, is amazing,” said Warmkessel, a therapist who was inspired by Boyd to make a fairy garden in her office.
As family is of great importance to Boyd, much of the influence to start writing came from her grandmothers — her maternal grandmother’s “artistic” nature, and her paternal grandmother’s plethora of stories.
She also credited her “God-given talent” to express her ideas.
“There’s no lack of inspiration anywhere,” Boyd said.
Boyd is considering a big next step: sending her books to the “Today” show. She also knows she has more stories in her. She is not done with writing.
At the core of her writing is a desire for joy, and to take everyday life a little less seriously.
“All I want is for people to laugh,” Boyd said.