“When I interviewed for this position, I saw on the wall ‘Koko’s Map of Moose County’ [Braun’s fictional setting], and I knew this library was where I was supposed to be,” Nanney said. “Luckily, I got the job.”
Cynthia Terwilliger, a friend of Braun’s who organized a tribute to the author several years ago, shared some of Braun’s quotes from radio interviews. In one of those interviews she shared her recipe for the pork liver cupcakes that are mentioned in the books, which included pork livers, wheat germ, salad oil and rolled oats.
“‘They are much more appealing to cats than humans,’” Terwilliger quoted Braun as saying in the interview. “‘Whenever I make them, I open all the windows.’”
Wanda May, former owner of the Book Shelf in Tryon and Braun’s longtime neighbor, also spoke at the dedication. She said Braun wrote her first novel at age 12.
“It was an historical novel set during the French Revolution,” May said. “She killed off everyone by guillotine and then was very upset by the violence in her story. Her mother said, ‘Perhaps you should try something lighter.’”
May said Braun’s “The Cat Who…” books helped pull the Book Shelf through slow times. Every year in January or February, May said, the latest book in the series usually came out. Braun would autograph books at the store, and people came out in droves to buy the book, May said.
“She contributed so much to this community,” May said. “We were so very fortunate to have her share with us.”