About

About the Blogger

Hello, my name is Jackie. I’m a thirty-something mother of a rambunctious toddler from a small town in Michigan. When I’m not toddler-wrangling, I’m often seeking refuge from life’s most chaotic moments in a cup of hot tea. I also love getting lost in stories—both in books and virtually. I enjoy speculative fiction the most, and I am especially eager to read fantasy novels and horror novels. When I’m feeling especially indulgent (usually after everyone in the house has gone to sleep), I like to dive into video games and explore the sprawling worlds in Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect.

About the Blog

By Golly, Ollie!, formally known as Books & Tea, started as a mostly-YA book blog back in 2011. It was a little niche I carved out for myself post-college as a way to get back into reading. (All of those college textbooks burned me out!) These days, the the luxury to sit down and read seems non-existent, but I do enjoy an audiobook when cleaning the house. So, Books & Tea has evolved into By Golly, Ollie!, a lifestyle blog that features some of my favorite things: books, tea, and geekery.

Are you new? Start here!

Good Reads

• The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix — Check out of teas I paired with Hendrix’s terrifying vampire novel.
• The Sisters of Versailles by Sally Christie – The Mistresses of Versailles series is one of three book series I actually finished. It even inspired me to bake up a tasty treat: Pain au Chocolat for the Mistresses of Versailles. (See also: Four Reasons Why You Should Read the Mistresses of Versailles Series).
• The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson – Bryson is my favorite non-fiction/travel writer. He’s one of the few authors I make space for on my book shelf. (I also wrote about his books Shakespeare: His World as Stage and A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail)
• Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern – I rarely read YA these days, but I have a special place in my heart for Halpern’s geeky coming-of-age story.

Tasty Teas

• Yunnan Golden Buds from California Tea House – a reflection on the less glamorous moments of motherhood while sipping a comforting black tea with cocoa and malt aromas
• 2020 Rohini First Flush from Masters Teas – a fleeting moment of luxury among the chaos with the “Champaign of teas”.
• Gyokuro from Japanese Green Tea Co. – a sense of nostalgia with a green tea that is savory umami that fades to sweetgrass in later infusions

Geekery

• 2019 Motor City Comic Con – loot from my first comic book convention!
• Five Reasons Why You Should Read Ms. Marvel, vol 2 (or, if Ms Marvel isn’t your thing, check out my thoughts on Fables vol 1 & 2 or Batman: the Dark Knight Returns or Nimona)
• Back to Hogwarts with the Boy Who…tea from Adagio Teas – fandom teas blend two of my favorite things– geekery and tea! But, if Harry Potter isn’t your think (and I don’t blame you), perhaps you will appreciate the Tardis Tea Pot de Creme I baked up a few years back. (I also have a fandom blend series on my TeaTube channel *inconspicuous wink*)

Lifestyle

Other posts that may interest you are:

• My 2021 Word of Intent: Joy
• Five Monthly Favorites (spoiler: it’s usually tea and my son)
• Reflections on Motherhood
• Travel Guides to Portland, Maine (2) or the Slate Run Living Historical Farm in Canal Winchester, OH