Perfect Recipe to Bring Faith, Family, Freedom Back to Center of American Life

[PRESS RELEASE]

All-American Book Club | May 30, 2025

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Eden Gordon Media, NewsTalk 105.9 FM, WMAL’s The All-American Book Club, and Great American Media, announces the first leg of their summer roster for the program. June’s star-studded interviews will focus on “faith and food” and the remarkable stories of several prominent authors and business owners. The founder of GiGi’s Cupcakes, GiGi Butler, will share how she built a successful cupcake franchise and became a faith entrepreneur who took the country by storm. Former Blue Bell Creameries CEO Ricky Dickson will detail his faith journey and how he took the steps of leadership and discernment to become the cream of the crop in his book, “One Scoop At a Time.” Stories that focus on faith in trying situations will be spotlighted in “Fire Mountain” by award-winning author Dana Mentink and “An Unexpected Grace” by bestselling authors Kimberly Woodhouse and Tracie Peterson.

Eden Gordon Hill remarked on the shared stories: “As we crafted this show for June, I drew inspiration from GiGi Butler and Ricky Dickson, whose faith-driven journeys shine in their bestselling books. They both have a remarkable ability to engage audiences with their passion for food and their commitment to uniting families. In an era where the kitchen table is fading amidst a digitally-focused generation, GiGi and Ricky emphasize its enduring value, weaving America’s kitchen table traditions into their books and daily lives.”

Great American Media CEO and President Bill Abbott remarked on meeting with both GiGi Butler and Ricky Dickson: “Food and faith — a perfect recipe for reuniting families in a generation that’s being driven away from our core values of faith, family, and freedom. Through their bestselling books, GiGi and Ricky lay the groundwork for wholesome living, rooted in the heart of America’s values. I’m thrilled to share their inspiring stories with you.”

Ricky Dickson, Former CEO & President of Blue Bell Creameries

Ricky Dickson, retired CEO and President of Blue Bell Creameries, graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in marketing and journalism. He began his career with Blue Bell in 1981 as a territory manager in Dallas. In 1992, Ricky was named assistant Dallas/Fort Worth division manager. Ricky was eventually named general sales manager in 2003 and moved to Brenham. In 2010, he was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing and was also appointed to serve as a director on the Blue Bell Board of Directors.

In 2017, he was promoted to company president, and in 2019, he was elected CEO and President of Blue Bell Creameries. In 2024, Ricky received the International Dairy Foods Association Laureate Award for his significant and prolonged contributions to the development and growth of dairy. He was also inducted into the Dairy Products Institute of Texas Hall of Fame.

In One Scoop at a Time: Stories & Lessons From Fear to Faith, Ricky invites you into an intimate look at his relationship with God as he navigated challenges and sought growth both in his personal life and as a leader. Lighthearted and filled with Ricky’s humor and wisdom, grab your ice cream as Ricky shares his journey from fear to faith.

“Faith seems easy until it’s hard,” Ricky Dickson said. “One Scoop at a Time, and my interview with Eden, recounts my journey to discover how to find God’s peace, even in the middle of life’s storms. I’m honored to share this time-tested knowledge with her listeners.”

GiGi Butler, Founder of GiGi’s Cupcakes

As a young child, GiGi Butler knew that if she wanted to succeed, she had to work hard and offer a service that people wanted to buy. At age 7, she sold eggs out of her little red wagon to neighbors. At age 15, she bought cleaning supplies and started a cleaning service out of her rural California home.

When she moved to Nashville at 19, she had her heart set on becoming a country music star. Cleaning houses by day to support herself for over a decade, she realized that God had other plans for her. If she couldn’t be a successful singer, she decided she would grow a business that she could be proud of.

An extraordinary baker throughout her life, she decided to open a cupcake shop with all the money she could pull together. With the help and support of her family, she was able to open her first store in a prime Nashville location. The news of her cupcakes spread quickly, and the franchise became a huge success. Now, in The Secret Ingredient, GiGi reveals how her failure led her to explore her passion for baking and how she became a successful businesswoman. With spunk, humor, and insight, she weaves her hard-won wisdom and business acumen into the fun, fascinating, and instructive stories of her life. Each inspirational chapter concludes with treasured family recipes, desserts, and other savory favorites.

GiGi can also discuss her upcoming devotional that shares the importance Jesus Christ holds as the KING of hospitality in our lives. Through the new devotional, GiGi will take readers step-by-step through stories where Christ opened Himself up in “hospitable” ways to ordinary people and how we can do the same. The devotional will also include new recipes from the Queen of Cupcakes.

Award-Winning Author Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is a USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She’s written more than 40 mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Revell, and Poisoned Pen Press. She is honored to have received two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award.

In Fire Mountain, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig under the shadow of a threatening volcano, unable to recall what happened or why she’s suddenly in possession of someone’s baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.

As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he’s the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn’t want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he’s in this thing, like it or not.

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby’s missing mother – all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.

Bestselling Authors Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them.

In An Unexpected Grace, Parker Bennett returns home after a decade away with a traveling troupe to perform a play based on Uncle Tom’s Cabin at the Kalispell Opera House. Parker has relished his life on the road, but being home awakens long-buried emotions when he encounters his first love, Johanna St. John. He can’t help but wonder if there might still be a place for him in her heart.

Widowed for three years, Johanna devotes all her time to a demanding toddler, an injured father, and a successful millinery business. After the loss of her husband, she desires to move on, but reconnecting with her past love leaves her unsure of what lies ahead. Both committed to God’s distinct calling on their lives, Johanna and Parker struggle to see how their futures can unite, and when strange things start happening around town, their second chance at a life together seems more unlikely than ever.

Great American Media & Great American PureFlix

Great American Media is home to a family-friendly portfolio of brands, including Great American Family, Great American PureFlix, and Great American Faith & Living. Great American Media was established in June 2021 by Bill Abbott and a group of U.S.-based family offices. As the flagship linear TV network, Great American Family features original Christmas movies, romantic comedies, and classic series that celebrate faith, family, and country. Great American PureFlix is a leading faith and family streaming service that inspires, uplifts, and entertains with content that you can confidently stream with the entire family.

Great American Faith & Living features lifestyle programming that celebrates family-friendly traditions every day and every season. Great American Media is also home to FAST (free ad-supporting streaming TV) channel Great American Adventures, which offers scripted and unscripted content highlighting themes including cooking and DIY, and Great American Community, a free direct-to-consumer streaming app featuring short-form original series hosted by well-known lifestyle experts.

Eden Gordon Hill, Eden Gordon Media Founder and host of All-American Book Club

Eden Gordon Hill’s journey is a testament to the unpredictable yet purpose-driven path guided by her faith in God. During her university days, Eden navigated the Halls of Congress. She led communications for elected leadership in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; she spearheaded military and veteran-focused content for the Fox News Channel.
She was a political appointee in the first Trump Administration, serving as Senior Advisor of Communications. Her multifaceted career saw her transition between studying in various formats and advancing her public profile through her Strategic Communications studies at Liberty University.

After public service on Capitol Hill, she launched her public relations business, Eden Gordon Media. After years of service behind the communications for elected officials, she ran for elected office to advocate for common-sense values.

As a veteran spouse, Eden’s life took yet another turn, leading her to host a radio show and podcast dedicated to pro-American books, authors, and talent, with a focus on God, Country, and Family.

At the intersection of media and patriotism, she is a radio show host on WMAL in our Nation’s Capital, where her expertise in strategic communications and public relations shapes every narrative.

The content resonates with audiences who value faith, country, and family. Her role involves engaging with an active listener base, featuring interviews with influential voices, and curating content that fosters meaningful discussions on national and family values.

Throughout her career journey, Eden attributes her steps and successes to divine guidance, embracing the unexpected turns with gratitude, grace, and a deep sense of purpose.