A quiet bookstore slowly began to fill and eager attendees waited for their chance to say a few words to House Speaker Mike Hubbard. As handshakes, smiles and anecdotes exchanged, hard-back books slid across the table, and ink flowed onto pages as Hubbard signed copies of his new book “Storming the State House: The Campaign That Liberated Alabama from 136 Years of Democrat Rule,” on June 20 at Page & Palette in Fairhope.

“’Storming the State House’ provides a revealing, behind-the-scenes look into the campaign that elected Alabama's first Republican legislature in modern history,” according to Karin Wilson of Page & Palette.

Hubbard went on to explain his motivation to write what became a NewSouth Books publication.

“It really is the art of history from flip legislature,” he began. “It’s the history Republicans have talked about for decades, and we finally did it.”

“We” is a most important part of the above sentence, because Hubbard credits a group, not an individual, with the success of reaching a goal.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the team,” he said. “If you control the legislature, you control the state government.”

“It’s a story worth telling—a story with twists and turns, peaks and valleys. It transcends politics because it can be about anything you want. It can work with anything—you set goals, and have a team carry it out.”

While the road to change is a compelling story, Hubbard said that’s only the beginning.

“It’s incredible the positive things we’ve been able to do in the past two terms,” he beamed.

While the legislature continues to make a difference in Alabama’s government, Hubbard’s book will also change lives through more than informing readers, he said.

The proceeds go to John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children, the author divulged.

For more on the book, visit stormingthestatehouse.com, for more on Big Oak Ranch, visit bigoak.org.