Books in Bloom Literary Festival

Books in Bloom 2014

The Books in Bloom Literary Festival is famous for hosting literary stars and emerging authors on the grounds of the Crescent Hotel in historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas in mid-May. This year, I’m honored to be one of those authors!

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Crescent Hotel and many others, plus the dedicated volunteers and staff of the Carroll and Madison [Counties] Library Foundation, this is a FREE event celebrating writers and readers. (There’s even a shuttle service and easy parking!).  Visit with authors, listen to them discuss their work, and take home your own signed copies. The 2013 festival included Catherine Coulter, James Grippando, Craig Johnson, and Anna Loan-Wilsey, just to name a few. (You can see all the 2013 authors here.)  Coming this year:

2014 Books in Bloom Roster (so far): Elizabeth Berg, Terry Brooks, Mark Christ, Steven Foster, Susan Holmes, John Hornor Jacobs, Anne Ream, Kathy Reichs, Kerry Reichs, Kat Robinson, Lothar Schafer, and Michael Shelden.

You can “like” their Facebook page Books in Bloom Literary Festival to get the latest news news about the festival, and bookmark their website www.booksinbloom.org for more information. Author details should be posted to the website by mid-March.

It’s a beautiful time to visit the Ozarks; if you’re in the neighborhood, I hope you’ll come by!

Legends of the Ozarks

Crescent Hotel logo

If you’ve read Deadly Ties you know the historic Victorian village of Eureka Springs is featured in the book. One of the village’s most prominent hotels is the Crescent Hotel & Spa. Here’s what the Historic Hotels website has to say about this jewel:

Perched above the Victorian village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas—recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations—is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, a palatial structure and landmark hotel that echoes the recuperative splendor of the surrounding Ozark Mountain region. The cultural hotel in the Ozarks features 15 on-site acres of gardens and nature trails—ample evidence that Arkansas’ nickname, The Natural State, is no misnomer. Located in the historic district with more than 100 restored Victorian shops, restaurants and galleries, the Victorian hotel seamlessly retains its 19th-century character, from the Crystal Dining Room to the elegantly furnished guest rooms, without sacrificing a single full-service amenity.

You might be surprised to know that for many guests, the splendor of the hotel and the beauty of the grounds aren’t the main attractions. That honor goes to the ghosts.

Yes, you read that right. Ghosts. For many, the hotel is known as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, and visitors are apparently routinely treated to . . . well, let’s just say “unusual sightings.” You can read about some of the ghostly legends and even book a stay during a scheduled ghost hunt here.

Legends of the Ozarks can be found throughout the Waterside Kennel series. Deadly Ties, for example, features some of the treasure tales of the region and ghostly tales will make their appearance in the next book in the series.  Stay tuned for more news about the series, coming soon!

 

Much to Celebrate…

The Dog Writers Association of America’s annual awards banquet is fast approaching. One of the nominees is Sue Owens Wright, who’s garnered her 11th nomination for a Maxwell Award for her book Braced for Murder.  Congratulations, Sue!

Braced for Murder

Braced for Murder is the latest in the Beanie and Cruiser mystery series. If you enjoy mysteries with a regional flair (this one’s set around Lake Tahoe) and love Basset Hounds, this is a great book for you!  You can read an excerpt of the book and learn more about the series here.

And speaking of the Dog Writers Association of America, I’m honored to announce I’m now a member of that wonderful organization. Many thanks to my writing colleagues and friends who sponsored me, including Tracy Weber and Amy Shojai. Sue, Tracy, and Amy are all terrific writers who are passionate about dogs, so be sure to check out their websites!