The Branson Regional Arts Council will present an exciting book signing event featuring five well-known, published authors from the Ozarks.
This free community event will offer area residents an opportunity to meet the local authors and learn the inspiration behind their books. Authors participating in the book signing are Howard C. Cavner, Todd Parnell, Tom Koob, Curtis Copeland and Marilyn Whetstone.
The authors will sign their respective books and share information on the stories of the amazing people of the Ozarks, the beautiful mountains, lakes and humorous folktales! This event is a rare chance for friends and fans to connect with the authors, and for the authors to promote their work and engage with their readership.
The book signing event is set for Monday, August 5, at 6 p.m. at the Historic Owen Theater, 205 South Commercial Street. The event is free to the public and all are encouraged to attend.
Following the book signing, those in attendance are invited to enjoy a 7 p.m. showing of the 1941 film version of the “Shepherd of the Hills” starring John Wayne, Betty Field and Harry Carey. The supporting cast includes Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Marjorie Main and John Qualen. The picture was Wayne’s first film in technicolor and was based on the novel of the same name by Harold Bell Wright. The director was Henry Hathaway, who directed several other Wayne films including “True Grit” almost three decades later.The film is sponsored by the Historic Downtown Branson Community Improvement District and the public is invited free of charge. Seating is limited to 200 people. The concession stand will be serving your favorite snacks.
"Ozark Saints" is Howard Cavner’s first book of short stories. He considers it a blessing to have lived his childhood and young adult years in Branson, Missouri, just six blocks from the Historic Owen Theater. Growing up in Branson, when it was a quaint, small town, allowed Howard to get to know many Ozark characters, among them Jim Owen, and be influenced by their common hill values. An ordained progressive Christian minister, he served as an ecumenical campus minister for thirty-five years before retiring in 2018. Howard is pictured here with his loyal Hickory.Todd Parnell will be speaking about his book, "The Buffalo, Ben, and Me, and Trails of the Heart" Todd is the retired President of Drury University, co-founder and retired CEO of THE BANK in Springfield, MO, civic leader, award-winning author inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame in 2012, environmental advocate as co-founder of the Upper White River Basin Foundation and retired Chair of the Missouri Clean Water Commission, and an eighth generation native of the Ozarks. Parnell resides in Springfield with his wife of 47 years, Betty. They are blessed with four children and seven grandchildren, for whom he has great plans on the river. His passion for engaging all in wild and natural places speaks to individual personal benefit and growth as well as new generations of environmental advocates to protect our unique resources. His commitment to clean water in the Ozarks speaks to a precious and unique natural resource that underlays a vibrant regional water-based economy.
Tom Koob has lived in the Ozarks White River Hills for over thirty years, and will be speaking about his book "Buried by Table Rock Lake." His study of the area’s history and culture has resulted in four nonfiction books and two novels about the region. Tom’s interaction with long-time residents has left him with an admiring respect for the strength and character of the mountain folk who have forged a good life out of the Ozarks’ hills and hollows.
Curtis Copelandwill also be attending with his book "Mildred, Quit Hollering!" Curtis is a lifelong resident of the Southwest Missouri Ozarks. He graduated from Missouri State University in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cartographic Sciences. Immediately after graduation, he was hired as a Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician for the City of Branson. Shortly thereafter, he became the GIS Manager for the City. He has also used GIS technologies to locate and map historic sites, town sites, homesteads and structures. His career with the City of Branson has provided a great deal of experience working with other government agencies, including state, federal and local entities.
Marilyn Whetstonewill be speaking about her book "Our Home In The Hills". One of more than twenty-five first cousins who grew up together in the Ozark Mountains, Marilyn Michel Whetstone reveals in “Our Home in the Hills” how she experienced first-hand the joy and comfort of being part of a large, close-knit family. In a collection of true stories and family recipes, Whetstone shares anecdotes that provide insight into her life growing up in the popular resort mecca of the Midwest, Rockaway Beach, during the 1950s and 1960s and the lives of guests who visited the family resort during that time. While transporting others on a nostalgic trip back to a simpler time, Whetstone details how unselfish acts of sacrifice and kindness promoted healthy and lasting bonds among relatives and friends. She shares the ups and downs in her teenage relationships and offers a glimpse into her close walk with Jesus Christ. Included are recipes that have been passed down in her family for more than a hundred years, providing a backdrop to her delightful stories.
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