Pearl’s Books offers its annual gathering of authors and books at the Fayetteville Public Library December 6, 2025, from 1:00 to 5:00, with an array of regional authors and their newest titles plus old favorites. I’m delighted to be included in this very special event.

My latest novel, The Blue Bottle Tree, a gothic tale of murder, was chosen as the Best Published Adult Fiction 2025 by the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. It will be one of the featured books.

In post-Civil Rights 1970, Letta Davis and Susan Pea Butler navigate the festering and rotten secrets of assault, liaisons, and disappearances that bubble to the surface. The two women stand on opposite sides of the racial divide, both held captive by their culture and the town patriarch Major Butler. Major’s wife, Eve, protects the vulnerable of the household. But she is dying of cancer. Her sister-in-law, Susan Pea, must assume the role of family matriarch and protector. But does she have the emotional resources to hold her brother Major Butler accountable?

Letta struggles to protect her children while seeking revenge for her husband’s death. She moves slowly, careful to consult an ancient Crone and listen to the whispers of the blue bottle tree. Susan Pea is torn between her lifestyle, her racist community, and fear of her brother. Then there’s the murder…

Need a Christmas gift? Authors Day offers the best in regional books with the added benefit of talking with the author and snagging an autograph.

Savor the South in a different light or introduce a friend to the South anew. Get a signed copy of The Blue Bottle Tree for yourself or a buddy during this December 6 event.