By Erin Wood Just over a year ago, on March 20, 2021, Crystal C. Mercer’s children’s book From Cotton to Silk: The Magic of Black Hair launched on the birthday of her late grandmother, in whose honor she sewed the book’s pages. Reflecting 467 hours of hand-stitching, the textile renderings that became the book’s pages incorporate fabrics Mercer studied as part of her graduate work in Ghana, Africa, textured with
The Exquisite Egg By Erin Wood A Hot Springs native, artist Isabel B. Anthony’s lifelong passion for embellishing eggs—ignited in the 1960s by a Ladies’ Home Journal article about the enameled and precious-jeweled Easter eggs of world-renowned Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé—is reflected in her new book The Exquisite Egg: One Artist’s Embellished Creations. Releasing March 1, just in time for Easter baskets, the book shares images of over 100
By Erin Wood When young writer and Nashville, Arkansas, native Kaden Peebles should have been preparing for a high school cheerleading competition, she was knocked out by debilitating pain. She was eventually diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. This diagnosis marks the start of her book, Chemo and Good Eyeliner: A Cancer Memoir (forthcoming spring 2023). Peebles eventually completed 35 rounds of chemotherapy, 32 localized radiation treatments, 8
By Erin WoodAt a November gala at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Little Rock fiction writer Jen Fawkes was celebrated as the 36th winner of the Porter Fund Literary Prize. Established in 1984, The Porter Prize is a nonprofit supporting Arkansas writers and poets, founded by Phillip McMath in honor of Dr. Ben Kimpel. Past winners include our current Arkansas Poet Laureate Jo McDougall,
By Erin Wood While Maumelle resident Dr. Judy Tiesel-Jensen now enjoys being “creatively retired” and watching pelicans fly over the Arkansas River from her writing desk, she keeps one foot firmly planted in her three-decades-long career as a couples therapist. Her new book, Invitation to Intimacy: What the Marriage of Two Couples Therapists Reveals About Risk, Transformation, and the Astonishing Healing Power of Intimacy, forthcoming November 16, is one part
By Erin Wood The Yarn—a Little Rock-based nonprofit that uses the power of storytelling to amplify voices, build understanding, and create space for human connection—is releasing its first book on October 12. Truths We Tell: Stories From The Yarn Stage is curated from the show’s first four years of productions under the direction of co-founder and producer Hilary Trudell. Trudell shares, “I couldn’t be more excited to present this anthology
By Erin Wood Authors and presenters for the 2021 Six Bridges Book Festival have been announced. The event, which will take place virtually from October 21-31, features nearly 70 national authors including Lauren Groff, Margaret Renkel, Charles Yu, Jaqueline Woodson, and local authors including Kevin Brockmeier and Crystal C. Mercer—among a robust roster of others. Many formerly knew this celebrated festival as the Arkansas Literary Festival. The new name, Six
By Erin WoodAuthors and presenters for the 2021 Six Bridges Book Festival have been announced. The event, which will take place virtually from October 21-31, features nearly 70 national authors including Lauren Groff, Margaret Renkel, Charles Yu, Jaqueline Woodson, and local authors including Kevin Brockmeier and Crystal C. Mercer—among a robust roster of others. Many formerly knew this celebrated festival as the Arkansas Literary Festival. The new name, Six Bridges
By Erin Wood If you have K-5 kids, you won’t want to miss the six-week summer learning program, “Rise and Shine,” now airing on Arkansas PBS in collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Education. Featuring lessons led by Arkansas teachers to reinforce learning in key subjects including literacy, math, science, and social studies, the program began July 6, airing weekdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. through mid-August. “Boosting literacy is one
By Erin WoodPrepare Little Listeners: Preschool music teacher and author/illustrator Carol Dabney says, “When reading my children’s book, Butterfly Dreams, I say ‘Little caterpillar Carlos will be going through some big changes. Listen carefully to what changes take place so you can tell me about them after we finish.’” Let Them Choose: Crystal C. Mercer, author/illustrator of From Cotton to Silk, says, “I let my nieces choose the books, use
By Erin WoodJennifer A. O’Brien, a self-taught Little Rock artist whose work supports those delivering end-of-life care for others, is the winner of a prestigious Nautilus Book Award. O’Brien’s book, The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal, was honored with a Silver Award in the “Death & Dying/Grief & Loss” category. Past nautilus award recipients have come from a diverse range of writers and celebrated contributors including wellbeing pioneer Dr. Deepak Chopra,
By Erin WoodA very unique book launched on March 20, the birthday of author and “create(her)” Crystal C. Mercer’s late grandmother, in whose honor she sewed the book’s pages. Yes, sewed. By hand. The pages of her first children’s book, From Cotton to Silk: The Magic of Black Hair, reflect 467 hours of hand-stitching and not only incorporate fabrics studied in Ghana, Africa, as part of her graduate work, but
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August brings a special kind of cheer to our quirky little town, as we celebrate two remarkable milestones: the City of Hot Springs’ 150th birthday and the 37th birthday of Gallery Walk. Together, they mark generations of creativity, community spirit, and the enduring belief that art belongs to everyone. For 37 years, our artists,
Can you find this mural? Text us a selfie with it in the month of August and receive a free drop-in! 501-651-0545. Hint: Donuts on Park Avenue. Photo by Missy Conry & Melissa Stevens By Missy Conry & Melissa StevensYoga is often described as the practice of finding balance—both on and off the
Registration is now open for the Eighth Annual Gudrun Mountain Bike Festival on Hot Springs’ acclaimed Northwoods Trails. The mountain bike extravaganza annually attracts hundreds of bikers of all abilities to Northwoods, which has been voted the No. 1 trail system in Arkansas six times. There are events geared for professionals, novice
When the sun dips below the Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs reveals a vibrant and surprisingly diverse nightlife scene waiting to be explored. From cozy dive bars and bustling craft breweries to cocktail lounges and venues pulsing with live music, there’s an after-dark adventure suited for every mood. Whether you’re looking
