Library to host virtual book talk with Hill
The Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., will host a Virtual Book Talk featuring author David Hill on Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m.
Hill, who is originally from Hot Springs, will discuss his upcoming book, “The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, Arkansas, America’s Forgotten Capital of Vice,” which releases on July 7. This digital event will be hosted via Facebook Live at http://www.facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary.
“This presentation by Mr. Hill will be about the content of his book, and his experiences researching it. The publisher’s description for the book teases about ‘the days before Vegas was big, when the Mob was at its peak and neon lights were but a glimmer on the horizon,’ referring to Hot Springs as ‘a little Southern town’ that ‘styled itself as a premier destination for the American leisure class.’ The Vapors has received acclaim and buzz from numerous media outlets. The New York Times Book Review lists it as a 2020 summer reading pick, while Thrillist calls it ‘a deeply researched work … full of organized crime, cons, bootleggers, and all kinds of other seedy characters you hope for in a colorful history book,’” a library news release said.
Local history-loving library patrons can enjoy hearing the author talk about the book via livestream. “As libraries across the world explore ways to provide content while remaining safe and socially distant, social media will be an essential platform,” Adult Programmer Paul Kagebein said in the release. “Everyone can access the content by going to the library’s Facebook page, even if they don’t have a Facebook account.”
The link to watch the Livestream will become available as a post shortly before 6 p.m. July 8. Viewers can interact by typing in questions while they are watching, which Hill may answer at the end of his presentation, time permitting, the release said.
Hill is providing “five gratis copies of his book to the Garland County Library, which will be raffled away at random to five people who comment or ask a question during the Livestream,” the release said.
The library will have additional copies of the book in circulation to be checked out.
There is no registration required. Call the library at 623-4161 or 501-922-4483 for more information, or to be placed on hold for a copy of the book.
For more information about curbside pickup, online databases and other services, call the library at 623-4161, email gcl@gclibrary.com, or visit http://www.gclibrary.com for access to online catalog, accounts and e-materials.