RPL hosts author event

For those interested in Alabama history and stories from the Great Depression and World War II era, the Russellville Public Library is hosting an author event Feb. 15 that might spark some interest.

Clara Ruth Hayman Holt will be speaking about her late husband’s book, “The Jemison Café: Reflections on an Alabama Boyhood.”

The book was published by NewSouth Books in Montgomery in 2017 after Holt spent a year editing it.

“The book’s stories revolve around the happenings there (at the Jemison Café) – the social center of Jemison,” Holt said.

The book tells the true stories of John Hayman’s family and their struggles, traumas and successes during that time period, according to Holt. The family had moved to Alabama from Arkansas and bought the Jemison Café.

Holt said her husband penned seven books and more than 60 academic articles in his lifetime. Two of those books were recipients of the Coley Award, given by the Alabama Historical Society every two years for the best Alabama history book during the previous two years: “Bitter Harvest,” an authorized biography of former attorney general Richmond Flowers, and “A Judge in the Senate,” an authorized biography of former U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin, which Holt co-authored.

“She reached out to me after hearing about the author events that we do, and of course we’re always happy to host one,” RPL Director Ashley Cummins said.

The event will last from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and refreshments will be served.