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The Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society will host poet and author Pat Durmon for a presentation on her memoir about a local storyteller on Tuesday, May 27.
Durmon will present “A Love Affair: a Boy and His Town,” featuring the story of Lee Roy Farrier, a natural storyteller who grew up in Norfork, Arkansas. The free event begins at 6 p.m. in the Knox Room of the Baxter County Library.
The presentation will focus on Durmon’s memoir “Going Home,” which chronicles Farrier’s coming-of-age story as an orphan “blessed by parents, family and a town,” according to event organizers.
“This is a coming-of-age story of an orphan who finds missing pieces of his life throughout his journey,” said the Society in their May meeting announcement. “Durmon’s account offers a unique perspective on local history through one resident’s experiences.”
Durmon, a two-time winner of the Sybil Nash Abrams Award from Poets of the Roundtable in Arkansas, wrote the memoir during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her published works include a chapbook, three poetry books and a memoir.
Before becoming an author, Durmon worked as a teacher and mental health counselor. She now lives with her husband on the White River in Norfork, where Farrier’s story takes place.
Born in Little Rock, Durmon has received numerous awards for her work, which often draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the Ozarks region and its people.
The Historical and Genealogical Society, established in 1978, regularly hosts events celebrating the rich history of Baxter County and its communities. The organization works to preserve local history through educational programs, research assistance and archival collections.
The event is open to the public with no admission charge. For more information, contact the Baxter County Library at 870-580-0987.
