top of page
SnakeEyes-4.jpg

Hot Springs, Arkansas wasn’t your typical, sleepy little Southern town. Once a favorite destination of mobsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, illegal activities continued to lure out-of-state gamblers, flim-flam men, and high-rollers to its thoroughbred racetrack, clubs, and bordellos. Still, the town was shaken to its core after Cathie Ward, a beautiful thirteen-year-old, was found dead at a nearby ranch & riding stables on June 24, 1966. The owner claimed it was an accident. However, when he committed murder months later, Hot Springs residents were horrified--and convinced he’d also murdered the girl. The author, a junior high school classmate of Cathie’s, returned to her hometown in 2014 to discover the truth surrounding her friend’s tragic death and the man who terrorized their town. This true story has been waiting a lifetime to be told! 

Readers say: “The book is a page turner, I can’t put it down.”

Published by Prometheus Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield

Home: Latest Book

Cathie Ward

April 21, 1953 - June 24, 1966

IMG_6081_edited.jpg
Home: Headliner
Home: Quote
Notebook and Pen

“Snake Eyes is a gripping true crime tale well-told. The story of a nice young girl lost far too soon and those determined to find the truth and get it out. It happened in the author’s hometown, and mine, and played out against its culture of denial and decency, crassness and caring. There’s a lot of real life here.

Read it!”

Bill Clinton

IMG_9136_edited.jpg

Best of Arkansas 2023 - 
Best Author Finalist

What a great surprise to be voted Best Author Finalist in Best of Arkansas 2023. Thanks to the "Arkansas Times” and voters, and congratulations to all winners and finalists.

Home: Latest Work
Home: Welcome
image000000_edited_edited.png

Appearance in the Ron Robinson Theater on October 23, 2022, during the Six Bridges Book Festival with authors from across the country.

Home: HTML Embed

Snake Eyes: Murder in a Southern Town honored December 5, 2022 by the Central Arkansas Library System as a “new entry”in The Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Bitty’s Book Talks & Festivals

2022

DAR, John Perciful Chapter - Mar 3

First Annual Hot Springs Book Festival - Apr 8

Garland County Historical Society - Apr 19

Hot Springs Village PEO - April 20

Local Author’s Day @ Arts in the Park/Library - May 4

True Murder Podcast - May 17

Quarterback Club (HS) - May 18

Book Signing - May 22

Author Talk @ GC Library - June 7

HS Women’s Welcome Book Club - July 27

Book Babes of HS (Book Club) - Aug 8

High Faluntin’ Book Club (HS) - Sept 13

Little Rock True Crime Book Club - Sept 24

DAR, HS Chapter - Oct 8

The Book Club (N Little Rock) - Oct 19

Pub or Perish 2022 (13th annual lit-event of Arkansas Times & CALS/SBBF)  - Oct 21

Six Bridges Book Festival (LR) - Oct 23

True Crime Festival (HS) - Nov 5

The Queen's Book Club - Nov 10

2023

Happy Bookers @ Hot Springs Village - Feb 21

“Read Between the Wines” - Literacy Council of Garland County - February 23

Hot Springs Natl. Park Rotary - March 1

Benton Literary Guild - Mar 22

Austin (TX) Antique Club - April 13

Bella Vista Public Library True Crime Club - April 27

Local Author Day/Arts in the Park - May 3

True Crime Fest NWA @ Rogers, AR - May 20

Remembrance visit to Cathie’s grave @ Murfreesboro Cemetery - June 24

Meet the Author - NLR Laman Library - June 29 

Friends of Coronado Ctr. Library’s “Wine & Cheese with the Author” @ HS Village - July 18

Zone 7 podcast interview w/ host, Sheryl McCollum - July 28 @ 1 p.m. (CDT)

NLR Virgin Book Club @ Lakewood House - Aug 15

Hot Springs Progressive Club - Sept 26


Home: About

Speaking Requests: bittym@gmail.com

IMG_4193.JPG
Home: Text
bottom of page