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
Available in: Hardcover * e-book * audiobook * CD
Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Wordsworth Books & other indie bookstores, Amazon
CATHIE WARD
April 21, 1953 - June 24, 1966
“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
Appearance in the Ron Robinson Theater on October 23, 2022, during the Six Bridges Book Festival with authors from across the country.
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
Speaking Requests: bittym@gmail.com
