Monday, Sept. 8, at 1:30 p.m. Friends of Webster Library in Eupora will host Anne Hart Preus of Starkville.
Anne Preus grew up and spent most of her life in the Mississippi Delta before moving to Starkville a few years ago.
She has worked as a public school teacher, program leader for AmeriCorps programs at Delta State University, rapid response coordinator for a planning and development district, education director for an afterschool program and as a reporter for the Bolivar Commercial in Cleveland.
Preus has always had an interest in writing.
“I enjoy the challenge of filling up a page with words,” she said.
Years ago, an educational consulting firm tasked her with the responsibility of creating narratives for lesson plans for seventh- and eighth-graders, and that sparked an interest in exploring other writing.
She has published a memoir, “Stories from the Hart,” about growing up in Tallahatchie County in the 1950s and ’60s. Preus is a member of the Mississippi Writers Guild and the Golden Triangle Writers Guild.
“Out of Texas” is her first historical fiction novel and it was written with her cousin Joseph Townsend.
“I have never been one to pass up an opportunity, so when my cousin called to ask if I would be interested in working on a book with him, I thought ‘why not?’ It was different to write with someone, but we made it work. We both relished the challenge of bringing the story to life and it is indeed a tale too good not to be told. ‘Out of Texas’ is based on facts with a little imagination thrown in,” Preus stated.
Preus believes that people who like history — especially the history of Winona and surrounding areas (including Old Greensboro) —will find the novel quite interesting.
The book is available in local bookstores, on Amazon and BookBaby.
