Celebrating the Lore and Lure of Rivers with Local Author Thomas Becknell

The Apalachicola Margaret Key Public Library will feature Apalachicola resident Thomas Becknell as the first author to speak in this year’s Susan B. Clementson Author Series on Thursday, November 9 at 6pm. Becknell is a former English professor who taught American literature and environmental writing. He lived for decades near the Mississippi River before recently moving to live by the mighty Apalachicola River.

In his 2022, Enchantments of the Mississippi River: A Contemplative Journey of Time and Place, Becknell writes of his fascination with rivers, and the wisdom they offer as a natural spectacle and carrier of stories. Each chapter moves the reader through eddies powered by currents of history, spirituality, and the human experience. Personal musings invite the reader to ponder their own journey, while reflections on the river lead back to a reverence for the sometimes terrifying, always alluring, sanctity of nature.

Becknell will read passages from his book, speak on his writing process, and share more on his enchantments, from the Mississippi to the Apalachicola. The library is elated to welcome Becknell’s talent to an already talented community of authors, musicians, and artists who find creativity here in our river town. Music will accompany the evening, courtesy of singer-songwriter David Lloyd of Austin City Limits and Nashville fame, with Lloyd debuting a new song about life along the Apalachicola River.

The Susan B. Clementson Author Series is supported by the Friends of the Library, the Patrons of the Apalachicola Library Society (PALS). Becknell’s Enchantments will be available for sale and signing following the event. No tickets are required, though attendees are encouraged to arrive early as library seating is limited.