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    • Walton-DeFuniak Library

      Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
      Tuesday9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
      Wednesday - Saturday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
      SundayClosed

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      Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
      Tuesday - Saturday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
      SundayClosed

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      Monday - Saturday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
      SundayClosed

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      Monday - Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
      WednesdayClosed
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  • Locations
    • Walton-DeFuniak Library

      3 Circle Drive
      Defuniak Springs, FL 32435

      Coastal Branch Library

      437 Greenway Trail
      Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

      Freeport Public Library

      76 State Hwy 20 W.
      Freeport, FL 32439

      Gladys N. Milton Memorial Library

      261 Flowersview Rd.
      Flowerview, FL 3256
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    • Walton-DeFuniak Library

      (850) 892-3624

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      (850) 267-2809

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      (850) 835-2040

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      (850) 834-5383
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Walton-DeFuniak Library

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March 16, 2023

Author Talk – James D. Brewer

Meet with Central Florida author, James D. Brewer, as he discusses his newest historical fiction release: Blood on the Crossties: The Florida Chautauqua Murders (A Choctaw Parker Mystery/Adventure, Book 1).  The first of his 3-part, Victorian-era mystery series features Jimmy Lee “Choctaw” Parker, a railroad detective who works for each of the three great railroad barons that opened the state of Florida to settlement and tourism. Synopsis: In early February of 1885, the robbery of the Pensacola and Atlantic train could not have come at a worse time for Florida panhandle railroad magnate William Chipley. He had put time, money, and both his personal and business reputation on the line to host the first Gulf Chautauqua in DeFuniak Springs. Now, with the murder of two guards, and the theft of both a payroll and a shipment of new US Army rifles, the success of the Chautauqua was at risk. Chipley hires the half-White/half-Indian L&N railroad detective Jimmy Lee “Choctaw” Parker to investigate the crime, find the culprits, and restore confidence to those who would travel from all over the eastern US to attend the very first month-long Florida Chautauqua. But Parker is not the only one investigating the robbery of the P&A, for he finds out very soon that he must work with-or in spite of-a pair of Pinkertons hired by the insurance company to recover the money, as well as an aggressive, vengeful, US Army Captain determined to recover the weapons and get justice for the two murdered soldiers. Parker, along with a long-time associate and a resourceful lady gambler, must navigate a web of politics, racial tension, Civil War grudges, and greed to bring to justice the culprits in this Victorian-era historical mystery. (TouchPoint Press)

Article by Barb Hughes / Chautauqua

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Contact Us

Walton-DeFuniak Library

3 Circle Dr. Defuniak Springs, FL 32435
(850) 892-3624
(850) 892-4438

Coastal Branch Library

437 Greenway Tr. Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 267-2809
(850) 267-9452

Freeport Public Library

76 State Hwy 20 W. Freeport, FL 32439
(850) 835-2040
(850) 835-2154

Freeport Teen Library

902 FL-20 Suite 122 Freeport, FL 32439
(850) 931-8940

Gladys N. Milton Memorial Library

261 Flowersview Rd. Flowersview, FL 32567
(850) 834-5383
(850) 834-5487

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