Hey Arkansas! PBS Books and the Library of Congress are highlighting bookstores and authors from our state in the next “American Stories: A Reading Road Trip.” Join the fun Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. for a PBS Books Facebook Live event or on the PBS Books YouTube channel.
As part of the nationwide America250 commemoration, Arkansas TV invites Arkansans to reflect on our shared past and explore how our state’s stories continue to shape the nation’s future. Through community events, educational initiatives and special programming, Arkansas TV is amplifying local voices and connecting Arkansas’s history to America’s broader story.
From community screenings and expert panels to interactive Transcribe-a-Thons and student storytelling through National History Day, the #ARVoicesAt250 campaign celebrates the people, places and ideas that have defined Arkansas for 250 years – and will continue to shape its next chapter. The public is encouraged to join the conversation using #ARVoicesAt250 and to explore upcoming events, educational resources and opportunities for engagement at arkansastv.gov/america250.
#ARVoicesAt250 is sponsored in part by the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, whose support helps Arkansas TV share the stories, scholarship and civic conversations that connect our state to the American experience.
The episode first takes us through the storytelling history of our home state, highlighting literary talents from the Delta to the Ozarks. Featuring interviews from modern writers and academics we can explore the wonderful writings of The Natural State and celebrate authors like Maya Angelou (“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”), Daisy Bates (“Long Shadow of Little Rock”) Charles Portis (“True Grit”) and John Grisham (“A Painted House”), and poets like Miller Williams (“Some Jazz a While”), Henry Dumas (“Poetry for My People”) and C.D. Wright (“Lake Echo,” “Dear”). Join us on a journey to showcase our wonderful state and all the talent and rich literary culture it has to offer.
This episode highlights all the bookstores and libraries you may already know and love and introduces you to some new ones! And don’t miss a list of literary landmarks that you can add to your trip list. So, you can not only read books inspired by our state but also explore the historical sites that inspired the works and are dedicated to them.
Bookstores highlighted in this episode include:
- Wordsworth Books (Little Rock)
- Paper Hearts Bookstore (Little Rock)
- Pyramid Art Books & Custom Framing (Little Rock)
- Dad Suggests Books (Fayetteville)
- Dog Ear Books (Russellville)
Literary Landmarks highlighted in this episode include:
- True Grit Trail
- Fort Smith National Historic Site
- William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
- Hemmingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center
- Trail of Tears
The episode concludes with seeing what modern authors are shaping our state today. We hear today's voices from authors like Ayana Gray (“I, Medusa”), Katy Duffield (“Start Your Engines”) Daniel Black (“Isaac's Song”) and Eli Cranor (“Don't Know Tough”). Hear interviews on how the culture and beauty of our state inspired their various works and how they continue to be inspired today.
HOW TO WATCH:
Watch “American Stories: A Reading Road Trip” Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. on the PBS Books Facebook page or on the PBS Books YouTube channel.