Dear Readers,

As some of you know, I was asked to create Legendary Locals of Beacon Hill, a book of photographs and stories about the people who have helped Beacon Hill begin, grow, prosper and make it the historic, walkable, friendly, quirky place I have lived in for more years than I ever thought possible. I finished the book in March, and it will be out in early September, published by Arcadia Publishing.

Some of you are in the book. Some of you helped me with facts, history and access to photos. Some of you lent me your photos, which I will now return since I know the photos I submitted worked. I had a marvelous time interviewing residents, hearing their stories and putting them and their antecedents into 128 pages.

During the month of September I will present the book in several places and in different formats. These events are free, and the public is invited.

• Thursday, September 11 from 5:30 to 7:39 pm. The first is a launch party at Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill. I’ll be signing books there. Owners Jennifer Hill and Mark Duffield are generously donating the net proceeds to the Beacon Hill Civic Association, the staff of which helped me over several days with gathering material for the book.

• Sunday, September 14 from noon to 4 pm. Beacon Hill Civic Association’s Neighborhood Block Party at the intersection of Charles and Mount Vernon streets.. I’ll be selling books at a table with Jeanne Burlingame, who will offer up the Beacon Hill Garden Club’s Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill: Creating Green Spaces in Urban Places.

• Thursday, September 25 at 6:30 pm. West End Branch Library. I will give a talk illustrated with photos and stories from the book and some photos I didn’t use.

Karen