Hard Times Writing Workshop Belmar (Lakewood)
Free. This ongoing program offers a creative outlet for people facing addiction and recovery, poverty, homelessness, loss, and other life challenges. No experience needed.
May 8
May 15
May 22
May 29
Address
555 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood
Queer Creatives: Resource Sharing for LGBTQIA+ Writers (Zoom)
Learn about new opportunities and resources that will help you grow as LGBTQIA+ writers and creatives together. Hosted by Lighthouse Writers. Free for members, $5 for nonmembers.
Address
Zoom.
Book Launch Party for “All About Town” (Lyons)
All About Town is a lighthearted story based on the life of LaVern Johnson, a longtime community leader in Lyons. The title is based on her newspaper column of the same name. Written by Julie Smith and illustrated by Kim Murton.
Address
Lyons Library Community Room, 451 4th Ave., Lyons
Book Signing with Rebecca Pacha (Denver)
Rebecca will be signing her new book, Daughter of Destiny, (book two of the Untish series) at the Spicy Librarian.
Address
The Spicy Librarian, 3040 Blake Street #110 Denver
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Briefly Noted
The Beckwith Dynasty: A Ranching Empire in Colorado’s Wet Mountain Valley

Once one of the largest cattle ranches in southern Colorado, Beckwith Ranch rises to its former glory in the concisely and neatly written, The Beckwith Dynasty: A Ranching Empire in Colorado’s Wet Mountain Valley by Courtney Miller. The author explores the history of a successful shipbuilding family who traveled west in 1869, and would eventually create through hard work, luck and a handful of shenanigans, an incredibly successful agricultural operation. Miller guides the reader through the origins of the ranch with stories of true cowboys and the Old West.
Beginning with a meager 160 acres, the family created a vast holding of land and livestock that would eventually become a thriving and majestic showplace of 8,800 acres with a very distinctive mansion of white clapboard and red roof. The fortunes of the Beckwith empire grew even more with the discovery of gold and silver in the nearby mountains. The mansion continued to expand as well, becoming a rambling complex with all the latest Victorian fineries accumulated from travels afar. Sophisticated and worldly travelers were entertained with unparalleled grandeur in the hinterlands of Colorado’s Wet Mountains.
As with any great western story about perseverance and triumph, the tale of the downfall of the family and the mansion is equally fascinating. Death, disease and estranged family relations all contributed to the passing of the heyday of the grand place.
Located on Hwy 69 near Westcliffe, Colorado, the site and venue is now listed on National Register of Historic Places. The obvious sincere and deep appreciation the author has for the ranch shines through in his writing. He packs a lot of Wet Mountain Valley history in this small volume with fine research and striking details. This book is a nice resource for any Colorado history buff. — Jeffery Payne