DAPHNE, Ala. — From California to New York to France, the lure of the South brought Stephen Hedrick back to the Gulf Coast — and back to deep-fried, down home creative writing. The Birmingham-bred author of “Tall Tales and Sonnets of the South” will speak and sign books at the Daphne Public Library community room at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Hedrick, who lives in Mobile and is the executive director of Mobile Symphony Orchestra, said there’s nothing like Southern hospitality.

“I relish being back home in Alabama, working with the Mobile Symphony. It’s like a long cool drink of water after a long thirst. The down-to-earth and friendly people here are our greatest asset,” he said in an e-mail.

Hedrick had lived in New York while working as a professional actor, singer and dancer. He worked for Walt Disney for 20 years and lived in Orlando, Fla., Glendale, Calif., and Marne La Valle, France.

He produced “Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical” as well as $112 million in entertainment product at Tokyo’s DisneySea theme park.

“My background, growing up in the theater in Birmingham, prepared me well for the demands of the job — accustomed to long hours, reacting quickly to changing tastes of the audience — all the while having a great time working with other creative people,” he said.

“Tall Tales” — illustrated with photographs of life in the South by Jack Anthony — describes the current region and the Old South that he remembers from his youth, according to a news release.

Wednesday’s event is part of the library’s monthly Jubilee Mornings series, which features a local author.

Refreshments, courtesy of Friends of the Daphne Public Library, will be provided after the presentation and book signing.

The library is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 and Whispering Pines Road.

For questions, call the library at 621-2818.