FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Page & Palette will welcome back author Sonny Brewer on Wednesday, Sept. 9. He will speak and sign copies of his latest book “The Widow & the Tree” at the downtown Fairhope bookstore, from 6 - 8 p.m.

The novel tells the tale of Ghosthead Oak, a 500-year-old live oak tree that has stood guard over the widow's lands since long before she was born.

Why would the widow, then, hire a man to kill the tree, pay him to cut a six-inch deep gash into its trunk so it will die?

The story is loosely based on the events surrounding the intentional killing of "Inspiration Oak," a champion live oak near Magnolia Springs.

Brewer obtained an original wood engraving by celebrated artist Barry Moser for the book’s cover art.

Page & Palette will offer light hors d'oeuvres and beverages for those in attendance. It will be a fun gathering for friends and supporters of Fairhope’s literary community.

Brewer founded Over the Transom Bookstore and the annual literary conference, Southern Writers Reading.

He also founded the nonprofit Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts.

Brewer is the author of "The Poet of Tolstoy Park," "A Sound Like Thunder" and "Cormac — The Tale of a Dog Gone Missing."

He also edits the anthology "Stories from the Blue Moon Cafe."

Brewer wrote and self-published three books: "Rembrandt the Rocker," an illustrated parable on aging that poses as a children's book; "A Yin for Change," a book of "dime-store" philosophy; and a ghost-written biography of Clarence Darrow.

He is the former editor-in-chief of Mobile Bay Monthly and also published and edited The Eastern Shore Quarterly magazine, as well as edited Red Bluff Review.

The author will exclusively sign all books purchased from Page & Palette.

For more information about this event and other happenings at Page & Palette Bookstore, call (251) 928-5295, or visit www.pageandpalette.com.