Bogue Chitto native Emily Shotwell will host a book signing and reader appreciation party for her new book, “Blackbird Summer,” on May 24.

Shotwell said she tried to create another world for readers to visit in her new book, released April 5 by City Owl Press.

“‘Blackbird Summer’ is about the Caibre family, a group of magical misfits who etch out a living on the fringes of a tiny Mississippi town,” Shotwell said. “The town’s folk both resent and need the family’s magical abilities — and the relationship is rocky to say the least. When someone attacks a member of the Caibre family all heck threatens to break loose as the strained relationship between family and town crumbles even further.”

Shotwell hopes her book will take people to far away places that inspire the mind, she said.

Shotwell said her story started out as an outline of a story about two sisters who lived on the wrong side of the tracks in a small town and somehow magic kept working its way into the story.

“Originally there wasn’t any magic,” Shotwell said. “The family grew stranger and the town grew meaner until I had the basis for ‘Blackbird Summer.’”

“Blackbird Summer” is a heart-wrenching tale of first love, magic and the unbreakable bonds of family. It is sure to appeal to readers who like stories that have both grit and heart, with a little magic thrown in for good measure.

“Honestly, my goal for writing the book was to entertain people,” Shotwell said. “I hope that I created a fun world within the pages of ‘Blackbird Summer’ and that people have a good time visiting.”

Shotwell’s book signing and appreciation party will by at the Lincoln County Library May 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Door prizes will be given away, and anyone who attends can enter a raffle to win a Kindle Fire. Refreshments will be served.