Paper Trails

Top writer pencils in Puzzle Day

PALS GET CROSSWAYS: Legal thriller novelist David Rosenfelt will speak at noon today at the eighth annual Arkansas Puzzle Day at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock.

Rosenfelt is the author of 19 novels, many of which feature lawyer and sleuth Andy Carpenter, his crossword puzzle-loving employee Edna and a golden retriever named Tara.

Rosenfelt also is the co-founder of a charity that has rescued thousands of dogs, most of them golden retrievers.

In his recent nonfiction book, Dogtripping, he shares the story of his and his wife's move from California to Maine with their 27 rescue dogs.

After Rosenfelt's talk today, he will sign books before, during and after the festival's crossword and sudoku contests, which begin at 1 p.m.

How did he come to visit Arkansas?

Little Rock Traffic Judge Vic Fleming, director of the puzzle event and moderator of Rosenfelt's presentation, struck up a friendship with him via email a few years ago after reading his Andy Carpenter series. Rosenfelt gave Fleming permission to use a chapter from his book Play Dead in a law school course Fleming teaches. Fleming, in turn, suggested Rosenfelt have his character Edna enter the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

Ever since, Fleming's been campaigning to bring him to Arkansas Puzzle Day as the featured speaker.

"All the pieces just fell into place this year," Fleming said. "David's an excellent speaker and, like his novels' characters, he is a laugh-a-minute guy with a great personality."

Rosenfelt, who earlier served as marketing director for Tri-Star Pictures, will talk about writing novels and for movies and television.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: Speaking of puzzlers, a quizzical ad appeared in this paper's Business & Farm section Tuesday. The small ad in page 2D's bottom corner read: "Hey Bailey, here is an extra article for you. PROM? - Todd H."

The rest of the story?

Todd Hickingbotham II, 17, of Little Rock wanted to ask Bailey Kimes to their senior prom at Arkansas Baptist School.

"We take a personal finance class where we read the paper every day," he said.

"I thought it would be clever to put an ad in the page by the stock market reports," he said of the one column wide by 11/2-inch-deep ad.

"She loved it," he said of the ad, which cost $80.

Bailey accepted, and the two will dine at Arthur's Steakhouse with friends before the prom at Union Train Station.

HEALTHY PRESS: Dempsey Bakery of Little Rock is featured in the current issue of Gluten-Free Living magazine. The article, "Something Sweet: Gluten-Free Bakeries Range From the Wildly Successful to Those Just Opening Their Doors," includes Paula Dempsey's business.

COLOR ME WRONG: That Hillary Clinton coloring book, published in fall 2014 and recently mentioned here, has not been reissued.

Contact Linda S. Haymes at (501) 399-3636 or lhaymes@arkansasonline.com

SundayMonday on 04/26/2015

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