Van HawkinsVan Hawkins grew up in a farming family in the Missouri Bootheel. He has a degree in literature from the University of Missouri, as well as master's degrees in pastoral counseling from Loyola University in New Orleans, and heritage studies from Arkanas State University. Van has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor and as an entertainment magazine feature writer. His books are written for general audiences on topics related to southern history. Van and his wife, Ruth, reside in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Read More Read Less