Stories from Perry County: Historic bed-and-breakfast to be centerpiece of new book series

The former Wine Country Inn Bed and Breakfast in Frohna, Missouri, will be the centerpiece of a new novel series debuting in 2016. The series, written by author Ann Hazelwood, is set in the fictional town of Borna, in the real-life location of East Perry County.

The first book in the series, which is yet to be titled, tells the story of a woman from South Haven, Michigan, who buys a historic house in East Perry County to renovate and later sell. Instead, she falls in love with the house and its location, and her plans change.

"Having spent time in the house for various events over the years, I've always been fascinated with it," says Hazelwood.

The bed-and-breakfast, which was constructed in 1915 and 1916, originally was owned by Dr. Palisch, a prominent Frohna physician.

"Dr. Palisch had his practice there and lived there with his wife, Josephine," says Hazelwood. "They didn't have any children."

Perry County native and author Ann Hazelwood poses for a photo at the former Wine Country Inn bed-and-breakfast in Frohna, Missouri. (Fred Lynch ~ flynch@semissourian.com)

In the book, which is realistic fiction, Hazelwood imagines why Josephine was rarely seen and why the couple never had children.

Hazelwood has completed a first draft of the book and is in the editing and revision stage. AQS Publishing plans to release the book in early 2016, with each new installment in the series to be published at six-month intervals. The series will be available at regular book outlets such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, as well as various local vendors.

"The books will also be for sale at the Lutheran Heritage Center in Altenburg, the Cape County History Center in Jackson, and Karen's Hallmark in Perryville," Hazelwood says.

She also penned the Colebridge Community Series, a collection of fiction books that take place in St. Charles, Missouri, where she has lived since 1970.

"That series has been very successful, so [my publisher and I] thought doing another series would be good," says Hazelwood. "And they always say to write what you know!"

Perry County native and author Ann Hazelwood poses for a photo under the tree behind the former Wine Country Inn bed-and-breakfast Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 in Frohna, Missouri.

Hazelwood spent her youth in Perryville.

"I wanted to tell readers about the beautiful landscaping and the great sense of community in the town," she says.

Like her Colebridge Community Series, the East Perry County Missouri Series will feature stories about quilts. Hazelwood owned and operated a quilt shop as well as a button shop and a needlework shop for 30 years, and has written fiction and nonfiction books on the subject.

"I'm also a certified quilt appraiser," she says.

Hazelwood has been married to her husband, Keith, for 15 years. She has two grown sons, two grown stepsons and two step-grandchildren.

Perry County native and author Ann Hazelwood poses for a photo on the front porch of the former Wine Country Inn bed-and-breakfast Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 in Frohna, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)