Greg Hobbs, a former Colorado Supreme Court justice who has published several books of poetry and essays, visited Cortez on Wednesday to cap the Amazing Authors Tour.
The Cortez Public Library hosted three authors – in January, March and May – along with libraries in Bayfield and Telluride.
About 40 people attended as Hobbs, of Denver, read poems and essays about the San Juan Mountains and presented a brief history of area land and water rights.
“Everything’s connected,” he said. “What is the most important resource to stay connected? Water.”
Most of his stories focused on water and its importance to Four Corners residents, going back to ancient Puebloan people.
Hobbs also read an excerpt from a book by his brother, Will Hobbs, a Durango novelist whose stories are often set in the Four Corners area. He showed photos of local petroglyphs and landmarks as well as family photos of rafting and hiking trips in the region.
The two other speakers in the series were Santa Fe novelist Anne Hillerman and Denver nonfiction writer Brendan Leonard. All three also visited the Wilkinson and Pine River libraries.
Eric Ikenouye, director of the Cortez library, said the series has been a hit for two years, and he hopes to host it next year.
“When Anne Hillerman came, we had more than 100 people show up for that event,” he said.
Through summer, the Cortez library will host monthly “Literary Fridays at the Library,” which includes artists, authors and concerts. On June 23, the library hosts guitarist Joey Leone.