Swift Current and area residents can attend the Write Out Loud event tonight, featuring an award-nominated author and opening entertainment from a local musician. 

The Swift Current Museum will host the event, admission will be $8 cash per person, and doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the performance beginning at 7 p.m.

Gayle M. Smith, the author of the novel, 'Thickwood', is looking forward to reading parts of her book and speaking with the audience this evening.

"It's named after a geographical area in Sask. called the Thickwood Hills," said Smith. "It's historically been a large federal community pasture, no longer a federal pasture but now it's a citizen-run pasture."

Smith grew up in Alta, moving to the province after marrying a farmer and currently resides around central Sask. where she owns and operates an equine facility.

She notes the astonishing number of women recruited to play in the All-American Girls Baseball League post-World War II, as well as the impact of the closure of the federal community pasture.

"This is during the formation phase of the pasture where the government and the powers that be at the time were forming and gathering up lands from different sources," Smith said. 

"I wanted to write this story about a baseball player who wanted to stay on her land that was being used up and taken over." 

After being published by an up-and-coming Sask. publisher, 'Thickwood' was short-listed for the 2023 Saskatchewan Book Awards.

Anyone interested in Smith's book can purchase it in stores in Sask. at Shadowpaw Press or order online from any major distributors. 'Thickwood' is available as a paper copy, digital, and audiobook.