The Grand Canyon state, Arizona, was founded on February 14, 1912. For well over 113 years, locals, transplants, and visitors to the state have marveled at its beauty and rich history. And what’s not to love about the state that 7.5 million people call home?
Arizona’s landscapes can be described as rugged and dramatic, forever immortalized on the silver screen from 1956’s Western Classic The Searchers, starring John Wayne and Natalie Wood to 1993’s Hollywood blockbuster, Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell and the late Val Kilmer. Its vast and iconic deserts, particularly the Sonoran Desert, are a sight to behold. Did you know that the Sonoran Desert is located in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It encompasses parts of Arizona and southeastern California in the US, as well as the Baja California peninsula, the islands of the Gulf of California, and the state of Sonora in Mexico.
The climate of the state can offer its own varying degrees of intensity with hot and arid temperatures during the summer – just ask anyone who visits Phoenix in July – with moments of extreme sun – here’s looking at you, Yuma – to the eventual and hopeful monsoon season, characterized by intense thunderstorms. As of this column’s writing, the verdict is still out on that.
The state’s history is steeped in the Wild West, Spanish colonization, and ancient Native American societies. Here in the Verde Valley, one is but a drive away from history, whether it’s taking a trip to Montezuma’s Castle near Camp Verde, or visiting the Honanki Heritage Site, a cliff dwelling and rock art site located in the Coconino National Forest, about 15 miles west of Sedona, Arizona. The Sinagua people of the Ancestral Puebloans, and ancestors of the Hopi people, lived here from about 1100 to 1300 CE.
On Saturday, August 30, at 10:30 A.M. in the Community Room, the public is invited to attend and experience an intimate conversation with author, historian, and storyteller Lisa Schnebly Heidinger, the great-granddaughter of our town’s namesake, Sedona Schnebly. Schnebly Heidinger shares the inspirations behind her newest book, Arizona Friend Trips. Schnebly Heidinger is an award-winning journalist, and storyteller. She has authored a dozen books that celebrate both famous and overlooked places across the state. Her work is rooted in a lifelong passion for uncovering and honoring Arizona’s layered history – connecting the past to the present through words, images, and heartfelt curiosity. This up-close setting invites thoughtful dialogue that travels through Arizona’s past and present – lingering on the power of place, memory, and the adventures waiting in every corner of our state!
Through personal reflections and shared stories, Lisa will speak to Arizona’s lesser-known histories, treasured landscapes, and the ties that connect us to one another and the land we call home. Community Library Sedona, is the tenth, and final stop, as part of the author’s statewide book tour that started earlier this month in Yuma before traveling onto libraries in Nogales/Santa Cruz, Buckeye, Winslow, and Mesa, just to name a few.
This was made possible via a grant from The Arizona Center for the Books, a program of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. The book, Arizona Friend Trips, was selected by the Library Development team led by the State Librarian, Holly Henley, to represent Arizona in the Library of Congress Center for the Book’s 2025 Great Reads from Great Places program—an annual celebration of outstanding books that reflect each state’s unique culture and spirit.
Arizona Friend Trips is a rich travelogue blending poetry, photography, and personal narrative. Co-authored with Julie Morrison, the book explores Arizona’s most cherished destinations – from iconic landmarks to hidden gems – through the lens of friendship, memory, and exploration. Woven throughout are historical insights, emotional reflections, and a deep love for Arizona’s diverse beauty.
“Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has a unique gift for connecting people to Arizona’s rich landscapes and stories,” said a representative from the Arizona Center for the Book. “Her presentations are more than author talks—they’re a journey through the state’s heart and history. We’re thrilled to share this book, and Lisa’s voice, with communities across Arizona as part of this year’s Great Reads from Great Places program.” We hope to see all on Saturday, August 30th.
Community Library Sedona is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gifts and support, just like the Friends’ contributions, allow us to provide a plethora of services and programs for the community, for free, all year long. Visit communitylibrarysedona.org/donate to make an online gift today.
As published by Red Rock News
Library News Column for August 22, 2025, by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Scheduling Coordinator