The Desert Hot Springs Library Author Series continues with a local artist-author well known for her beautifully illustrated nature books as well as her little-known stories about the famous movie stars and moguls who came to hide out, help out and hang out in Desert Hot Springs.
On Thursday, March 24, from 1 to 2:30 pm, Audrey Moe will present her book, “Celebrities in Hiding,” at the Desert Hot Springs Library, 14-380 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs.
Like so many, Moe and her husband, Courtney, transferred from the Midwest to California. They bought a home in Newport Beach, which led to the title of her first book, “Beachwalk.” Inspired by her early morning walks on the beach, Moe would sketch out her new discoveries and later wrote and painted about the sea creatures and the interdependence between the sea and humans.
Always an adventurous couple, the Moes decided to explore the desert after Courtney Moe retired at an early age. Enamored with Desert Hot Springs, its rich history and the magical hot mineral water, they bought and moved into the 100-acre Bubbling Wells Ranch. Audrey, always aware of her surroundings, wrote and illustrated “Desertwalk,” representing the flora and fauna of the desert.
The pair quickly became embedded in the town of Desert Hot Springs, with Courtney serving on the city council and Audrey archiving documents for the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society. Their activism led to meeting the long-time residents who related past stories of the region.
Audrey became fascinated with stories about Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lorre, John Travolta, Cary Grant, Mamie Eisenhower and even Al Capone. One night, she writes, she was dining at Two Bunch Palms when she spotted Barbra Streisand at the next table. She later saw Martha Stewart at a local restaurant. Where else could a celebrity have dinner out and remain anonymous?
She decided to delve into the past and present celebrities. The old-timers began to relate stories about famous people. That’s when she decided to write the stories down and bring out aspects of celebrities not generally known or perceived about them.
One such example is Marilyn Monroe, who, just before she died, stayed at Singing Tree Ranch with longtime residents silent movie star Janet Gaynor and her producer husband, Paul Gregory. Or Frank Sinatra who saved 20 dogs a month from local shelters and found them homes.
“Celebrities in Hiding” reveals never-before-told stories about some of the world’s biggest entertainment, political and business luminaries who spent time in the desert north of Interstate 10.
There will be three more authors in this season’s series at the Desert Hot Springs Library:
- Thursday, April 21, 1-2:30 pm, Tod Goldberg, author of his latest New York Times best-seller, “The Low Desert.”
- Saturday, May 21, 1-2:30 pm, Marge Snell, author of “Lest We Forget” in celebration of Armed Forces Day.
- Thursday, May 26, 1-2:30 pm, famed cameraman of Huell Howser’s “California Gold” series, Luis Fuerte, author of “Louie, Take a Look at This.”
The authors’ books will be signed and for sale. Presentations are free and open to the public.
For additional information, contact sallyhedberg@gmail.com.
Sally Hedberg is the secretary and grant coordinator of the Friends of the Desert Hot Springs Library.
