Join avid hiker, columnist, and retired Providence Journal business reporter and editor John Kostrzewa as he celebrates the publication of his new book, "Walking Rhode Island: 40 Hikes for Nature and History Lovers, with Pictures, GPS Coordinates, and Trail Maps." John will be joined in conversation by Andy Smith, retired Providence Journal Arts and Entertainment columnist, to discuss the publication process, John's interest in hiking, and the Ocean State's great outdoors, among other topics.

Copies of the book will be for sale for $19.95 and can be purchased with cash, check, money order, Venmo, or credit card.

Registration is now closed. Due to an expected capacity crowd, the event will start promptly at 6:30 PM. Please plan to arrive early and be seated by 6:20 PM.

John Kostrzewa worked for 42 years in the newspaper industry as a business reporter, columnist, business editor and assistant managing editor. He retired from The Providence Journal in 2017 and in 2021 launched “Walking Rhode Island,” a weekly hiking column online and in the Sunday newspaper. Since then, he has written more than 100 columns and plans to publish a book, Walking Rhode Island, which will include 40 hikes for nature and history lovers with pictures, GPS coordinates, and trail maps. A College of the Holy Cross graduate, John resides in Cranston with his wife Carol.

Andy Smith has been a journalist for more than 40 years at The Providence Journal and newspapers in Western New York. He’s covered arts and entertainment, books, business, municipal politics, medicine and more. He even worked for John Kostrzewa. Andy has been known to walk his elderly dog all the way around the block.