Roger Naylor - Author Talk

Join us for a chat with Cottonwood's own Roger Naylor. 

A Note From the Author:

Howdy!

Two great truths define me: I’m a writer and I live in Arizona.

I knew this remarkable state was where I belonged as soon as I arrived as a wide-eyed college student. It captivated me with its epic beauty, diverse landscapes and rich history.

My path as a writer had been set years before when I first read Mark Twain. Somehow I was able to combine my two great passions and become an Arizona travel writer.

These days you’ll find me rambling around my beloved Arizona and writing about what I find. My specialties include state and national parks, lonely hiking trails, twisting back roads, diners with burgers sizzling on the grill, small towns, ghost towns and pie. My work has appeared in the Arizona Republic, The Guardian, USA Today, Arizona Highways, and dozens more.

In 2018, I was truly honored to be inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame.

For years now I’ve written for the official Arizona State Visitor Guide, as well as visitor guides for Sedona, Scottsdale and Yuma. And here’s something cool—in 2019 I was chosen to write the Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Magazine. The 56-page glossy magazine is distributed at the park.

In 2020, I was chosen to become the narrator of the Verde Canyon Railroad. This long-running excursion train that ventures into a high-walled red rock canyon patrolled by bald eagles is an Arizona treasure. And I’m thrilled to be a part of it.

I’m the author of several Southwest travel books. You can learn more details on my Book page. Titles include:

Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts about the Grand Canyon State.

Arizona’s Scenic Roads and Hikes: Unforgettable Journeys in the Grand Canyon State

Crazy for the Heat: Ghosts, Gumshoes, and Bigfoot

Arizona State Parks: A Guide to Amazing Places in the Grand Canyon State

The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon

Boots & Burgers: An Arizona Handbook for Hungry Hikers

Arizona Kicks on Route 66

Death Valley: Hottest Place on Earth

I also have a book of Arizona-based humorous short stories, called Crazy for the Heat: Arizona Tales of Ghosts, Gumshoes, and Bigfoot. For many years I worked as a stand-up comedian and later became a nationally syndicated humor writer. So this is a chance to return to my roots while still celebrating my passion for Arizona. Even though the stories are fictional, they are filled with Arizona legends, history, locations, and weather, and I portray them as accurately as possible. You’ll find it on my Books page as well, in paperback or as an eBook.