Arthur Byrd

Born in south Mississippi, Arthur received degrees in English and then taught college and high school for six years in Mississippi and Oklahoma. Later pursuing a technology career, an AT&T relocation to New Jersey led to becoming COO of Alpha Technologies, then CEO of Immedient Technologies. After retiring, the Byrd family began splitting time between New Jersey and The Dominican Republic where he and his wife, Sally, sold beachfront real estate, even filming 5 HGTV episodes.

"Crossing Lake Pontchartrain," Arthur's 2nd novel published July 2023:

1) 2023 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite

2) 2023 PenCraft Awards for Southern Fiction 2nd Place

3) 2023 Firebird Award for fiction 1st Place in Fiction - Relationships; 2nd in Fiction - Personal Development"

4) 2023 American Writing Award Finalist in the Fiction - Inspirational

5) 2023 Somerset Chanticleer International Book Award Long List for Literary and Contemporary Fiction.

6) 2023 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention in Fiction and Cover Design, 2nd place Fiction - Relationships

7) 2024 Independent Press Award "Distinguished Favorite"

8) 2024 Independent Author Network Finalist for Literary Fiction

9) 2024 Literary Global Book Awards Finalist for Literary Fiction

10) 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award winner for Fiction

11) 2025 BookFest Literary Fiction Love Story & Romance 2nd place winner

12) 2025 "Finalist" in Inspirational Fiction category of the 2025 Readers' Favorite international book award contest. Thousands of submissions.

NOTE: Feedback from November, 2025 consideration by NYC Silent Book Club:

~ "This is a story that rebuilds rather than destroys and I loved that."

~ "Larry is relatable in a deeply human way."

~ "This book is ultimately about forgiveness."

~ "The group discussion was one of the best we have had recently."

~ "The atmosphere was immersive and stayed with me."

~ "I loved the subtle spirituality throughout the story."

Pontchartrain is the story of a middle-aged Mississippi man struggling to move beyond a mid-life mess, but it's far more than a second chance story. Heartache after a divorce, angst about a failed career, and a sense of hopelessness for his creative future come together in this portrait of an ordinary man's struggle to cope with modern life. Love and creativity fuel this story of revelation about what life truly means. Learning to Chop Wood Carry Water leads Larry to become the person he wants to be, and like, in post-Katrina New Orleans where renewal means survival.

Arthur's first novel, "What the River Wants" published in 2017 delves as well into the power of friendship and the search for answers in a multi-generational family struggling with doubt. "What the River Wants" 1st Place Winner for Literary Fiction - International Firebird Book Awards 2024 and Honorable Mention in the 2017 Great Southeast Book Festival.

More information is available at arthurbyrdbooks.