Happy Hour with the Author Ron Peterson Jr.
Venue: Draper Mercantile and Trading Company, Draper
Directions: Google Map Link
Organizations: Ron Peterson, Jr.
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Event Types: Speaking Engagements
Cost: Free

Description:
Draper Mercantile and Trading Company presents a Happy Hour with the Author Ron Peterson Jr. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Enjoy a book signing and happy hour with bestselling author Ron Peterson Jr. as he talks about his latest book "In The Wind: The Disappearance of Janice Starr".

Ron Peterson Jr. is a Virginia-based author whose best-selling true crime books explore compelling mysteries and consistently receive five-star reviews.

Peterson’s first book, "Under the Trestle" was selected as one of the Top 100 true crime books of all time and is currently in development with Mactavish Pictures as a documentary film or series. "Under the Trestle" is based on the local case of Radford University student Gina Renee Hall who disappeared in 1980. Stephen Epperly was later arrested and sentenced for her murder, making it Virginia’s first ever "no-body" murder trial.

Peterson followed with "Chasing the Squirrel", the true story of notorious drug smuggler Wally Thrasher, also a case well known to the New River Valley. Thrasher and his wife Olga lived in the New River Valley while he flew out of Florida and became one of the most-wanted drug smugglers by the FBI. Thrasher supposedly died in a fiery plane crash an investigation proved that it had been staged. Peterson’s book has been optioned to Los-Angeles-based Urban Legends Film Company for development as a television series.

Author Ron Peterson, Jr. attended Radford University and was a communications major. He has been published in newspapers throughout the state and in internal publications for two Fortune 500 companies. His career includes work at the Virginian Pilot and Cox Media, where he earned the company's annual "Outstanding Performance" award. Peterson's background also includes managing corporate television advertising campaigns on CNN, Fox News and ESPN. He is currently a board member of the Hampton Roads Sports Media Hall of Fame.

Links:

• https://www.ronpetersonjr.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/RonPetersonJr
• https://www.twitter.com/Ron_Peterson

No reservation required.

Draper Mercantile and Trading Company is located at 3054 Greenbriar Road in Draper, VA.

To view the event flyer, visit: https://draperisfordreamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ron-Peterson-April-11-pdf.jpg.

For more information, visit: http://www.draperisfordreamers.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/TheeDraperVillage/ or https://www.instagram.com/theedrapervillage/ or call 540-994-5659.

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