CHICAGO, IL – William Elliott Hazelgrove, national bestselling author, is providing an early look at his forthcoming book, The Camp Mystic Flood: A Story of Tragedy and Heroism (Bloomsbury, July 8, 2027), following a wide-ranging interview on WCPT 820 Chicago with host Richard Chew. The book, based on months of on-the-ground research in the Texas Hill Country, reconstructs the catastrophic July 4, 2025 flood that claimed the lives of 146 people, including 27 young campers at Camp Mystic.
Rather than focusing on blame, Hazelgrove's narrative tells the complete story—from the first weather alerts to the desperate rescues, remarkable acts of courage, and the difficult questions that followed. In the interview, Hazelgrove discussed traveling the Guadalupe River with first responders, walking the flood zone, interviewing survivors and rescuers, and examining thousands of pages of investigative reports, emergency communications, and eyewitness accounts.
The book explores the minute-by-minute rise of the Guadalupe River before dawn, the final hours inside Camp Mystic as counselors and campers struggled to survive, extraordinary rescues by Coast Guard helicopter crews, first responders, neighbors, and ordinary Texans, the search that continued long after the floodwaters receded, and how one of America's worst freshwater disasters unfolded despite modern forecasting technology. It also covers the legislative investigations, lawsuits, and lasting impact on Texas summer camps.
"This is not a book about assigning blame," Hazelgrove said. "It is the story of what happened, why it happened, and the extraordinary courage shown by so many people in the darkest hours of that morning."
Hazelgrove, author of more than two dozen books, is known for narrative nonfiction that brings major historical events to life. His previous works include Capone's Vault, Henry Knox's Noble Train, and Evil on the Roof of the World. His books have received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and have been featured by The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, C-SPAN Book TV, and numerous national media outlets.
The complete WCPT interview is now available online, offering listeners an early look at the research and reporting behind the book. This book is poised to become a definitive account of the disaster, providing a crucial historical record of the event and its aftermath.
For more information about the book and the author's work, visit his official website.
