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Author Michael Farris Smith will sign his latest book at the Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson.

Smith helped publish the posthumous novel of his friend Jack Sonni, a former guitarist for the band Dire Straits.

Sonni moved to Mississippi to pursue writing after a career in music and marketing.

Smith's novel "Desperation Road" was adapted into a film starring Mel Gibson and is a global hit on Netflix.

Michael Farris Smith and Jack Sonni were having a drink together at the bar of City Grocery in Oxford a few years ago. When Sonni said his goodbyes and left for the night, the bartender walked up to Smith with a smile on his face.

"Man, can you believe that guy actually played at Live Aid?" the bartender said.

"Wait, what?" Smith replied.

It turns out Sonni was on

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