National bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove has announced the publication of his latest work, The Camp Mystic Flood: A Story of Tragedy and Heroism, to be released in hardcover by Bloomsbury on July 8, 2027. The book arrives on the second anniversary of the catastrophic July 4, 2025, flood that swept through Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River in Texas, claiming the lives of 27 girls in one of the deadliest camp disasters in American history.
Drawing inspiration from Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm, Hazelgrove's book offers the first comprehensive, deeply reported account of the tragedy. It reconstructs the events minute by minute, following campers, counselors, parents, rescuers, camp owners, first responders, and community members as they faced the unprecedented floodwaters that overwhelmed the century-old summer camp in the Texas Hill Country.
“The Camp Mystic Flood is not an indictment, nor is it a defense,” Hazelgrove said. “My goal is to tell the whole story—how this tragedy unfolded, who the people were who experienced it, and the extraordinary acts of courage, sacrifice, faith, and heroism that emerged from one of the worst natural disasters in Texas history.”
Hazelgrove, author of more than twenty books, spent months conducting research, including interviews with survivors, families, first responders, meteorologists, and local residents, as well as on-site reporting in Kerr County and the Texas Hill Country. The book examines not only the flood itself but also the history of Camp Mystic, the geography and flood history of the Guadalupe River, the rescue efforts, and the difficult questions that have emerged in the disaster's aftermath.
While litigation and public debate continue over responsibility and accountability, Hazelgrove emphasizes that the book does not seek to advance a predetermined conclusion. “There will be years of legal proceedings and public arguments over fault,” he said. “As a historian and narrative nonfiction writer, my responsibility is to follow the facts wherever they lead, to listen to all sides, and to tell this story with fairness, compassion, and historical rigor.”
At its heart, the book focuses on the human experience: the families who entrusted their children to Camp Mystic, the counselors who fought to save them, the rescuers who risked their lives, and the enduring legacy of the 27 girls lost. The Camp Mystic Flood: A Story of Tragedy and Heroism is published by Bloomsbury and will be available on Bloomsbury's website.
