ST. LOUIS — After two years of research and travel, a new book that highlights 50 small towns in Missouri is now in stores.

“Small Town, Missouri: Legends, Lore, and Attractions in the Show Me State,” is St. Louis-area resident Caitlin Yager’s first authored book, which was published by Reedy Press.

Yager traveled to 35 out of the 50 cities in the book where she spoke to community members, local leaders and organizations for information. More than a travel guide, she collected stories, facts, archives, photos and more.

“I’m looking forward to people discovering the really intricate and really poignant and beautiful stories that are kind of woven into the different communities of Missouri that are featured,” Yager said.

Some of the small towns discussed in the book may already be familiar to some such as Augusta, Bourbon, Steelville and Pacific. While others, including Van Buren, Westphalia, Arrow Rock and Rocheport may be unfamiliar to many.

While the writing process was extensive, Yager said the book isn’t to decipher the best small towns, but changing the perception of small towns as shown on TV and movies.

“Small town, Missouri, is not always what’s portrayed in books or in Hollywood,” she said.

“I think there have been some portrayals of, not just small town Missouri, but small town America in general that have not been entirely positive. I think that that comes from not really experiencing those communities for yourself.”

The purpose of the book is to help people understand rural areas, including the community and culture, and lure them to explore there.

For example, Piedmont, Mo., prides itself on being the UFO capital due having the most documented UFO sightings in the state, according to Yager.

With a dedicated park, the city has murals of aliens and sculptures in its downtown.

Besides Mark Twain being from Hannibal, Titanic survivor, Molly Brown, was also from there. She was played by Kathy Bates in the movie, however, in real life, Yager said Brown had her lifeboat turn around to save the passengers of the Titanic.

She additionally was an advocate for workers’ rights, women’s suffrage and ran for office before women were given the right to vote.

“There's so many little stories like that of people that you wouldn't have imagined are from Missouri or were just funny little stories that connect small towns to other little things,” Yager said.

She is holding presentations at various libraries to showcase the purpose of the book, her journey and stories.

Attendees will have a chance to win a free copy if they are among the audience who has visited the most small towns mentioned in the book. And no, driving through does not county.

“Small Town, Missouri: Legends, Lore, and Attractions in the Show Me State,” can be purchased where books are sold.