Senior News Column--February 2012

For some time now I have been writing a monthly book review column for the Senior News newspaper. The Senior News is aimed to the 50 and over crowd with news relevant to seniors regarding various issues, humor pieces, and my review column among other things. The newspaper is a giveaway at doctor offices, stores, etc. and can be received by via a paid subscription. There are multiple editions across the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in content in each area.

My column every month focuses on books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore books selected for the column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership. At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.

Below is/was my February 2012 column with the addition here of the relevant book covers……

The Shooting Salvationist: J. Frank Norris and the Murder Trial that Captivated America

David Stokes

Steerforth Publishing

ISBN 978-1-58642-186-1

Hardback

384 Pages

$27.00

Originally published in 2010 as “Apparent Danger: the Pastor of America’s First Megachurch AND THE Texas Murder Trail OF THE DECADE in the 1920s” the new book covers the murder involving John Franklyn Norris and the first megachurch in the nation. Led by John Franklyn Norris, known to all as “J. Frank,” the charismatic and controversial pastor of the First Baptist Church in downtown Fort Worth intended to be a powerful national figure as he took over the legacy of William Jennings Bryan.  J. Frank might have done it too--if he had not shot and killed Dexter Elliot Chips one brutally hot Saturday afternoon.

That he did it there is no question. The reason why is a key part of the defense. Author David Stokes examines the trial in great detail, the events leading up to the trial, and the repercussions of the trial for many involved. One of the original “true crime” cases, the read is exhaustively detailed and leaves absolutely no stone unturned as it recounts an interesting period in the history of Texas and the nation as a whole.

Killer Fiction: 11 Short Stories of Killers, Fixers, and P.I.’s

Sniplits Publishing

Kindle E-Book

$2.99

Written by Texan Mark Troy and ten other authors residing in less fortunate places, this anthology is primarily a hard-boiled read. As the subtitle of “11 Short Stories of  Killers, Fixers, and P.I.’s” makes clear, crime is going to be front and center in this every well done short story anthology.

Deep in the anthology is yet another very good Val Lyons tale written by Mark Troy. In “Kill Leader” Hawaii based private investigator Val Lyons is trying to protect Paula Evangelista who is a power house on the volleyball court.  So much so, somebody is making threats.  Paula Evangelista is a difficult client, to say the least, and Val is having a very hard time identifying the person or persons behind the threats in this complicated tale. 

Available as single short stories as well, this anthology features eleven solidly good stories. The strong stories in this first anthology are complex tales featuring well developed characters, interesting situations, and the settings as varied as are the writer styles showcased here. The result is a highly entertaining read.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2012