Senior News--October 2013 Column

While working on a few things earlier today, I realized I have never put up my Senior News newspaper column for October. Don’t know what happened. I know I meant to do it, but with things here apparently I completely forgot. So, a few days late, the below is my deal for October.

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 mail via a paid subscription. There are multiple editions across the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in content in each edition.

My column every month focuses on books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore the 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 October 2013 column with the addition here of the relevant book covers…

These Mortal Remains

Milton Burton

Minotaur Books (A Thomas Dunne Book)

ISBN# 978-1-250-00638-7

Hardback (also available as e-book)

300 Pages

Last seen in the excellent Nights Of The Red Moon sheriff Bo Handel of Caddo County, Texas returns in These Mortal Remains. Beauregard “Bo” Handel has been sheriff more than thirty years and brooks no interference from the fools in Austin or Washington. He knows the people of his southeast Texas county and they know him. He also knows that sometimes people due amazingly stupid things. Things that can get them killed.

That is exactly what happened to a pair of idiots by the name of Topper Smith and Mean Dean Bean. When they tried to rob the Royal early one morning, Dual Driggers refused to get on the floor like everyone else because of his arthritis. Then he pulled out a 45. Colt automatic and the man who had been on the beach at Normandy on D-Day made quick work of them  before going back to eating his breakfast. While their crime spree is over, their deaths will be the first two dominoes to fall in a far reaching and complicated case that will interest those at the local, state and national level in various branches of law enforcement.

These Mortal Remains is another excellent read from Texas author Milton T. Burton. Rich in details with numerous plots twists; this latest read showcases an author at the top of his form.

Michael Chiarello's Live Fire

Michael Chiarello

Chronicle Books

ISBN# 978-1-4521-0181-3

Hardback (also available as an e-book)

224 Pages

There is a huge difference between cooking something on a grill and cooking something over a roaring fire in a fire pit, fire box, etc. Michael Chiarello takes you through those differences and how to do it safely and well in this book with the subtitle of  “125 recipes for cooking outdoors.” While there are some recipes suitable for the grill, this book is aimed at those who want to cook over open flames.

Along with technique tips regarding different types of wood, equipment, and other topics, the recipes drive this book. Main and side dishes are covered, as are recipes for appetizers, pizzas, breakfast, drinks, and many more tasty suggestions. While no nutritional information is included in this excellent 225 page book, there are pages for resources and an extensive index.  Michael Chiarello's Live Fire is an excellent cookbook full of pictures and text designed to assist cooks who want to step up their culinary skills.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013