County suffers no shortage of writers
Former and current Butler County residents are a prolific bunch, penning short stories, essays and full-fledged fiction along with guidance for teachers and yoga practitioners.
Here are some of the current offerings of area authors:
Historical fiction writer 3-peats
"Sassafras in the Window" is the third book by Jason Cherry of Butler.
Based on true events, this picture book relates the tale of how George Washington would always remember the one Christmas that changed his life — and history.
Cherry's other two books were the historical fiction novels "Bloody Circles of War" and "Come Hither."
The author's love for history began at age 10, when he and his family became re-enactors of the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
For more information, visit the Web site, www.publishamerica.com.
Science teacher relates big-picture essays
Curtis Irion, a chemistry teacher at Butler Senior High School, has published his "Thoughts on the Universe Including Earth" which are "Essays on the Inorganic and Organic Structures of the Universe Including Humans."
As the author puts it, this book "consists of a random number of short essays about the forces of the universe and the plant and animal species found on an isolated planet called Earth." He hopes it will be a fun book to read.
He also has written "Notes on the Radical View of Aging" and "Home Wine Making Chemistry 101," among others.
This newest book, 186 pages plus suggestions for further reading, is available for $12 through the Web site, www.amazon.com.
Karen (Newton) Biery of Ohio, formerly of Portersville, will be returning to the area for a book signing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Moore & Moore in Portersville.Her work of fiction called "believe" is set in Salem, Ohio. In searching for the resting place of her birth mother, the main character, Suzie, is drawn to an 1886 memorial statue for 2-year-old Goldie Bell Taylor.As the story progresses, Suzie finds a family she never knew existed while she explores the convoluted life of her mother. The soft cover book costs $15.95. The author is the daughter of Max and Evelyn Newton of Portersville.For more information, visit the Web site, www.karenbiery.com.
Butler resident Cynthia L. Marshall has published "The Dragons of Yoga: An Introduction to Yoga Theory."Marshall is a professor of English at the Community College of Beaver County and most recently developed the school's yoga curriculum. She has teaching certification in hatha and ashtanga yoga."The Dragons of Yoga" is designed to enhance a yoga practitioner's experience by using different colors as the conceptual model for the text. For example, the 35-page soft cover publication contains chapters on "White Dragon: Time," "Red Dragon: Diet," "Blue Dragon: Acceptance" and "Grey Dragon: Meditation."The book also serves as an introduction to yoga theory for students in Marshall's yoga classes at CCBC and includes assignments and worksheets.A book signing party is planned for 3 p.m. Tuesday at the CCBC library on the campus in Monaca.The book costs $9.95 and is available in the college's Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
Slippery Rock University professors John L. Badgett and Edwin P. Christmann have co-authored three books meant to help classroom teacher develop accurate testing and student assessment standards.Badgett and Christmann are both professors of secondary education/foundations of education. Their first book, "Interpreting Assessment Data; Statistical Techniques You Can Use," blends the need for accountability with the need for using testing as a way for both the student and teacher to learn.The teachers' two latest books are the related "Designing Elementary Instruction and Assessment" and "Designing Middle and High School Instruction and Assessment." Both focus on using the cognitive domain.For more information, call 724-738-2199.
A story written by Valerie Benko of Lyndora has been published in "Chicken Soup for the Soul — What I Learned from the Cat"Benko's two-page story called "A Special Offering" is about her cat Buscemi and the strange ritual the cat has of depositing Q-tips on the bed.The book's 372 pages are filled with contributed tales under the subtitle, "101 Stories about Life, Love, and Lessons."The retail price is $14.95. Visit the Web site, www.chickensoup.com for more information.There is also a "What I Learned from the Dog" version.
