“America's Culture'

Area writers have released a variety of books in recent months.

'America's Culture'John McElroy, born and raised in Parker, has written “America's Culture: It's Origins & Enemies, A Synopsis.”The 82-year-old, who now lives in Tucson, Ariz., said jokingly he self-published this book instead of taking the traditional company route because of “a race between the undertaker and the publisher.” He has five other books to his credit.“I wanted to have this book out about political correctness and how it's hitting people the wrong way,” McElroy said.A retired academic, McElroy graduated from Princeton and Duke universities and taught at Clemson, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and universities in Spain and Brazil as well as a seminar in Poland. He is professor emeritus of the University of Arizona.His 165-page book is available in paperback for $16 or in digital format for $7 from 50 States Press, 2100 E. Speedway Blvd., #43661, Tucson, Ariz. or through www.johnharmonmcelroy.com.

'The Sign of the End'Butler resident Tim Ayers, after several forays in the children's book market, has released his first adult thriller. World Castle Press has published “The Sign of the End.”Ayers said, “All writers are told to write what they know. For me, I use local people, scenes and experiences to breathe life into my books. I've lived on and off in Butler for the last 15 years,” he said. “I substitute taught in the Butler school system, worked as a real estate agent for Northwood and Howard Hanna and currently am employed by Boscov's Department store. Butler is my home and it has leaked into all my books.”“The Sign of the End” is a pre-apocalyptic view of the world. In the novel, biogeneticist, Matthew MacDonald, clones Jesus from threads stolen from the Shroud of Turin. His partners in the landmark event are a priest and a wealthy televangelist.Ayers next novel, planned for release in September, is called “Cruel Messenger.” He also is awaiting the release date for the first book in his next children's series, “The Nanobot Kids,” about two boys who attend Slippery Rock Middle School and get involved with a new technology called nanobots.“The Sign of the End” is available online in digital format for $3.99 and in paperback for $11.99.

<b>'CrimeFighters'</b>As founder and chief loss prevention consultant for CrimeFighters USA, Butler High School graduate Vic Sellers of Harlansburg battles crooks, con men and scam artists.He has written his advice about retail theft prevention in “CrimeFighters: Retail Theft: Training Ordinary People to be Everyday Heroes.”Born and raised in Butler, Sellers graduated from BHS in 1974 and from Penn State in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice (criminology).His 164-page paperback book is available online for $24.99.<b>'Watch That Rat Hole'</b>“Watch That Rat Hole” is a memoir by former Butler resident Kenneth Campbell who now lives in the Philadelphia area.The story intertwines personal narrative with the Real Estate Investment Trust revolution.Campbell graduated from Butler High School in 1947 and received a bachelor's degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and a master's in business administration from New York University.The book was released by Archway Publishing, a Simon and Schuster division. The 582-page book is available online in digital, paperback and hardcover formats.

‘CrimeFighters’