Author, Author
County authors have released their debut books: a murder mystery novel and a historical compilation.
'Sculpture: The Evil of Pride'
Willie Hobbs of Butler has released his debut novel, “Sculpture: The Evil of Pride.”
In the murder mystery, Buford J. Lewis Sr., aka Daddy Bo, searches for the murderer of his son while the unknown killer is still searching for Daddy Bo.
From the prologue: “Interrupting dinner at Buford Lewis' household was the ultimate sin any living or non-living person or thing could commit. Phones were turned off, doors were locked. The only clanging, dinging and knocking to be heard was the sound of silverware hitting plates, ice cubes clinking in jelly jars and platters of food making contact with the hardwood dinner table. This daily ritual was written in stone. Everyone in the neighborhood knew not to ring, knock, or even shout at Buford Lewis' house at 6:30 p.m. And if someone did, Buford would say, 'Someone's feeling bulletproof.'”
The 251-page who-dunit comes in paperback for $12.95 or in digital format for $4.95.
'Moraine State Park'
To create the new book “Moraine State Park (Images of Modern America),” Polly Shaw of Portersville selected images from park archives, two park support groups, local amateur photographers, and her own collection to tell the history of the area, including the Western Allegheny Railroad.
Pictures illustrate the story of the work that transformed the land, from constructing the dam and moving a highway to repurposing the surrounding area.
Glacial deposits identified the “moraine,” or farthest area that was covered by a glacier about 20,000 years ago. Muddy Creek was a north-flowing stream that was blocked by a glacier, forming a huge lake that drained when the glacier dam retreated.
Frank Preston envisioned recreating the lake and worked with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The project became the 16,725-acre Moraine State Park, its centerpiece the man-made Lake Arthur.
“I started it in 2015,” the author said. “It took a good year of research and even after you submit the final draft, it still takes six months for the publishing company to finish.”
The publisher, Arcadia Publishing, puts out regional history books and has released some about Butler, Zelienople and Harmony, among other areas.
Shaw, a lifelong Butler County resident, retired as a teacher from Haine Elementary School in the Seneca Valley School District. She grew up in Butler and graduated from Butler High School in 1969. She has been a 20-year volunteer with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“Most books like these have black and white or sepia tone images,” Shaw said. “This one is different because it's from the 'modern' series. The cover and most of the pictures are in color.”
She is working on a book about McConnells Mill State Park for the same series. “It will be different because McConnells Mill story is different,” she said.
The 96-page “Moraine” paperback is available for $22.95 and the digital format for $9.99.
Shaw will have a book signing from 2 to 4 p.m. May 20 at Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township.
