12.23.16    Texas alphabet book gets creative

H is for Howdy and Other Lone Star Letters is a delightful new Texas alphabet book by Houston area authors Eva Freeburn and Lawson Gow, illustrated by James Little (Bright Sky Press, $19.95 hardcover).

Written in rhyme, the book touches on familiar Texas topics from Armadillos to sleeping cowboys catching their ZZZZZs. Some of the more creative letter pairings are J for June bug, K for Kindness, and T for Tumbleweeds.

San Antonio Spurs: 100 Things Spurs Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is a 278-page compilation of stories and facts written by veteran pro basketball writer Mike Monroe (Triumph Books, $14.95 paperback).

From No. 1 (Tim Duncan) to No. 100 (Ultimate Spurs Fan Trivia Quiz), Monroe covers the players, coaches and memorable games in San Antonio Spurs lore. Triumph Books also has produced a full-color 128-page keepsake tribute, Tim Duncan: Team-First Superstar, commemorating Duncan’s retirement ($15.95 paperback).

Young Adult novel: Abilene author Bradley Love (Class of 2006) has published his first novel, Tessa Blair of Kelmia, a young adult fantasy featuring a twelve-year-old girl who is learning to stand up for herself and discover her identity in an ancient kingdom transitioning to a society based on science and logic.

Love said he enjoyed reading fantasy novels growing up. So when he decided to try his hand at writing, it seemed the natural genre for him. Plus, it is a highly popular venue with young readers. The 256-page paperback is $9.99. Read more at whitestratusbooks.com.

Second in series: Austin author Marge Wood has published the second novel in her Secret Buzzard Society series for middle school readers. In The Weirdest Hottest Summer Ever ($10 paperback, available on-line), school is out and the Secret Buzzard friends find themselves dealing with drought, wildfire, cattle rustling, terrorists and more. Wood promises more adventures are in the works.

New collection: Memorable Moments: Selected Poems and Other Writings is the fourth book from Wichita Falls poet and devotional writer Sheri A. Sutton ($9.25 paperback).

The volume includes about 30 poems and short essays grouped in three sections: Faith and family, life and love, and nature and nurture. Read more about her books and her writing on her web site, sheriasutton.com.

Glenn Dromgoole’s latest book is West Texas StoriesContact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net.

>> Read his past Texas Reads columns in Lone Star Literary Life here.