 Bob Lively ’68 has written his 13th book and his second novel, Cotton-Eyed Joe, which he describes as a “Black Lives Matter” book. The story is of white man Will Amos and his friend, a nearly blind Black man nicknamed ‘Cotton-Eyed Joe.’ When the Black man is falsely accused of murder, a racist-fueled guilty verdict and death penalty ruling follow. The Black community responds with a prayer vigil, which Will’s wife encourages him to join. Will, however, does not believe in the power of prayer … will there be an answer to save them all? |
 Ed Jones ’69 has published Sleeping Like Spoons, a memoir about a gay couple in New York City who meet in January 1981. The book follows all of their shared life experiences, which abruptly end on March 5, 2002. Ed, in his early 30s, has recently moved to New York City from Dallas, Texas, in order to start a new career in the museum field. On a whim, he goes to a gay bar and meets Jose, also in his early 30s, who has recently traveled to the U.S. from the Philippines to pursue his career as a medical doctor. Their unique partnership survives all of the challenges that any couple would face. Their strong bond serves as a model for many other couples, both gay and straight. Jose’s sudden demise threatens the survival of Ed, but he is sustained by a network of family and friends over the many years to come. |
 Richard Selcer ’72 (MA ’73) has written his 13th book, Fort Worth Stories, published through University of North Texas Press (2021). A Fort Worth native, he has written history for 40 years and has taught in high schools and colleges in the U.S. and overseas—which he says he owes to Dr. Virginia Love’s inspiration. His titles for UNT Press include Volumes 1 and 2 of Written in Blood: The History of Fort Worth’s Fallen Lawmen, Fort Worth Characters, and A History of Fort Worth in Black & White: 165 Years of African American Life. He is a member of the Tarrant County Historical Commission and conducts walking tours of downtown Fort Worth. |
 Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue ’80 has published a collection of his poetry, What I Did Not Tell You, through Hungry Buzzard Press. A retired high school English and ESL teacher, he is also an essayist and short story writer who lives in Fort Worth, Texas. His work can be found online. |
| Richard Calhoun ’85 has written Teaching in The Light—Uncharted Times—While Surrounded by Darkness, which was published in December 2020. It has been called “the premier self-help tool on the market to assist educators as they continue to lead during a devastating pandemic.” The author is known as an innovator in providing leadership skills to organizations. He has more than 30 years of experience in corporate America and the public education arena, where he has used a unique blend of skills and experience. He has written about his experiences in both Fearfully and Wonderfully Made … The Behavioral Teacher and The Dynamic Principal to motivate educational leaders and students.
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 Evelyn Brister ’92 has edited a collection of essays, A Guide to Field Philosophy: Case Studies and Practical Strategies, published by Routledge in February 2020. The essays are examples of work in “public philosophy” that have to do with academic philosophers collaborating on projects with groups and policymakers outside of academia. The collaborations involve the World Bank, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the National Science Foundation, and numerous community groups and professional organizations. Evelyn is President of Public Philosophy Network and a Professor of Philosophy at Rochester Institute of Technology. |
 Marc Parrish ’92 has written his second Austin College book, The Stories of Austin College History. The second book is a collection of historical tales connecting alumni, faculty, and administrators to the State of Texas, the nation, and the world. Marc, an International Studies major during his days in Sherman, is grateful to Professor Emeritus of Political Science Shelton Williams for writing the foreword. Roo Tales: The Stories of Austin College Athletics was published in 2020. His third Austin College book will tell the tales of Athletics Hall of Honor inductees (“Legends”) and Austin College’s historic relationships with competitor schools on the athletic field (“Rivals”). The targeted release date of book three is Homecoming 2022. |
 Jim F. Alexander ’97 has written the futuristic novel I Am Sophia, which one reviewer has called “a delightful and gripping, progressive Christian parable.”
Jim is a Stanford-trained attorney and Writer-in-Residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in San Jose, California. Published by Wipf & Stock Publishers in 2021, the book is available in multiple |
 Brian Taylor ’99, using the pen name Taylor García, has written the novel, Slip Soul (Touchpoint Press, 2021), and the short story collection, Functional Families (Unsolicited Press, 2021). His novel tells of 60-something Osvaldo, who emigrates from Mexico to San Diego intending to find his first love, Joanne, a young writer he met when she toured his city over 30 years before.  Circumstances work against him, and he ends up in an immigrant detention center. According to the author, Osvaldo shares his story with a young man “through a series of flashbacks interspersed by chapters from a tattered original manuscript Joanne gave him the last time they met. Slip Soul—the story within the story—is a metaphysical journey of good versus evil, toxic masculinity versus femininity, and provides the historical backdrop for Osvaldo and Joanne’s lifelong love separated by time and borders.”
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Do You Have an Addition to the Bookshelf?
If you’re a writer, send information on your new book to editor@austincollege.edu along with a high-resolution photo of the cover and the author when available. Writers may also send a copy of the book, signed if you like, for the Austin College Community Collection, which is housed in Archives and Special Collections.
Send to:
Austin College
Abell Library
900 N. Grand Ave., Suite 6L
Sherman, TX 75090