Books digest

LOCAL

Writing workshop

YOUNGSTOWN — The monthly Write On, Write Now, Work in Process Writing Workshop will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Pig Iron Literary and Art Works, 26 N. Phelps St. Facilitator is Ji Villani.

STATE

Akron native’s 2nd novel

AKRON — Vantage Press has released “Wintry Winds,” a novel by Akron native L.A. Pembrook.

The family saga spans from the Civil War through the 1920s.

Pembrook, who resides in Akron, was an administrative assistant at a large Cleveland law firm. Her first novel, “Murder in McCauley,” was also published by Vantage.

Book about Tressel has players’ perspectives

COLUMBUS — Jim Tressel, Ohio State University football coach, is the subject of a new book, “More Than a Coach: What It Means to Play for Coach, Mentor, and Friend Jim Tressel,” by David Lee Morgan Jr.

Morgan is an award-winning sportswriter for the Akron Beacon Journal.

In “More Than a Coach,” which includes a foreword by Tressel, former players and those who know Tressel well reveal how the coach’s unique philosophy on football and life affected their own lives.

More than 50 people give in-depth accounts about Tressel, including Joe Malmisur, former Youngstown State University athletic director; A.J. Hawk, Craig Krenzel, John Cooper, Troy Smith and Archie Griffin.

The book is published by Triumph Books.

Book Deals

Friend of Fawcett’s plans to publish diary

NEW YORK — One of Farrah Fawcett’s closest friends, Alana Stewart, is publishing a diary she kept as the actress battled cancer and then died last month.

Publisher William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, says “My Journey With Farrah” will be released in August. Some of the proceeds will be donated to the Farrah Fawcett Foundation for cancer research.

Fawcett, the pinup icon and “Charlie’s Angels” star, died June 25 at age 62. Stewart, an actress and former wife of rock star Rod Stewart, has appeared in such films as “Swing Shift” and “Funny Lady.”

Vindicator staff/wire reports