LOCAL

LOCAL

Moffie earns recognition

YOUNGSTOWN — Sam Moffie of Youngstown has earned honorable mention in the humor category from the Reader Views Annual Literary Awards for his second novel, “The Organ Grinder and the Monkey.”

The annual awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a small press, university press or independent book publisher.

The awards are granted in fiction and nonfiction categories, as well as regional, global and specialized, sponsored categories.

Book by Baldwin released

NEWTON FALLS — “Onward Through the Fog: Conversations with Pappy,” by Robert “Bummer” Baldwin, a Valley resident, has been introduced by PublishAmerica.

Baldwin writes about a columnist for a biker magazine who befriends an old man in a nursing home.

An avid motorcyclist, Baldwin has been a columnist for the motorcyclists’ rights publication “Outspokin’” for more than 20 years.

He and his wife, Julie, reside in Newton Falls.

Pacalo will sign new book

YOUNGSTOWN — Patrick Pacalo of Youngstown announces the release of his new book, “Cold Warfare II: Political Terror.”

The book follows his original work, “Cold Warfare: a Compact History.”

Two book signings are scheduled for April. The first will be at 1 p.m. April 4 at the Friends of the Library bookstore at the Poland Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Pacalo will give a presentation and answer questions at the signing.

The second will be from 1-4 p.m. April 25 at the Borders Bookstore on state Route 46 in Niles, where he also will answer questions.

Pacalo is a veteran of the National Guard and Reserve, serving from 1980 to 1994. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in history from Youngstown State University and a doctorate in history from Lacrosse University.

Bruce releases 6th for kids

YOUNGSTOWN — Local author and longtime Youngstown educator Dr. Martha Bruce announces the release of her sixth children’s book, “Auntie’s Paint Brush and Other Stories of African Children.”

The book is a collaboration between Bruce and local artist and retired television news reporter Ode Aduma. This is the second time the two have worked together on a children’s book.

A book signing by the author will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 24 at the McGuffey Centre, 1644 Jacobs Road.

AWARDS

Book Critic Award

NEW YORK — The late Roberto Bolano’s “2666” received the fiction prize March 12 from the National Book Critics Circle.

Other winners included Ariel Sabar’s “My Father’s Paradise” for autobiography, Dexter Filkins’ “The Forever War” for general nonfiction and Patrick French’s “The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography of V.S. Naipaul” for biography.

For the first time in the awards’ 35-year history, two winners were named for one category: August Kleinzahler’s “Sleeping It Off in Rapid City” and Juan Felipe Herrera’s “Half the World in Light: New and Selected Poems” shared the poetry prize.

Seth Lerer’s “Children’s Literature” was cited for criticism.

Also, Kwame Anthony Appiah, a professor of philosophy at Princeton and an author/editor, will succeed Francine Prose as the next president of the American center of the writers organization, PEN. The 54-year-old, who was born in London and lived in Ghana for many years, is expected to be elected to a 1-year term.

DEATHS

Mystery novelist dies at 62

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Barbara Parker started writing an adventure story as a way to amuse her young son and as a break from her career as an attorney. Instead, Parker found a new calling, giving up her law practice to eventually write 12 mystery novels.

Parker, 62, of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, died March 7 after a long illness, surrounded by her family at the Hospice By The Sea in Boca Raton.

Most of her novels were in her “Suspicion” series about Miami lawyers Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana.

Combined dispatches