Books digest

REGION

YSU student releases book

YOUNGSTOWN — Justin Campbell, a student at Youngstown State University, recently published his novel: “Dreams and Legends: The Chronicles of a Master,” which is the first book in a series.

Campbell describes the book as “a fast-paced action/adventure/mystery with a hint of romance.”

Campbell discovered his passion for writing in a Fiction Writing Workshop at YSU. He is working on a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in creative writing.

Novel covers family in Ohio’s Appalachia

“The Long River Home,” published by Bottom Dog Press, has been released by Larry Smith.

A graduate of Muskingum College and Kent State University, Smith is professor emeritus of Bowling Green State University’s Firelands College and is director of Firelands Writing Center.

The author says his family history provided some guidance for the story, but it’s a work of fiction.

The novel is set in rural Vinton County and industrial Jefferson County, covering four generations.

KSU student poet

KENT — Allen Hines, Northeast Ohio poet and Kent State University student, has introduced “Screaming Freedom,” a book of poems published by J.B. Solomon Editions, a small Alliance press.

Hines lives with cerebral palsy, which has influenced the subject matter and the process in which he composes the poems, according to one of the publishers, Tim Bugansky. He describes the poems as “striking, thought-provoking and beautiful.”

Youngstown native rocks with new book

OAK ISLAND, N.C — Clay Cole was born Albert Rucker Jr. in Youngstown and was raised in Hubbard. He was a juvenile stage actor at the Youngstown Playhouse, which garnered him a live daily kids’ adventure show on WKBN radio, “The Enchanted Forest.”

He went on to host “Rucker’s Rumpus Room,” a Saturday night teen music show on WKBN-TV in 1953-54, and then on WFMJ-TV from 1954-57.

After moving to Manhattan, he became the star of New-York’s top-rated “The Clay Cole Show,” where he introduced many artists who became icons of pop music.

In his new book, “Sh-Boom,” Cole chronicles the early days of live television, the birth of rock ’n’ roll and Top 40 radio.

Cole will launch “Sh-Boom” in Hubbard/Youngstown on Oct. 1. It will be available at all bookstores and online.

AWARDS

Vidal, Eggers to receive honorary awards

NEW YORK — Congratulations, Gore Vidal.

The author, playwright and political commentator will receive an honorary National Book Award medal this fall for “Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.” Vidal, who turns 84 next month, is known for such best sellers as “Burr” and “Lincoln,” and for the play “The Best Man.”

Award organizers also announced that Dave Eggers, 39, will be presented the “Literarian Award” for community service. Eggers, whose books include “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,” helped found 826 Valencia, which works with young people to develop writing skills, and has centers based in San Francisco, New York and several other cities.

The ceremony for the National Book Awards will be Nov. 18.

Vindicator staff/wire reports