A trip to the beach or other locale is a great time to catch up on reading. Having a good summer book list is a travel essential. During a long drive, flight or while on the sand or by the pool, books are a summer staple – and it doesn’t matter if they are in print or on an e-reader. While there are thousands of books to choose for your summer reading, we’ve pulled together a list of books from Hays County authors (for adults and children). These offerings include satire, humor, fantasy and some historical books, too. Happy reading!
From satire to self-help
Hell’s Supper
Genre: Satire/comedy with a fantasy angle (part of the Circles In Hell series)
Author: Mark Cain of Dripping Springs
About the book: Hell is ... well, Hell, and Steve Minion is the guy who has to keep it all going with every devil and demon – and, as it turns out, not a few of its inmates – stacked against him. His assistant, Orson Welles (yes, that Orson Welles) could no doubt manage such an enormous production far better than Steve, but he would thereby enjoy himself, which would break one of the fundamental rules of Hell – that nobody gets to enjoy themselves. Should you even feel a glimmer of hope, you know that within minutes all Hell will literally be breaking out all around you.
Also read Cain’s newest book, “A Cold Day in Hell.” Released July 3, this is the sequel to “Hell’s Supper,” part of the Circles In Hell series. Steve and Orson are back in this cracked sequel to “Hell’s Supper,” book two in the new satire and humor series, Circles In Hell. This time, the guys must fix Hell’s heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which has failed. Hell is getting progressively colder, and things are a lot more serious than devils and demons needing to put on some sweaters. If you’ve ever used the expression, “It will be a cold day in Hell before ...” then you know that there are metaphysical ramifications involved. The HVAC system must be fixed before all Hell freezes over, which is an even worse state than just a bit of frigid weather. Still, anything can happen on “A Cold Day In Hell” … even a paranormal comedy romance that becomes a whacky love triangle. (Descriptions courtesy of GoodReads)
About the author: Mark Cain spent 30 years as the chief information officer at a community college in Ohio, though he started his career as a librarian. He took an early retirement at age 55 and moved back to Texas to become a consultant and to get back to writing. He’s been writing books for 35 years; he wrote his first one in 1980 though it wasn’t published until 2000. His idea of Hell is the frustrations of modern life, expanded to Hellish proportions. “For me, Hell is having to do home improvement projects,” he said. And that’s the premise of his book series, “Circles in Hell.” The second book in the series is available only for Kindle, not in print – despite the author’s personal love of paper books. But as a former IT guy, he said, “I’m betting on the e-book as opposed to the paperback.”
Cain describes this book series as, “Fun, and a little bit to make you think. They are short books with snappy dialogue.” He said they’re perfect on vacation. And they’re fun to write. “Life’s too depressing not to have some fun,” he said. In addition to writing, Cain plays tuba in a local brass quintet and sousaphone in a few traditional jazz (Dixieland) bands.
More likely to quote Star Wars than the Bible and Trans-rational Spirituality
Genre: Nonfiction, self help
Author: Gudjon Bergmann
Is there any way to be spiritual without denying rationality?
About the book: Both books critique current spiritual options, look at the influences of postmodernism and propose a trans-rational approach to spirituality. What is the difference? “More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible,” was specifically written for Generation X. As such, it is written with attitude and is riddled with pop culture quotes that GenXers will appreciate. “Trans-Rational Spirituality” is the same book without the GenX attitude and Star Wars quotes. (Description courtesy of www.authorbergmann.com)
About the author: A self-described GenX poster child and rational spiritual seeker, Gudjon Bergmann is a meditation/yoga teacher and author of more than twenty books, including “Baby Steps to Meditation,” “Yes! You Can Manage Stress,” “Empowerment Basics,” “Living in the Spirit of Yoga, The Author’s Blueprint” and his recent memoir titled “You Can’t Have the Green Card.” He is well educated in Eastern, Western, and Integral philosophy, motivational techniques and meditation methods. Born and raised in Iceland, Gudjon moved to the USA in 2010 and is now a U.S. citizen. He and his wife and two children live in Kyle.
A book for children
A nest is noisy
Genre: Children’s books
Author: Diana Hutts Aston, formerly of Hays County
About the book: From the award-winning creators of “An Egg Is Quiet,” “A Seed Is Sleepy,” “A Butterfly Is Patient,” and “A Rock Is Lively” comes this gorgeous and informative look at the fascinating world of nests. From tiny bee hummingbird nests to orangutan nests high in the rainforest canopy, an incredible variety of nests are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched book introduces children to a captivating array of nest facts and will spark the imaginations of children whether in a classroom reading circle or on a parent’s lap. (Description courtesy of www.amazon.com)
About the author: Dianna Hutts Aston is a former resident of Mountain City, where she lived for 19 years, and was editor of the Hays Free Press 1987-1988. From there, she became activity director at Marbridge for five years, with the local legendary Ralph Pfluger as her boss. Her career as a children’s book author began in 1996 when her children were attending Hays CISD schools. After leaving Mountain City in 2006, she lived in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for eight years and now lives in Port Aransas, TX. Her award-winning science books include “An Egg Is Quiet,” “A Seed Is Sleepy,” “A Butterfly Is Patient,” and “A Rock Is Lively.” Her book, “The Moon Over Star” was awarded a Coretta Scott King Honor and was chosen by President Barack Obama and NASA astronauts to read to schoolchildren. (video available on YouTube). Former second grade teacher Donna Helm, of Mountain City, was an inspiration for parts of this book. Besides writing books, Hutts Aston also visits elementary schools and speaks to thousands of children each year, inspiring children to discover nature and to
dream big.
Young Adult
The Odd Squad, King Karl
Genre: Pre-teen
Author: Mike Fry of Buda
About the book: Nick, Molly, and Karl have nowhere to turn but to each other in the latest Odd Squad adventure, and they’ll need every ounce of wit, resourcefulness, and help they can get in order to rise above their biggest challenge yet. “King Karl” is the third book in the Odd Squad series. (Description courtesy of www.amazon.com)
About the author: Fry is a cartoonist and writer who has published nine books, including several in the pre-teen genre. He is also the creator of the cartoon “Over the Hedge,” which was made into a feature length movie. Fry is also credited with co-writing the screenplay “New Soul,” which was recently produced as a live-action/animated short film. In a synopsis about the film on Fry’s website, came this description: “What if, before you were born, you could pick your fate? Would you? Would you really?” Fry lives with his wife in Buda.
Adult fiction
Wildfire
Genre: Fiction
Author name: K. Vann O’Brien
About the book: Savanna arrives in Jessop, TX, with memories of her mother throbbing in her chest and a grumpy rescue dog trailing behind. The goal is to renovate and sell her mother’s childhood home, and to get herself back together after her mother’s death. But the people in this small dusty town look at her – the girl with her mother’s eyes – and see someone else. They see someone they loved, or hated, and who left them long ago. When a wildfire breaks out across neighboring farmland, the boy next door calls on Savanna to help the victims driven from their homes. Dev is an artist with kind eyes and a fierce painting of her mother on his bedroom wall. But Savanna is drawn to Blake, a reclusive boy with a scar running down his face like a teardrop, who looks at Savanna as if she put it there. The three friends rally to bring relief to the evacuees. But when they face the fire of prejudice, they must rely on each other to get through the blaze unscathed.
Kings of Colorado
Genre: Suspense Fiction
Author: David E. Hilton
About the book: William Sheppard had never ventured beyond his Chicago neighborhood until, at thirteen, he is sent away to the Swope Ranch Boys Reformatory, thousands of miles from home, for stabbing his abusive father in the chest with a pocketknife. Buried deep in the Colorado mountains, Swope is shrouded in legend, and defined by one prevailing rumor: that boys who go in, never come out the same. (Description courtesy of www.davidehilton.com)
About the author: Born in 1974, David E. Hilton’s family moved to West Texas in an attempt to rid his chronic asthma. He considers growing up in that region to be a constant inspiration for many of his stories. In Alpine, he was a boy scout, backpacked throughout Big Bend National Park, and has even seen a Marfa Ghost Light at close range. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne University in 1998, and began writing short stories soon thereafter, some of which can be found on various online webzines and pod cast sites, such as “The Harrow,” and “Pseudopod.” He was also a contributor to the short horror story collection, “Nights of Blood 2.” David lives outside Austin, and has two sons, Drew and Cameron, and is the Austin American-Statesman bestselling author of “Kings of Colorado.”About the author: K. Vann O’Brien lives in Buda, TX, with her husband and two wild, rowdy boys. She clings to the female characters in her books for balance.
Roy’s Run
Genre: Suspense
Author: Gary White
About the book: Financial forensic evidence uncovered by the nascent National Crime Agency (NCA) of UK suggest that Russian Organized Crime elements are joining forces with Mexican drug cartels. UK’s Prime Minister and the President of the United States (POTUS) agree to develop an international task force to further investigate these suspicions. Ex-university track star and undercover DEA agent Roy Silva, returning to duty after a life-threatening gunshot wound, is personally selected by POTUS to join forces with NCA agent Samantha (Sami) Baxter-Lindsey to lead this task force. Investigating, Roy and Sami soon develop a theory that the goal of the Russian/Mexican collusion is to deliver a terrorist attack of 90 Sarin bombs over the U.S. Complicating their investigation are the dismissive attitudes they receive as they try to alert their leadership that an attack is imminent. Nursing an intimate grudge against Roy and a desire to punish the United States, the leader of a Mexican cartel delivers a preeminent strike against Roy and the task force, sending him into a tailspin of uncertainty about who can be trusted and what is real and imaginary. Roy’s self-doubts are amplified when he discovers that the CIA, likely under POTUS’s orders, is following him and his team. Amid this cesspool of lies, deception and terror, with Sami’s help, he tries to stop the terrorist attack. With the clock rapidly ticking away, Roy finds himself in the race of his life.
About the author: Gary White is a retired U.S. Air Force officer. “Roy’s Run” is his first novel and it was published earlier this year. He is working on a sequel. White won the Friends of the Buda Library short story contest in 2014 and 2015. During his time in the USAF and his civilian career he supported the USAF Space Program and has worked as a meteorologist, Mission Director and Program Manager. White lives in Mountain City with his wife, Verlenne. When he is not writing, White is a Flight Instructor at Texas State Aviation in San Marcos.
For our history buffs
Want to learn more about Hays County history? Below are a few book options that will help with that goal, courtesy of the Hays County Historical Commission.
People and Places in and Around Historic Buda
Genre: Historical
Author: Mary Giberson and (the late) Barbara Younts
About the Book: Contains more than a hundred vignettes on local history on characters and places of this northern Hays County community. The research pieces were originally written for the Hays [County] Free Press and subsequently collected under one cover in 2003 for this Buda Economic Council-funded project. The stories within run from tales of the Allen Cemetery to the IG&N Railroad and the early Onion Creek Post Office. Published by the Hays Free Press, the book stands as the single most important collection of local history on Buda and its immediate vicinity – a must for researchers and those interested in this area’s fascinating history.
The Complete History of Dripping Springs, Texas, and the P.A. Smith Survey
Genre: Historical
Author: Carl Waits
About the book: Author Carl Waits writes in the preface of his 2003 Nortex Press work that he hopes “the natives, as well as newcomers get as much enjoyment out of finding out about the history of Dripping Springs and the P.A. Smith Survey (as best I can tell) as I did in gathering it.” It is safe to say that “the natives” and “the newcomers” are, in fact, in for an enjoyable ride through the history of this area of Hays County when reading this fascinating book. The retired 30-year veteran of coaching in Dripping Springs ISD began his collection of local history in 1990 with the notion he could complete a video history of his adopted town in a few months. Fortunately for those who study the town and area, that compact little project grew into something much more time-consuming – and substantial. The end result is a major accomplishment of research, interviewing, and the collection of local lore too soon – and in many cases, already – forgotten.
The history is divided into three major parts, the first titled “The Beginnings” and capably dealing with genealogy, the history of Dripping Springs, and a full range of the town’s buildings, businesses, and houses. Part 2 is an exhaustive review of land ownership and maps. Part 3 takes on the specifics of the good people, churches, and schools of Dripping Springs. The Waits work is essential, first-stop reading for anyone researching – or with a simple love and interest in – its Hill Country subject matter. (All historical book descriptions courtesy of the Hays County Historical Commission.)
Visit www.hayshistoricalcommission.com/store to learn more about these books and to place an order.
