About the Author

Author James Powers is a lifelong resident of Ashland and president of the Boyd County Historical Society. He and his coauthor, Terry Baldridge, tell the history of Ashland through vintage photographs and rare images amassed from the community, personal collections, and private archives.

Reviews

Title: More area authors showing up on bookshelves
Author: Staff Writer
Publication: The Herald-Dispatch
Date: 11/1/2008
There's nothing like curling up on the couch with a good book when the temperature starts to drop and autumn begins to set in.
Thanks to several local and regional authors, there's a fresh crop of books just waiting to be read. Here are a few new releases and some of the signings that will accompany them.
'Rose Hill'
Huntington resident Pamela Grandstaff just published her first book, "Rose Hill." It's the first book in a mystery series set in the Allegheny Highlands, where the scenic mountains of Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania converge.
"It's something I always wanted to do," she said. "I just had to wait until my life slowed down enough so that I had the time to devote to it."
In the story, wealthy bully Theo Eldridge is found murdered in the local veterinary clinic, but no one in Rose Hill seems to care who did it. They're just glad he's gone. Police chief Scott Gordon is both aided and hampered in his investigation by county sheriff's investigator Sarah Albright, who would rather seduce Scott than help him solve the crime.
Scott is crazy about fiery-tempered Maggie Fitzpatrick, but she's on the fence about romance. Nevertheless, she is determined to help Scott find out who killed Theo, and why. When Maggie and her best friend Hannah attempt to help Scott untangle the sticky web of Theo's shady business dealings, they uncover some dark family secrets that may connect Theo's murder to another committed 20 years before.
"Morning Glory Circle," the second book in the series, is slated for2009. Grandstaff is currently working on the third book, "Iris Avenue."
For more information, check out the Web site www.RoseHillMysteries.com. Rose Hill is available at Amazon.com or by special order at any bookstore.
Black Dogs
The Black Dogs, a Huntington prose writing group, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary and releasing its first book, "Black Dogs Unleashed: A Ten Year Anniversary Anthology," from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Java Joint, located on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Hal Greer Boulevard.
The Black Dogs' first meeting took place Nov. 1, 1998, when three local writers gathered to critique each other's prose. The group has met monthly ever since.
Many members have published books and won awards.
"Black Dogs Unleashed: The Tenth Anniversary Anthology" is available from Lulu Press. For more information visit www.lulu.com/content/4337149.
'Journey to the Land of Lasting Life'
Trina Williams, a wife, mother, grandmother and owner of Miracles Salon in Barboursville, has written a book called "Journey to the Land of Lasting Life."
The book tells the story of little girl's journey from a place of sickness, poverty and death to having a peace beyone understanding.
The book's aim is to help others be all they were destined to be.
Williams will have book signings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Guilding Light Bookstore in Barboursville; from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Borders Bookstore at the Huntington Mall; and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Finishing Touch Gallery in Proctorville.
For more information, contact Xlibris at 888-795-4274 or on the Web at www.Xlibris.com.
Ashland
"Ashland" is the latest in Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series and will be available Monday, Nov. 3, from local authors James Powers and Terry Baldridge. Powers and Baldridge each earned degrees from Marshall University and the University of Kentucky.
The story of eastern Kentucky's largest city comes alive in more than 200 vintage photographs that present the area's history. The book features historic images of Ashland as well as some of West Virginia and Ohio. The book chronicles the small town that began in the early 1800s.
It is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, online retailers or through Arcadia Publishing at 888-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.
'The Hurting Part: Evolution of an American Play'
The latest from Kentucky author Silas House is "The Hurting Part: Evolution of an American Play." It is a work based on the art of writing. The book contains the short story by House on which his play is based, an essay by him about the origin of this material from an oft-told family story, extra author's notes, a number of images and a lengthy interview in which House speaks about his literary influences, his writing process and more.
The book focuses on the development process of turning fact into fiction, it also contains the full-length script about human longing.
For more information about the book and author visit www.MotesBooks.com and www.SilasHouse.net.
The Underground Railroad
Local author and historian Don Daniel McMillian will sign copies of his latest book, "The Underground Railroad Lawrence County, Ohio and Cabell County, Virginia," from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov.1 at the Guyandotte Library, 203 Richmond St.
McMillian will also have copies of his book "On the Threshold of Splendor: Historic Homes and Families," as well.