"A View from the Hills," a collection of my newspaper columns, is now available. Published by Outskirts Press, it's got a little of everything -- humor, nostalgia, a couple of tear-jerkers and meditations on finding the perfect hamburger and cup of coffee. (Samples can be found here at Authors Den.) "A View from the Hills" is available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com as wel as at www.outskirtspress.com/aviewfromthehills. Technically, I'm a day laborer at The Baxter Bulletin in Mountain Home, Ark., where I'm senior writer, editorial writer, columnist, community conversation coordinator, cook and bottle washer. I'm a Texas boy who was passing through the Ozarks until I wound up married, buying a house, settling down, having two children (well, I helped have them) and suddenly awoke to find I can't quit my job. Oh, well, it beats working for a living.

I've received awards from the Arkansas Press Association and Associated Press Managing Editors of Arkansas for editorial writing, column writing, reporting, feature writing and, once, even photography. Most recently. I received 2007 APME awards for editorial and column writing.