Korean War remembered

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Hellgate Press has published a book by James N. Butcher, of Washington, D.C., titled "Korea: Traces of a Forgotten War."

Butcher was born in Bergoo in 1933. When Butcher was 8, his father was killed in the coal mines and his mother died three years later. By then the family had moved to Charleston's West Side, where he and his elder sister and brothers managed to raise themselves.

The day after graduating from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1951, Butcher left Charleston for the Army. He was an infantryman with Fox Company of the 17th Infantry Regiment during the final year of the Korean War. He saw action in the Battle for Jane Russell Hill and the first Battle of Pork Chop Hill.

Butcher went on to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology and is professor emeritus in the psychology department at the University of Minnesota. He has published 58 books in his field of psychology.

The paperback book is $21.98 and available at hellgatepress.com.

City native writes novel

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston native J. Dwayne Craigo has published his first book, "The Gathering."

The novel is set in Tennessee, where Craigo now lives. The plot is about the citizens of a small town awaiting a visit from the U.S. president for a Fourth of July celebration. Meanwhile, a gathering of other, uninvited people is taking place.

The paperback book may be obtained from www.publishamerica.com.

Hechler on teaching

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ken Hechler, former congressman and West Virginia secretary of state, has written "How to be a Great Teacher."

In chapter one, he notes that he was trained as a teacher "and enjoyed the happiest years of my life" in the classrooms of Columbia College, Barnard College, Princeton, the University of Charleston and Marshall University.

The book is published by Pictorial Histories Publishing, Missoula, Mont.

Picture book of robins

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- John M.H. Pratt, of Charleston, has published a small paperback picture book of a family of robins.

He says "The Magic Window" was inspired by the reactions of his nieces and nephews to the photographs. For more information on the book and for more photographs, visit www.jacketflap.com/jmhp.

Yarns of Appalachia

CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. -- Woodland Press of Chapmanville has published a collection of poems and stories inspired by Appalachia.

Cat Pleska and Michael Knost edited the collection. Contributors include Karin Fuller, Lynne Schwartz-Barker, Rob Merritt, Frank Larnerd, Mary Lucille DeBerry and Barbara Smith.

For more information, visit www.woodlandpress.com.