Our next book is out! - PathBinder Publishing newslatter (Sept. 2024)
Sept. 12, 2024 – Happy book birthday to me! And PathBinder Publishing, too.
Today is the official publication date for 200 Years of First Presbyterian Church Columbus, Indiana: Honoring Our Past, Building Our Legacy, a book celebrating the history of one of the major contributors to the community. This is my third book, the first to be published with PathBinder.
First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Indiana, has fashioned a long and rich history since it was chartered on July 3, 1824, by a circuit riding preacher. One of its ministers was elected to the highest position in the Presbyterian Church in 1970. But what makes this congregation special is the good it has done, and continues to do, in the community.
First Presbyterian Church, or its members of their own volition, have started many programs for the community's common good:
· In 1913, the Rev. Alexander Sharp Sr. helped organize the first Boy Scout troop in Columbus.
· Harold W. Turpin, pastor there in the 1940s, organized the first chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous in Columbus,
· The church opened the first preschool in town in 1954; it’s still going strong.
· In the 1960s, a childcare center was opened in the church that spun off on its own and continues today as Children Inc.
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In 1972, the church helped start Y-Med, a program that allowed young mothers and mothers-to-be finish their education, giving both meeting space and financial assistance.
· The Rev. Warner Bailey was the guiding force in the establishment of a shelter for battered and abused women. Organized in June 1979, it now operates as Turning Point.
· Presbyterians from the church were instrumental in starting the first homeless shelter in town.
· A group from First Pres that had renovated a home for an elderly widow who couldn’t afford to get the work done sparked the formation of Housing Partnerships Inc. in 1990 with other churches. HPI is now doing business as Thrive Alliance.
· Hot Meals, offering food and fellowship for anyone in the community, has been conducted here each Friday evening since 1993.
· First Presbyterian member Juana Watson was the first director of Su Casa, a Hispanic resource center that opened in 1999. First Presbyterian covered much of startup costs.
· The church’s Bicentennial Legacy Project will help those struggling to reach economic self-sufficiency. The funds will be held in a permanently endowed fund with grants awarded by Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, which works with other community groups in serving and encouraging individuals and families.
· Another bicentennial effort saw a couple donate $20,000 that will go to erase $2 million worth of medical debt.
As a member of the church’s bicentennial committee, I was contracted to write and publish the book. It’s been an intense six months of work to get this done just right and on time (we have our big 200th birthday bash this coming Sunday afternoon). Fortunately, I had a 175th anniversary book to use as a guideline for that part of the history. A lot of research went into expounding upon those parts of that history that needed expounding. Lots more research was necessary to write the most recent 25 years’ worth of history. I found old newspaper articles, church archives, and personal interviews with longtime members and clergy to be most beneficial. It is an honor to have been.
As with all our books, 200 Years of First Presbyterian is available in hardback, paperback, and ebook everywhere you purchase books. We prefer you check with your local bookstore first, if that’s an option, as we like to keep them in business. The book is 134 pages in an 8x10, easy-to-read format. It’s got loads of historical information and photos.
My other books are nonfiction titles published by The History Press − Murder in Wauwatosa: The Mysterious Death of Buddy Schumacher and Wicked Columbus, Indiana.
Click here to see all our authors, their bios, and a link to their books on our website. See bottom of page for links to all our books on Amazon.
What’s New at PathBinder?
Author of two thrillers interviewed on podcast
East Tennessee author John Bukowski, who has two thrillers out with PathBinder, was interviewed on the Language of Soul podcast recently. Listen to the segment here.
The podcast segment uncovers the intricate process of weaving real-world scientific concepts into compelling fiction, as well as creating stories that thrill while ringing plausible and authentic. John shares his journey from technical writing to fiction, shedding light on how his diverse experiences fuel his creative process and the “what if” scenarios that drive his narratives. Whether you're an aspiring writer or an avid reader, this episode is packed with valuable insights.
Over a forty-year career, John has gone from veterinary practitioner to epidemiologist to medical writer to novelist. He currently writes fast-paced thrillers such as Project Suicide and Checkout Time, as well as shorter fiction.
John grew up in a factory worker family of six kids in Motown. He has extensive experience in public speaking, including numerous appearances on theatrical stages, TV, radio, podcasts, seminars, workshops, civic groups, and book clubs.
He offered his advice on how to write thrillers on Thriller Novel Writing (Ep. 27) that posted on YouTube on Aug. 22. Sara Nunez Bee interviewed Bukowski, a former veterinarian and public health researcher turned full-time thriller novel writer.
Meanwhile, his most recent thriller, Checkout Time was named a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award finalist for Best Thriller at Killer Nashville. Killer Nashville is the premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, suspense, action, or romance elements. The book was also a finalist earlier this summer for an Imadjinn Award at the Imaginarium Convention in Louisville, Ky.
Our first audiobook
Bob Morris’ debut novel has been turned into an audiobook, the first audiobook in PathBinder’s history. Secret Service Journals: Assassination and Redemption in 1960s Detroit tells the tale of Bill Eaton, who digs into the stories behind some intriguing files given to his grandmother years ago by a former Secret Service agent named Bill Simpson.
Simpson’s files include ones titled “The White House,” “The Assassination,” “Prison,” and “Reuther.” The journals reveal a web of conspiracy, political assassinations, and redemption.
Morris, of southeast Michigan, employs his expertise in politics, the auto industry, and all things Detroit to fashion this historical fiction thriller that will keep readers guessing the whole way through.
The audiobook is free for those with an Audible subscription.
Children’s book will be a story walk
Author Kimberly S. Hoffman will have her latest book featured at a Pride festival in Columbus, Indiana. No Matter What, I Love You is being turned into a story walk. Each stop along the walk will feature a two-page spread of her book. Hoffman will also have a booth with her books and essential oil diffuser jewelry. No Matter What is Hoffman’s ninth children’s book, explores questions children sometimes have, but don't always voice. The main question this book centers on is, “Will you still love me if I'm different?” The story allows parents to express their unconditional love to their child through a gentle, rhyming story. Though this story centers around affirming love to children, it also allows adults examine themselves, learn, and expand their hearts to love unconditionally. Columbus Pride will be conducted on Sept. 7.
Owner, wife act in test scene for potential movie
PathBinder owner, Paul J. Hoffman, and his wife, children's author, Kimberly S. Hoffman, played two of the three characters in a proof of concept scene for a 
film for which their friend, script writer and director, Dustin Brenton, hopes to get funding.
Paul played a widowed farmer who has given up hope of preventing the government from taking his farm in order to build an interstate. Kimberly plays his girlfriend, who has not given up the fight. The other character is the smarmy government man who revels in Paul's defeat.
The scene was shot on a warm day in rural Indiana, south of Indianapolis.
From the director:
“For months, I've been sharing updates about the awards my screenplay 'Micronation' has received. Now, I'm thrilled to present a proof of concept scene we've shot. This is just one scene from the film, created to promote the movie and aid in our fundraising efforts to bring it to life for you all to enjoy someday.”
See the scene here.
See Kimberly Hoffman's TV interview
Children's author Kimberly S. Hoffman enjoyed her time with the Life.Style.Live! crew at WISH-TV 8 in Indianapolis on June 18. The segment was broadcast live that morning not only on Indianapolis TV, but also on Chicago WRJK- TV 22.8,
Louisville WMYO TV 24.2, Fort Wayne WLMO TV 2.8, and Livestream at Lifestyle live.TV. She was interviewed by Felicia Michelle, who was on her second day as a host of the program.
The interview centered on Kimberly's newest book, No Matter What, I Love You, which depicts a mother’s unconditional love for her child, who asks her some serious what-if questions.
You can see the interview by clicking here.
Kimberly was accompanied by her husband, Paul, PathBinder owner. He was disappointed to find out they made bacon on the show the previous day. There were doughnuts in studio on the day Paul and Kimberly went, but Paul was unable to procure a treat.
No Matter What goes on sale June 28 but can be pre-ordered anywhere you buy your books, including your local bookstore.
Stay up to date with all the latest PathBinder news by following our website’s What’s New section, updated often.
Reading
The past few months, I’ve gotten through A Clockwork Orange, Ringworld, Hide and Seek, and The Souls of Black Folk.
A Clockwork Orange is Anthony Burgess’s dystopian novel that Stanley Kubrick turned into a well-known film. The science fiction masterpiece, Ringworld, is my second Larry Niven read; the first coming roughly 43 years ago. I can never go too long without getting back to Scottish writer Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus series. Hide and Seek is the second Rebus novel. No, I’m not reading them in order. Souls by W.E.B. DuBois is a seminal work in the history of sociology, and a cornerstone of African-American literary history.
Now, I’m into a collection of short noir stories from Raconteur Press featuring female protagonists called Pinup Noir 2. I bought it at Imaginarium Convention in Louisville in July.
Miscellaneous
Let’s see … a few highlights from the past few months …
I was on the Captivating Crimes panel at Imaginarium in July.
We attended my goddaughter’s wedding in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin (3 hours east of Minneapolis) in August. She was born three months premature, and I happened to be at the hospital the night she was born. So, the wedding was a special event for me.
If you’d been keeping tabs on our coin finding adventures with my felt border terrier, Packy, we’re on pace for another record year. We donate all our findings to fund Huntington’s Disease research. Last year’s total was $118. But friends pitched in, so that we donated $373.
That’s it for this month!
Paul
Links to all PathBinder books
Alphabetized by author
Adams, Sandy
Ahwal, Terry
Keeping the Dream Alive: My Quest for Peace and Justice
Anand, Ritu
Los Sueños de Kara (Spanish edition of Kara’s Dreams)
Atwood, Bonnie
My Journey through Eldercare: The Search for Peace and Meaning
Balzano, Michael P.
Botset, Julie
The Journaled Word: Faith-Inspired Illustrations from the Old Testament
Bukowski, John
Chapman, Tim
Champion Underdog: The Improbable Success of the 1995 Northwestern Football Team
Childs, Angela
A Dead Rat for Thanksgiving? A Story of Family Traditions and One Big Surprise
Chasing Rainbows: A Story of Faith
Dad, Why Do You Always Embarrass Me?
D’Amato, Gary
A Perfect Childhood Growing Up in the 1960s with Baseball, The Beatles, and Beaver Cleaver
Hoffman, Kimberly S.
Cleo and Roger Discover Columbus, Indiana - Architecture
Cleo and Roger Discover Columbus, Indiana – Architecture (coloring book)
Cleo and Roger Discover Columbus, Indiana – Art
Cleo and Roger Discover Columbus, Indiana – Art (coloring book)
Love, Hope: Children Express Their Emotions During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The Red Coat: Giving and Gratitude During The Great Depression
Sigmund Stanley Spider Squared
Hoffman, Paul J.
200 Years of First Presbyterian Church Columbus, Indiana
Holden, Kelly
A Kintsugi Life: Finding Strength and Hope in the Face of Loss
Horowitz, Inge
Kirkbride, Earle
Larkin, Shelley
Morris, Bob
Secret Service Journals: Assassination and Redemption in 1960s Detroit
Nowakowski, Ashleigh
The Shadow Child: Living with a Sibling’s Addiction
Ramsey, Jim
Post Road and the Putnam Plaque
Silvestri, Joe “Biggie”
Simon, Michael
The Two Roads of Life: Navigating Yourself and Family to Health and Contentment
Stidham, Greg
Blessings and Sudden Intimacies: Musings of a Pediatric Intensivist
Wynne, W.E. “Bill”
Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist