BTHE CITIZEN

SundayJuly 19, 2009

Enjoy the fruits of sum-mer with the versatiletomato.

— Page 3B

Inside

EEASTAST MMETROETRO

RONDA RICH

One fall afternoon, Iwas lunching with aclose friend of mine

at the Country Music Hallof Fame in Nashville. Aman from another table ten-tatively approached us andexplained that he and hiswife were fans of this col-umn.

He grinned, put his handon my shoulder and leanedcloser. “I’ve asked him” hemotioned toward the wan-dering guitarist who wasentertaining patrons, “toplay our song.”

I tilted my head and lookat him quizzically. We hadjust met. How could wehave a song? “What song?”I asked.

He laughed. “Just wait.You’ll see.”

A few minutes later,slow, gorgeously jazzysounds drifted across theroom. It took a couple ofseconds but the hauntingmelody penetrated mybrain and I recognized it. Ilooked across the diningarea to my new friend, whogrinned and gave me athumbs up. I smiled, nod-ded and winked back.

You don’t hear the song“Dixie” very often and thatsaddens me because somehave cast this song in apolitically incorrect lightdue to its association withthe Confederacy during theCivil War. It is especiallyironic considering thatPresident Abraham Lincolnis said to have claimed it asone of his favorite songsand is rumored to have hadit played on the lawn of theWhite House on the day thewar ended.

The irony is doubledwhen you consider that thesong is said to have comefrom either one of twosources — depending onthe history you believe. Butone of the stories is trueand whichever one it isshould free this song fromthe tyranny of radicalabuse. One story said thatDaniel Emmett, a minstrelman, wrote the songbecause the traveling min-strels always longed for thewarmth of the South comethe bitter winters when theywere touring up North. Theminstrel showmen preferredto play the North in thesummer and head South inthe winter. Legend says thatEmmett, longing for thebeautiful South, penned thesong as a salute to hisfavorite land.

Emmett, you see, wasfrom Ohio.

The other story that somehistorians insist is correct isthat the song came from thesame group of people whogave us the blues and jazzand played enormouslyimportant roles in gospeland rock ’n roll. Someclaim that Emmett learnedthe song from the Snowdenbrothers, who were the sonsof former slaves. Yep, that’sright: African-Americans.

BY BRITTANY BINOWSKIStaff Intern

Agreat storyline is onlyhalf the equation to agreat work of fiction,

according to local authorKevin Downs.

The other main componentis deep knowledge of the sub-ject matter by the author.That’s why Downs, a geneticsresearcher and son of militaryparents, has drawn from hisown experiences in writing abio-industrial espionagethriller focusing on the per-sonal and global implicationsof cloning. His first novel,“Spydentity,” is now availableon the shelves after 11 yearsof hard work and determina-tion by Downs.

“I foresaw the daringfusion of information and lifescience at the beginning of anew and uncertain future,”Downs said.

Downs’ novel followsNathan Bishop, an ex-NavySeal, as he struggles to pro-tect and save the world from amalevolent Bulgarian scientist

who intends to use cloning asa means to empower hisnation.

The Conyers resident wrotethe book in six months, buttook 10 and a half years toedit the story and find a pub-lisher.

“I can’t believe there is somuch to learn, even when youthink you’re done,” Downssaid.

Downs had to conductresearch to verify almostevery single piece of informa-tion in his book and inter-viewed many of his closefriends and family to includeaccurate details.

“It’s just unbelievable whatI’ve learned from all thesepeople,” Downs said.

His father, a highly deco-rated Army officer and pilot,and his stepfather, a formerCIA special agent, were bothinstrumental in his life and inthe creation of his book.

“They couldn’t be betterparents, and I am blessed tohave parents that cared,”

Special photo Conyers resident Kevin Downs is shown here at Daytona Beach where he put the finishing touches on his recentlypublished book, “Spydentity.”

Special photo Local author Kevin Downs has published his first novel,the bio-industrial espionage thriller, “Spydentity.”

Throughout your life, you’veprobably noticed that thereare two kinds of people:

those who are late, and those whoare not.

The late ones stroll casually into a lunch, party, meeting orappointment 20 minutes afterthey’re supposed to be there, sur-prised to see you waiting. The on-time people are punctual to afault, maybe even a little early.

Some people will be late totheir own funerals. The rest wouldrather die than dally.

But if detective JacquelineDaniels is late, the dead bodywon’t be hers. In the new audio-book “Cherry Bomb” by J.A.Konrath, a little procrastination onJack’s part may instead mean thedemise of the people she loves.

As funerals go, this one would-n’t have been unusual had it notbeen for the phone call that Lt.Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels

received, graveside.The call was from Alexandra

Kork — the original reason forthe funeral — and she wasn’tphoning with condolences. Alexhad killed one of Jack’s lovedones, and she had more murder onher mind.

Hours later, a photo of abloody, duct-taped, tortured manwas sent to Jack via a cell phone

that Alex had furnished. The manhad a wild look in his eyes, burnson his chest, and a rigged shotgunpointed at his head. And Jack had12 hours to find the identity of theman and save his life.

But it didn’t end there.

Jack learned of another torturedperson whom she has only hoursto find.

And then another, with just aminute’s warning, this personbeing someone close and impor-tant to her.

But with the help of formerpartner (and possible half-broth-er) Harry McGlade, bank robberand part-time hustler Phin Trout, aCrimebago (mobile crimelab/Winnebago), and a few friend-ly fellow Chicago Police Depart-ment officers, Jack Daniels won’tlet Alex Kork get away with mur-der.

Even if it kills her.First, let me say this: if you

haven’t read or listened to authorJ.A. Konrath’s previous novels,stop right here and go get them,particularly the last one, “FuzzyNavel.” Reading that book will

BOOK VIEWS

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Konrath’s latest ‘Jack’ Daniels mystery is the ‘Bomb’

I’ll sing‘Dixie’ ’tilI’m dead

• See Dixie, Page 2B

A penman’s pathAfter decade of work,man publishes 1st novel

• See ‘Cherry Bomb’, Page 2B

• See Novel, Page 2B

PAGE 2B • SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009 • THE CITIZEN

Mickey Newberry, con-sidered one of the greatsongwriters in modern his-tory, performed the songone night on impulse. Butrather than sing it in the tra-ditional, upbeat, rollickingstyle, he put a Newberrytwist on it. He sang it in aslow, jazzy version, added acouple of other songsincluding “Battle Hymn ofthe Republic” and “All MyTrials.” As was the casewith most Newberry cre-ations, it became a massivehit for someone else: ElvisPresley.

Should you ever want tosee something immenselymoving — especially forthose with Dixie blood rag-ing through our veins —then attend an Ole Missfootball game and hear aslow, haunting musical ver-sion of the song. It is aspine-tingling experience.

It troubles me that mychildhood, of which I havenothing but fond memories,has now been ordained bysome to be politically incor-rect. All through elementaryschool, we daily said theLord’s Prayer, pledged alle-giance to one nation underGod and sang “Dixie,”

which seemed particularlyspecial to me because Dix-ieland is where I “was bornin, early on one frostymornin’.” January to beexact.

When I die, I hope thatthose left behind will prayover my lifeless body, thankGod for the land of freedomwhich I have enjoyed andsing “Dixie.”

I might as well go out ofthis world as I came in.

Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of “WhatSouthern Women KnowAbout Faith.” Visitwww.rondarich.com to signup for her weekly newsletter.

• From Page 1B

Dixie

make the experience ofhearing this one so muchbetter. You probably couldlisten to “Cherry Bomb” byitself, but going back onebook will be more thanworth your while.

Now, for fans of Kon-rath: be prepared.

Be prepared for AlexKork-on-steriods. Alex isabout 100 percent nastier,which means her crimes are

crueler and squirmier. Pre-pare yourself for severalh e a r t - i n - y o u r - t h r o a tmoments of knowing whatwill happen but never beingsure. Be ready for at leastthree big sock-in-the-eyesurprises and a double-twist ending that will makeyou cheer — and howl.

Get ready for sadness,laughter, gasps and desper-ately wanting the nextbook.

Vacation warning:

“Cherry Bomb” is definite-ly, absolutely not appropri-ate listening for kids underthe age of 17 nor is it anaudiobook for the weak ofheart. But if you’re a Kon-rath fan or if you lovedetective novels, “CherryBomb” is explosive.

“Cherry Bomb” by J.A.Konrath, read by SusieBreck and Dick Hill, copy-right 2009 by BrillianceAudio, is eight CDs andsells for $29.99.

• From Page 1B

‘Cherry Bomb’

Downs said. “They werevery influential.”

Both of his fathers’experiences set the stagefor the covert internationalmilitary operation thatmain character NathanBishop heads in order torestore and protect worldsecurity.

One of Downs’ friends,Harry Newkirk, a NavySeal that he met while bar-tending in Las Vegas dur-ing college, also providedsome background informa-tion for Downs’ character.

A bit of Downs can alsobe found in the characterof Bishop. They both har-bor a few phobias, includ-ing a fear of commitment,which they struggle toovercome. Both Downsand Bishop must alsomuster up the courage to

overcome their obstacles.While Bishop fights tosave the world, Downs hasfought to complete hisbook.

“The dedication and dis-cipline to finish this, thatkind of says that in itself,”Downs said.

From his book, he wantsreaders to take away a bet-ter understanding of thepossible risks and interna-tional implications associ-ated with cloning.

“We have to have gov-ernment restriction inplace,” Downs said.“There are so many thingsthat go into play.”

Downs believes that twomajor issues in cloningwill be the ideas of owner-ship and identity.

“Let’s not make a per-fect race or play the role ofGod,” Downs said.

Downs dedicated his

book to Esther Riley, hislate grandmother who suf-fered from Alzheimer’sdisease. He took care ofher for a few years withhis brother, Brian Downs,until he came to Conyersin 2000 to help his cousinwith his appraisal business.

In addition to adapting“Spydentity” into a screenplay, Downs is also busyworking on the secondbook in the Nathan Bishoptrilogy which he expects torelease early next year.

“And this book is notgoing to take 11 years,”Downs said. “I know theropes now.”

To order a copy of“Spydentity,” visitwww.kevindowns.com.

Brittany Binowski canbe reached atnews.intern@rockdaleciti-zen.com.

• From Page 1B

Novel

Special photo The Rotary Club of Rockdale County held its annual installation banquet for newofficers for the 2009-2010 year. Shown here are: front row from left, Dan Fortin,international service chair; Theresa Schroeder, family of Rotary chair; GaryBridgewater, club service chair; back row from left, Tim Baker; Gary Moore, out-going district Rotary president; Anita Smith, club treasurer; Ronnie Brown, clubsergeant-at-arms;Tom Harrison, club president-elect; Margie Ensley, 2009-10 clubpresident; Scot Ward, outgoing club president; Shelli Siebert, club public rela-tions; David Cooper, club secretary; Ashley Roesler, club adminstration; and JohnDare, vocational chair.

Rotary Club elects new officers

Special photo Turner Lake Senior Center Book Club members, from left, Margaret Washington,Alma Freeman, Carol Falconer, Veronica Jones, Paulette Graves, Beth Bryant,Shirley Buraski and Pauline Schreiber recently dressed as characters from thebook “Gunpowder Green,” a murder mystery by Laura Childs, during their month-ly meeting.

Book club dresses the part

www.rockdalecitizen.com

HARDCOVER FICTION1. ‘‘Black Hills’’ by Nora Roberts (PutnumAdult)2. ‘‘Swimsuit’’ by James Patterson, MaxinePaetro (Little, Brown)3. ‘‘Finger Lickin’ Fifteen’’ by Janet Evanovich(St. Martin’s)4. ‘‘Burn’’ by Linda Howard (BallantineBooks)5. ‘‘The Devil’s Punchbowl’’ by Greg Iles(Scribner)6. ‘‘The Apostle: A Thriller’’ by Brad Thor(Atria)

7. ‘‘The Doomsday Key: A Novel’’ by JamesRollins (William Morrow)8. ‘‘The Angel’s Game’’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon(Doubleday)9. ‘‘The Help’’ by Kathryn Stockett(Putnam/Amy Einhorn)10. ‘‘The Castaways’’ by Elin Hilderbrand (Lit-tle, Brown)11. ‘‘Return to Sullivan’s Island: A Novel’’ byDorothea Benton Frank (William Morrow)12. ‘‘Shanghai Girls: A Novel’’ by Lisa See(Random House)

— Publishers Weekly

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