WHARTON, TEXAS – Five Wharton County Junior College employees are sharing their expertise
through the written word, publishing books and reviews on a host of topics.
These include:
- WCJC History Instructor Dr. Paul Spellman, a seasoned author, has several publications
in the works. Spellman penned a chapter on Texas Ranger author Bob Alexander for the
upcoming title, “Texas Ranger Historians,” due Spring 2022 from the University of
North Texas Press. He also is working with TCU Press on a five-book juvenile fiction
series on early Texas history as well as a middle school grade level story called
“The Lost Treasure of Buffalo Gap” that is anticipated to be published soon. Spellman
holds a doctorate degree in Texas History from the University of Houston and has taught
at WCJC for 24 years.
- WCJC History Instructor Brady Hutchison has published his second novel, entitled “Molly’s
Song.” Published under the pen name Lee Hutch, the book falls under the genre of historical
fiction and details the life of a young immigrant woman attempting to escape a life
of prostitution during the Civil War era. Hutchison’s first novel, “So Others May
Live,” was published in 2019. Hutchison holds a master’s degree in history from the
University of Houston – Clear Lake. “Molly’s Song” is available online through Amazon
and Barnes & Noble.
- WCJC History Instructor Dr. Jeffery Hankins recently published a book review for “Britain
& the World” journal, a publication that serves the British Scholar Society. The review
considered the role of British culture in American history during the 1800s and 1900s.
Hankins, who holds a doctorate degree in history from Louisiana State University,
has taught at WCJC since 2019.
- WCJC Psychology Instructor Dr. Derek De La Pena recently published a self-help text
called, “Simply P-O-S-I-T-I-V-E: How to Cultivate More Joy and Better Happiness in
a Complicated World.”
- WCJC Marketing and Communications Coordinator Ben Sharp has completed his fourth novel,
“In the Place of Darkness.” A murder mystery set in southeast Texas, the book will
be available online through Amazon beginning in January of 2022. Sharp has worked
for WCJC since 2014. He has published three other novels in the mystery genre.
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