Janet McCanless has just published a new novel in the Beryl’s Cove mystery series.

“Gold, Frankincense and Murrrder” is a Christmas mystery.

McCanless call this series her “happy murders,” and this is the 11th book in the series.

McCanless has been a writer and columnist for more than 20 years. A former high school teacher, she’s married, has three adult children and nine grandchildren.

The book, from Empower Press, is available at amazon.com or from her website, janmacbooks.com.

She plans a book signing at the N.C. Museum of Dolls, Toys and Miniatures in Spencer in March.

More published poetry

William M. Sherrill has had another poem published in “Angels of Heaven and Earth.”

It is dedicated to his great grandparents, John Sherrill and Rosa Clark, and titled Invest in the Best and Have a Good Rest.”

In it, he urges people to invest in themselves and let their lights shine to earn blessings.

Sherrill, a graduate of Shaw University and former Salisburian, is a frequent contributor to poetry anthologies.

Julian Pleasants talks about “Home Front: North Carolina During World War II,” on “North Carolina Bookwatch” Sunday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m.

Coming up on ‘Bookwatch’ 

In  the book, Pleasants shows how North Carolina, while suffering great losses of service men and women in the conflict and disruptions on the home front, nevertheless came out of the war a dramatically improved place.

Instead of the struggling Rip Van Winkle state that had been North Carolina, he outlines in great detail how the war “helped move North Carolina toward becoming a more productive, energetic, and enterprising state.”

From the publisher: “Julian Pleasants uses oral history interviews, newspaper accounts, and other primary sources to explore the triumphs, hardships, and emotions of North Carolinians during this critical period. Residents of the state witnessed submarine warfare, German prisoners of war in the state, racial discrimination, civil rights progress, and new openings for women in society. With new military bases and increased demand for textiles, crops, lumber, furniture, tobacco, and military service, they saw better jobs, higher living standards, and a new and growing middle class due to these life-changing years.”