Texas author and former McMurry University professor Chuck Etheridge introduces a young hero, Pete Talbott, who doesn't consider himself a hero at all.

He is the new kid in eighth grade, the biggest kid in his new school in El Paso. And he's picked on by fellow students who don't understand why he won't fight back.

In Etheridge's novel, ''Border Canto Trilogy, Book 1'' (Fine Tooth Press, $19.95 softcover), Pete reveals his secret to his new best friend, Willie Quintonez. Pete, an only child, practically becomes part of the Quintonez family, ''the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak existence.''

Pete has a monster locked up inside that he is afraid to let out. But every once in a while, if he is pushed too far, the ferocious demon is unleashed in righteous indignation, which makes Pete feel guilty - even if it shouldn't.

Pete, in fact, goes through much of the book feeling guilty about himself, despite his musical talent, physical dominance, spiritual awareness and academic achievement. He makes friends easily and takes on new challenges, yet he wrestles constantly with adolescent insecurity.

The novel tracks Pete Talbott and his friends through eighth and ninth grades and mixes in sketches of El Paso border culture.

Etheridge, who teaches at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, grew up in El Paso. Books two and three of the trilogy have been written and are scheduled for publication in 2007 and 2008.

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Gary Borders, publisher of the Lufkin Daily News, has written a book about a black man tried, condemned and executed in 1902, all in the course of three hours, for the murder of a white family.

Borders said he became interested in the case while doing research for the centennial edition of the Nacogdoches newspaper, where he was editor and publisher at the time. The 200-page book is ''A Hanging in Nacogdoches: Murder, Race, Politics, and Polemics in Texas's Oldest Town, 1870-1916'' (University of Texas Press, $19.95 softcover).

''It was a violent, fascinating time in Southern history,'' Borders writes. He said he hopes his account ''sheds some light on what it was like to live in Deep East Texas in and around the turn of the century.''

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Robert Meacham, formerly of Abilene and now living in the Hill Country, has a new book of 50 poems, ''Mind's Diary'' (Publish America, $9.95 softcover).

The poems represent a variety of reminiscences and explore themes of family life and natural beauty.

For more information, contact the author at pbduke@hctc.net or check out the publisher's Web site, www.publishamerica.com.

Glenn Dromgoole writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@cox.net.