Hometown Heroes | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Hometown Heroes

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The coffee-table book "Mississippians" features photos of Oprah, James Earl Jones, Kathryn Stockett and other well-known and rising Mississippi natives.

Like a proud parent showing off a scrapbook of your child's accolades, "Mississippians" (Nautilus Printing, 2010, $45) is a collection of photographs and vignettes of notable individuals from the state of Mississippi. The book features more than 250 Mississippians, including writers, photographers, musicians, athletes and politicians. It also has a section on "Mississippians to Watch" for those in the process of making their mark on the world and their state proud.

Neil White, author of "In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir" (Harper Perennial, 2010, $25.99) edited this colorful coffee table book. "I wanted to show the world the amazing talent that has sprung from this soil in all realms from entertainment to sports, from business to literature, from colorful characters to little-known Mississippians who are changing the world," White says about his motivation for putting the book together.

Neil White will sign and read from "Mississippians" at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202, 601-366-7619) Dec. 8 at 5 p.m.

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