A new book from Charlotte's 'Southern Fried Preacher'

The Rev. Harold Bales has been entertaining readers with his newspaper columns for decades. Now, the retired Methodist minister has a new collection of columns, "Southern-Fried Preacher: Musings from a Made-in-America Minister."

Bales will sign copies of his book 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Rehobeth United Methodist Church in Terrell and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at the North Mecklenburg Senior Center, 16601 Old Statesville Road, in Huntersville.