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Texas Panic!

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Has mad cow disease been discovered in Texas? Oh, yes. Not in cattle but between the covers of the latest thriller by local author Harry Haines.

In Haines' second novel, Texas Panic!, mad cow disease - scientifically known as BSE, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy - threatens to bring down the 35,000,000-head cattle industry in the Texas Panhandle, or even worse, in the entire nation. The disease is deadly to both cattle and humans, and it's among us now in Texas Panic!.

At the nation's largest feed yard a tourist with a video camera films a "downer" - a cow that slips and falls, exhibiting symptoms of mad cow disease. The tourist allows a local TV station to air the film, immediately creating panic throughout the cattle-feeding industry.

The protagonist is Jim Bob Masterson, the veterinarian who saved the champion quarter-horse colt in Orphan, Harry's first novel, released in 2008. In this latest story, Jim Bob - who is widely known for having invented the test for mad cow disease - becomes embroiled in the investigation into what has led to this calamity.

When the news media break the story, Jim Bob first denies there is a problem. His denial is soon overwhelmed by the rapid spread of the disease, and he embarks on a herculean effort aimed at saving the industry - and his reputation. Problems include a beautiful FBI agent, who complicates his happy marriage; the murder of the congressman who wanted to kill every cow in Texas; and Oprah Winfrey, whose unfortunate statement adds fuel to the fire.

Haines' story keeps the reader turning pages.

Harry Haines is a multi-published non-fiction author but has only published fiction in the past two years. He and his wife, Shirley, have co-authored several "car books" about sports and luxury cars, including Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche. Before that, Harry, along with colleague J.R. McEntyre, wrote a series of band “method” books which are still widely used in the music education field. Harry was the chairman of the music department at West Texas A&M University until his retirement in 1998.

He and Shirley have lived in Canyon for over 30 years and have three grown children - Howard of Amarillo, Harvey of Virginia and Holly of California - and three granddaughters. Harry is a licensed sailboat captain, private pilot, accomplished bridge player and zealous Presbyterian. He spearheaded fundraising for the new Canyon library and is often seen as a political activist when standing up for the rights of his neighbors.

Harry was thorough in his academic studies, and for his earlier book, Orphan, he carefully researched leukemia, the opera and horseracing. For this latest novel, Texas Panic!, he's been meticulous in his analyses of mad cow disease, FBI procedures and the feedlot industry. In Texas Panic! he uses the background of feed yards and a veterinary lab to propel the reader into this exciting thriller, creating danger in an industry close to our hearts, one that affects everyone who loves a steak dinner or a good hamburger.

Texas Panic! will be in bookstores October 15th. For more information, go to www.harryhaines.com