Fishing from fish's point of view

Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr THE GREATEST BATTLE EVER FOUGHT on Lake Weeds and Willows is detailed in Ty Down's book for children,"Bertha the Battling Bass." Ty Down is the pen name of Donnie Alexander (left) who is presenting librarian Sue Dear with a copy of the book which is dedicated to the memory of Beth Keen. Lucy Keen (center, with husband L.D. Keen) did the cover illustration for the book.

Jasper author Ty Down is a lifelong bass fisherman and teller of tall tales. All fishermen have stories about the one that got away, but not so many can say why- from the fish's point of view.

If the name Ty Down doesn't ring any bells, try Donnie Alexander, who decided to use a pen name when he published his first children's book, "Bertha, the Battling Bass."

Friends encouraged him to put some of the stories he's always loved to tell into book form. Librarian Sue Dear read his original manuscript and encouraged him to publish it.

Lucy Keen did the cover illustration of Bertha, hooked and fighting for her life. The book is dedicated to the memory of her daughter, Beth Keen. Publish America accepted the collection of fishing stories on the first submission.

It's a collection of short stories told the fish's point of view. In one, a little girl named Rhonda hooks Bertha. The battle that ensues rages on and shakes the earth until acorns fall from oak tress like rain.

"It's funny how he explains why some fish get away," Dear said, and added that even though it is geared to kids from five to 14 years old, a lot of adults will enjoy it too.

Alexander said he's working on his second book, a story about dogs and a little girl who wants one.