During Harold Bales' decades-long ministerial career, he's written about 20 books. They were mostly geared toward clergy and not necessarily for public consumption. But his latest effort — Southern-Fried Preacher: Musings from a Made-in-America Minister — is a labor of love and is written for everybody.
The book, published by Minx Media Worx of Corryton, Tenn., is 189 pages of hand-picked Southern-Fried Preacher columns Bales has authored for the Lake Norman Citizen as well as other publications in the past. He's written hundreds, so the collection of tales in the book represent the best of the best, or those most significant to the semi-retired Methodist minister who now resides in Kannapolis.
Bales' publishing pursuit began shortly after the death of his mother when he wrote, in part as tribute and in part as therapy, about her descent into Alzheimer's and distributed it as a personal newsletter to a select group of friends. The name "Southern Fried Preacher" was suggested by then-Charlotte Observer Religion Editor Terry Mattingly. The newsletter first went out to 35 family and friends, and Bales said when he had something else to say, it would be sent for free to anyone who asked.
As a result of legendary journalist Kays Gary reprinting Bales' piece in the Observer, his second newsletter had a distribution list of 2,000, growing beyond 4,000, all printed on a second-hand copy machine and mailed by family and friends. Readers began to send small donations to pay for postage, and some sent stamps.
Eight years later, Huntersville Herald, and later The Herald, founder Tucker Mitchell convinced Bales to take his epistle weekly, and the regular newspaper Southern Fried Preacher column was born. Bales' column now appears weekly in the Lake Norman Citizen, and anywhere else he wishes to print it.
Bales' book contains 74 of his favorite writings, beginning with one of his personal favorites, "An Ode To Okra." Other entries are about people he has met along his journey, milestone events in his own life as well as the lives of others, happy occasions, poignant moments, weddings, funerals, beloved pets and loved ones. The book also includes many personal family photographs, all which provide a deeper glimpse into the man behind the words.
Regular readers of his column in these pages know he can be preachy or funny or reverent — but he's always Southern-Fried.
And now, through his latest published "musings," others are discovering the same.
Writes Beth A. Richardson, Editor of "Alive Now" published by The Upper Room global ministry of Nashville, Tenn., "Harold's a preacher, a writer and a genuine storyteller who will have you weeping both from laughter and from sentiment. From "Ode To Okra" to the funny things that happen at church to Harold's thoughts about 50 years of marriage, this collection of writings is a treasure to be read and shared."
And Marcus Hamilton, cartoonist of Dennis the Menace daily additions, writes, "Harold is a wise and funny guy. With his pastoral background and emphatic nature, he sees life's everyday experiences from a 'laid-back, tell-it-like-it-is" perspective. His unique style of humor gives the reader a completely different impression of what seems like a serious matter."
Harold Bales would be the first to say he doesn't know what all the fuss is about. It's just him, committing his thoughts of the moment to paper. If others enjoy them or find some comfort, inspiration or humor in them, well that's just a bonus. He's a dedicated husband, a doting father, a loyal friend, a truly spiritual man and a selfless mentor to his flock. But beyond that, he is the embodiment of perhaps the highest praise an earth-bound mortal can receive — a good man.
It was suggested that Harold Bales is "The Paula Deen of the pulpit," in reference to the culinary queen of all things truly Southern, fried or otherwise. I say he is indeed like the Paula Deen of the pulpit, in that his prose is battered and deep fried, then smothered in rich, folksy humor. Reading him is like comfort food for the soul.
Want your own?
Harold Bales' book, which retails for $17.95, is available online at www.thesouthernfriedpreacher.com or by calling toll-free 1-855-I-AM-FRIED (426-3743). Or, you can purchase one at his book-signing party on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Alton's Kitchen & Cocktails at Jetton Village in Cornelius.
