SILVERHILL, Ala. — "We knew that Phil had been writing a grand child’s book, but we didn’t know much more. We found out that there’s more to writing a book and ending up with a copy so that you are not in debt because of publishing and distribution costs,” said Pastor Dave Johnson. Author Phil Owen was the December guest speaker at the Zion Lutheran Church’s Men’s Breakfast and Speaker Fellowship.

Owen told the group about his new “autobiographical” children’s book. It is an easy to read, rhyming story, called “Cousins and the Buried Treasure.” In this story, the cousins’ lost treasure map leads the children on an adventure and teaches them a special lesson. It is a true adventure story that Owen experienced as a 9-year-old boy.

“Top” and his cousins pretended to be pirates, because they believed that pirates were heroes. The kids thought that they could take things that did not belong to them. However, at the end of the story, the kids discovered how very wrong it was to take something that was not theirs.

“‘Cousins and the Buried Treasure’ is a great story that a child can read again and again,” Owen explained. The characters of the book are Top, and his cousins, Ooley, and Junior. As a young boy growing up outside of Silverhill, Owen earned the nickname “Top” because he loved to tickle and generally torment his baby brother, Robbie. By the age of 2, Robbie was learning to communicate his feelings, but his screams of “stop” came out “Top, Top, Top!” Soon his older sister Linda and little Robbie had a readymade nickname for Phil, and that is how he became known as “Top.”

There’s more to the story, but you will need a book and that will run you a $19 check (which includes shipping and handling) made out to Phil Owen, P.O. Box 250, Silverhill, AL or call (251) 945-6666 to pick up a book for $15.

Silverhill friends and neighbors are regularly invited each month to “Men’s 710 Breakfast and Speaker Fellowship” at Zion Lutheran Church, located at 15875 Fourth Avenue, a block off Highway 104 at at 7th Street, just across the street from Silverhill School. This is a community opportunity to share an hour with friends and neighbors, time with an interesting speaker, and a complimentary light breakfast, courtesy of Zion's men.

Information about past and future speakers at Zion Lutheran Church's “Men’s 710” can be obtained at www.LutheransInSilverhill.com or by calling (251) 945-5209.