Baylor Bookstore Hosts DVD and Book Signing Event

by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Derek Haas, a Baylor University graduate, co-writer of four screen plays ("2 Fast 2 Furious", "Catch That Kid", "3:10 to Yuma" and "Wanted") and author of The Silver Bear, will participate in a DVD and book signing party with Robert Darden, associate professor of journalism at Baylor and Haas's former professor. Darden, who is also a magazine editor and author of numerous books, will autograph and answer questions about his new book, Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor with Haas at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 19, in the Baylor Bookstore on Baylor's campus.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will showcase the two books and the DVD "3:10 to Yuma." In 2007, Haas and Michael Brandt rewrote the classic 1957 "3:10 to Yuma" movie, and worked with movie director James Mangold and actors Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

"It has similar themes as my book, namely the search for one's identity within a crazy world," Haas said.

Haas's first novel, The Silver Bear, focuses on a hit man that travels the country searching for his victims and along the way describes how he became a professional killer.

"Derek's fiction is a lot like his screenplays -- fast-paced, witty and endlessly creative," Darden said.

Darden's book, Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor, results from attending joyful churches while studying black gospel music, editing the religious satire magazine, The Wittenburg Door for the past 20 years and while writing Reluctant Prophets and Clueless Disciples, a look at the Bible from a story-tellers point of view.

"Time and again, I saw first hand the impact humor could have ... where sermons, editorializing and even coercion had failed," Darden said.

For more information about this event, please contact the Baylor Bookstore at (254) 710-2161.