One of the Jessamine Journal’s columnists for the past year and a half recently signed an agreement for his second book, ”Holy Thoughts From the Holy Land” to be published by WestBow Press.

“I have worked researched and worked and researched more,” Howard Coop said about his new book.

Coop said he has been to the Holy Land on various occasions. Those trips, and research, inspired the book of devotional meditations.

Howard Coop has written his column “An Encouraging Word,” for several newspapers including the Jessamine Journal and the Interior Journal in Stanton.

He currently lives in Lancaster, and is originally from Cumberland County in the Dale Hollow Lake area.

Coop said he is hoping to have the book published and ready for national distribution in major bookstores such as Barnes and Noble, in early spring. Coop’s other book, “From a Land of Hills,” was published in 1969.