Cliff,
I agree with the Patrick McMannus read. His books are great! The stories of himself, Retch and Rancid (I think that was their names) growing up would remind me of some of the messes me and my cousins would get into back on my Grandmother's farm. I am sure it would bring back a lot of similar memories for a number of TBN'rs here.
He published a cookbook several years ago that I got for my wife - as a gag gift as it was mostly game recipes - but she started going through it (she reads cookbooks like a novel) and found some great recipes for Chili, beef, etc that we tried.
I will have to go find some of the Roger Welsch books. Sounds like would be a great read if anything like McMannus.
Take care,
Eddie