Just like his squash and tomato plants, Bobby D. Lewis has branched out.

Long known for the veggies he grows and sells from a stand each summer, Lewis is now an author as well.

Lewis has written "My Wildlife in the Woods," and will be signing copies of the book from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1300 E. Main St. in Carbondale. The book was published by Williams Printing Co. in Prestonburg, Ky.

Subtitled "A Sportsman's Journal," Lewis' book contains his memories of a life spent hunting, fishing, trapping and collecting Indian artifacts in the woods. It has 26 small chapters, each with a specific topic to discuss or tale to tell.

His daughter, Lisa, and her husband, the Rev. Don Neace, convinced Lewis to gather up his journals of his outdoor adventures, and they began work on the book. Lisa typed up the stories on the computer and edited them; Don helped with the organizing, technical work, illustrations and cover for the book.

Lewis graduated from Trico High School and attended Southern Illinois University for a year before volunteering for military service. He served six years. He worked a while in Chicago, then returned to Southern Illinois. He retired from the Carbondale Post Office after working more than 26 years.

For the past 11 years, Lewis has been gardening and selling his produce from stands at his home, first on Pleasant Hill Road, and now on Old U.S. 51 in Makanda, just south of Cedar Lake Road.

He invites friends to stop by and check out his book, then decide if his tales are as fulfilling as his home-grown produce.

linda.rush@thesouthern.com / 351-5079