When Booklist Online named the Top 10 Science Fiction/Fantasy Books for 2015, I immediately checked our database to see if I had purchased any of the titles.

Happily, I purchased four of the 10! 

This is a major accomplishment for me because it has been years since I actually read science fiction or fantasy. The genres' most recognizable authors to me are Madeleine L’Engle and Anne McCaffrey — neither of them  made the top 10.  

Here are the books that did:

• “The Bone Clocks,” by David Mitchell                            

• “The Magician’s Land,” by Lev Grossman

• “Golden Son” by Pierce Brown                                          

• “The Queen of the Tearling,” by Erika Johansen

• “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood,” by Diana Gabaldon

• “The Oversight,” by Charlie Fletcher                                              

• “The Gracekeepers,” by Kirsty Logan

• “The Fire Sermon,” by Francesca Haig                             

• “California Bones,” by Greg van Eekhout

• “A Crown for Cold Silver,” by Alex Marshall

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Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library director lists magazine's top 10 science fiction, fantasy books

FORT WALTON BEACH —Niceville High School senior Madison “Mimi” Taylor is the Okaloosa County Distinguished Young Woman of 2016. She was chosen from 12 teenagers during Saturday's scholarship program at the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Auditorium.

Taylor won a Troy University Chancellor’s Scholarship, and won the Interview, Self-Expression and Talent categories. She was also awarded the Arden Robertson Spirit of DYW award, and was first alternate for the Lydia Clark Fitness Award.

Other award recipients included:

•Colleen Ellis, Niceville: first alternate

•Grace Barton, Niceville: second alternate

•Ellis Daugherty, Niceville; Barton; and Sarah Craig, Crestview: full tuition Chancellor’s scholarships to Troy University, Troy, Ala.

 •Barton, Scholastic Award winner; Mary Claire “MC” Cockrum, Niceville: alternate

•Cockrum, winner of the Lydia Clark Fitness Award; Arden Robertson Spirit of DYW Award alternate and Interview Award alternate

•Cynthia “CJ” McDonald, Fort Walton Beach: The Natalie Lawson “Be Your Best Self” award; Ellis and Carmen Little, Niceville, alternates

•Jessica Gunn, Niceville: Joan Lee Napp Memorial Award: the Okaloosa County 2015 DYW Class member was recognized for supporting the program

Distinguished Young Women (formerly Junior Miss) is the oldest national scholarship program for high school senior girls. The program showcases excellence in academic achievements, physical fitness, on-stage performance skills, interview confidence and communication skills.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Niceville teen named Okaloosa County Distinguished Young Woman of 2016

CRESTVIEW — A number of residents love to beat the heat at the Crestview Public Library.

That was certainly one of its patrons' goals the past few days, when the National Weather Service issued a "dangerous heat" advisory. Heat indices across Northwest Florida reached 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NWS. In Crestview, indices reached 109 degrees.

PHOTOS: Seen on Scene: A Day at the Library

Children and adults found a cool repose among the books, films and services Thursday afternoon. They copied recipes, browsed the stacks, did research, thumbed through DVDs or used the Internet.

Crestview's library is a hot spot for many residents seeking information, entertainment and stimulation, according to library staffers.

“Our statistics prove we are the most visited facility in the city,” Library Director Jean Lewis told the City Council at a July 6 workshop.

The library annually averages more than 98,000 visitors, Lewis said.

“We have become the informational as well as cultural center of the city,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library patrons beat the heat, seek information (PHOTOS)

Victoria Wilcox, author of the award-winning historical novel trilogy, "Southern Son: The Saga of Doc Holliday," will present a book talk and signing at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 at the library.

Wilcox is the founding director of Georgia's Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House Museum — the antebellum home of Doc Holliday's family — and a nationally known expert on the life of the Western icon.

She speaks at historic sites, libraries and bookstores around the country about the research behind her novels and Doc Holliday's untold history. She was recently featured in the debut episode of the Fox network's "Legends & Lies: The Real West."

In her Crestview library presentation, Wilcox will discuss Doc Holliday and his surprising Southern roots — including a family tie to author Margaret Mitchell and a cousin who became the model for Melanie in "Gone With the Wind." 

Doc Holliday even had a Florida connection, as his likely route west was from Valdosta, South Georgia, across Florida to Pensacola and a ship to Galveston. 

The three books of "Southern Son: The Saga of Doc Holliday" — published by Knox Robinson Publishing of London & New York — are available to check out at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

Learn more about Victoria Wilcox and her work at www.victoriawilcoxbooks.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GARCIA: Doc Holliday book tour coming to Crestview

CRESTVIEW — The Daughters of the American Revolution's Choctawhatchee Bay chapter is celebrating an award from a national competition.

The Choctawhatchee Bay chapter was the 2nd Place National Winner in the Conservation Committee’s 2014 Chapters Contest for its entry, “Blackwater River Patriot Pines Living Memorial."

The chapter, in partnership with the Florida State Forestry Service, planted 5,000 pine seedlings in a stand at the Blackwater River State Forest, in Milton, to honor Revolutionary War Patriots. A virtual booklet detailing the project and 57 Patriots has been published.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Choctawhatchee Bay DAR chapter wins conservation award

FORT WALTON BEACH — You can enter a drawing for the chance to win a one-of-a-kind paddle board.

The 12-foot Starboard Atlas Stand Up Paddle Board, donated by Dog House Surf Shop, was customized with airbrushed artwork by Keith Jette of Wicked Paint and Big Rooster Co. Cycles and Tattoos. The artwork includes an intricately detailed underwater scene with an octopus, jellyfish and sunken ship.

Tickets — $5 each or five for $20 — are available at eventsatcovenant.org/paddle. Proceeds benefit Covenant Hospice.

The drawing will be held Saturday, Aug. 8; you do not have to be present to win.

Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive, compassionate services to patients and loved ones during times of life-limiting illnesses.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tickets available for Fort Walton Beach paddle board drawing

CRESTVIEW — In less than seven months, four Crestview families have moved into their own homes after partnering with Habitat for Humanity.

And there are more to come, Habitat officials said.

See photos of the Clark family's home>>

CONDITIONAL FUNDING

“It started in 2013 with mortgage settlement funds we received,” Habitat Community Outreach Director Melissa Forte Litscher said.

Three years ago, Attorney General Pam Bondi entered a $25 billion federal-state agreement with the country's five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure and mortgage servicing abuses. These included robo-signing and loan origination misconduct. The agreement provided an estimated $9.22 billion in relief to Florida homeowners, and addressed future mortgage loan servicing practices, according to Bondi's website.

But the funding came with conditions. One requirement to use settlement money was that Habitat rehabilitate a dilapidated residential site.

“We had to take an uninhabitable property, knock it down and build something habitable,” Forte Litscher said.

DREAM COME TRUE

The latest “something habitable” found Crestview resident La’Terica Clark and her daughter, Nylah, 4, celebrating Fourth of July in their own home.

“This has always been a dream — to be a homeowner — and Habitat for Humanity made it possible,” Clark said. “I never would have been able to afford it on my own.”

In December 2014, Clark received her phone call from Habitat saying her application had been accepted. Soon she and Nylah were hard at work, helping other families’ dreams come true and then helping build her own home.

Now, Nylah has specific ideas about how her bedroom should be decorated. She wants to hang costumes on the walls.

“I’m going to have an elephant costume,” she said. “I have a lot of costumes.”

'SWEAT EQUITY'

The nonprofit helps families who can't gain conventional house financing, according to its website.

"Generally, this includes those whose income is 30 to 50 percent of the area’s median income," the site states. "In most cases, prospective Habitat homeowner families make a $500 down payment."

Each adult family member is required to put at least 300 hours of “sweat equity,” or labor, into construction of their homes and those of other Habitat partner families.

Clark’s home is the 54th Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa County residence, with more coming.

“In the fall we are planning to be up in Crestview again,” Forte Litcher said. “We’re working on a plan for a five-home project up here.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Habitat for Humanity on a Crestview home-building boom (PHOTOS, VIDEO)