WEDNESDAY CELEBS

Q: Is it true that Martina McBride has a cooking show? So many singers and actors are putting out cookbooks or have their own TV shows on the Food Network. I enjoy her music, but what kind of experience does Martina have in the kitchen?

— Daisy G.

A: You’re right in that country music star Martina McBride is the latest to demonstrate her way around a saucepan. She follows in the footsteps of Trisha Yearwood by having a culinary show on the Food Network. “Martina’s Table” premieres Sunday, Nov. 18, at 12 p.m. ET. She has always loved cooking, and her recipes are inspired by her Midwestern roots. Upcoming episodes will see Martina creating a buffet-style menu for her band and road crew, and preparing a full Thanksgiving menu. Her superstar friends Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow also will be featured.

Q: Actor Nathan Fillion played Castle on the TV series of the same name, yet his picture is on the cover of books that [Richard] Castle wrote. Can you clarify?

— B.L.C.

A: The novels that you see by Richard Castle are a tie-in with the hit show “Castle,” which ran from 2009 to 2016. As you know, Richard Castle is the name of Nathan Fillion’s character, and by having his picture somewhere on the book covers, it draws attention to them and increases sales.

The mysteries are actually ghostwritten by Tom Straw and have all been bestsellers. He told “Mystery Scene” magazine that he doesn’t mind Fillion’s fictional character getting the credit. He said, however, that when Fillion would appear at book signings as the “author,” if asked by fans he would always be truthful and tell them that he was not the “real” author.

The books continue even though the TV series has ended. The next novel is “Crashing Heat,” which is set for a 2019 release.