In this, his third collection, Tracy Daugherty focuses on social and 
cultural forces shaping people's intimate behavior. Set in Texas and 
Oklahoma, the stories and novella suggest that even politics is a kind 
of family squabble whose elusive solutions often come from 
unexpected quarters.

    In "Power Lines," a young man's sexual awakening in Midland, 
Texas, coincides with lessons about heroism and loyalty one hot 
summer that is suddenly seared with violence. In "The Standoff," a 
retired politician and his asthmatic grandson rediscover their bond on 
a trip to a small Oklahoma town where the old man has been asked 
to settle an "Indian dispute." In "Cotton Flat Road," a brother and 
sister lift the lid on their differences as he discovers her secret life 
across the tracks in the Texas oil town they grew up in.

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TRACY DAUGHERTY is the author of four novels, two other story 
collections, and a volume of personal essays. His work has appeared 
in many venues, including The New Yorker, the Georgia Review, and 
the Southwest Review. He's been awarded Bread Loaf and National 
Endowment for the Arts fellowships and has been a Fulbright 
participant. He directs the MFA Program in Creative Writing at 
Oregon State University and is on the MFA faculty at Warren Wilson 
College.



What people are saying about this book

"A potent mix of lyricism and intelligence and heart."—Sydney Blair