In 1990, LSU published a collection of short stories by Steve Yarbrough entitled Family Men. Lemuria decided to work on helping Steve find readers. We had a signing to spread his writing voice and my friendship with Steve began around that time.
It was nine years later when Lemuria had the pleasure of choosing Oxygen Man for First Editions Club. As Steve kept writing and publishing, his style became more natural, clear and succinct, and eventually Steve met an old friend of mine, Gary Fisketjon, who became his editor, opening the door to publishing opportunities.
In 2004, MPB’s Writers Series featured some of the great short story writers of our time: Alistair MacCleod, Mary Ward Brown and from Indianola, Mississippi, Steve Yarbrough. The program became a landmark of this project. All three writers read, talked and visited while sharing admiration for each other.
It’s now August 2013 and Lemuria has again chosen Steve’s new novel, The Realm of Last Chances, for this month’s First Edition Club. I applaud Steve and his accomplishment. Realm is subtle and bold. Steve weaves relationships and character with a quiet tone around a thought provoking plot. I believe Realm is Steve’s most ambitious and successful novel, however, I shy away from talking to much about my thoughts as to not interject too much influence. The Realm of Last Chances is a personal experience for the reader to enjoy and decipher.
The Realm of Last Chances: A Novel by Steve Yarbrough, Alfred A. Knopf, August 2013.
Steve will be signing on Thursday, August 8 at 5:00.
A reading will follow at 5:30.
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