This collection of thirty Southern writers gathers some of the finest authors in the country - with stories, essays, and a poem. Demonstrating a range of styles, topics, and themes these stories display each writer's craftsmanship and talent and together form a testament to the grand literary tradition of the South. Includes: Final season by Marlin Barton The blues is dying in the place it was born by Rick Bragg Bitsy by Jill Conner Browne S. Trident by C. Terry Cline My heart's content by Pat Conroy The octopus alibi by Tom Corcoran I would like to go back as I am, now, to you as you were, then by Beth Ann Fennelly The girl from Soldier Creek by Patricia Foster Christmas 1893 by Tom Franklin Come home, come home, it's suppertime by William Gay Everything must go by Jim Gilbert Going back to the bridge in Berlin by W. E. B. Griffin Just a little closer to the Lord by Winston Groom Love like a bullet by Melinda Haynes Left behind by Frank Turner Hollon The last days by Silas House The fall of the Nixon administration by Suzanne Hudson A modern tragedy by Douglas Kelley Payback by Tom Kelly Killing Stonewall Jackson by Michael Knight White sugar and red clay by Bev Marshall Blackbird by Barbara Robinette Moss And when I should feel something by Jennifer Paddock How this song ends by Judith Richards From Tucson to Tucumcari, from Hatchabee to Tonopah by Richard Shackelford Vietnam by George Singleton Jesus, beans, and butter rum Lifesavers by Monroe Thompson Arnold's number by Sidney Thompson The dead girl by Brad Watson The right kind of person by Steve Yarbrough

Presents a collection of short stories from such authors as Tom Franklin, Donald Hays, Suzanne Hudson, and Michelle Richmond.

Proving that the waters of Southern talent run deep and traditions are meant to be both honored and stood on their ear, the third volume of Stories from the Blue Moon Cafi presents the most talented practitioners of Southern writing. Readers need not ever have set a foot south of the Mason-Dixon Line to appreciate the bold, the brash, the horrifying and the humorous short stories, essays, poems, and even songs from the South's preeminent authors and its strongest new voices gathered together for a feast in Stories from the Blue Moon Cafi III. Includes: Bailey family resting place by Matt Baggett For those who ride the dog by Nikki Barranger Falling by Marlin Barton Salt by Barry Bradford Long time coming by Rick Bragg Squirrel's chair by Matthew Brock It wasn't all dancing by Mary Ward Brown All about the music by Grayson Capps Dog house by Jan Chabreck Geronimo by Brock Clarke Colored glass by Doug Crandell Bayou Canot by Joe Formichella People on the empty road by Tim Gautreaux Charting the territories of the Red by William Gay Ghosts in blue and gray by Juliana Gray Shrimpers by Juliana Gray I'll fly away by Wayne Greenhaw Material by Donald Hays Waterwalkers by Bret Anthony Johnston Season of moles by Jack Kerley Birdland by Michael Knight Aunt Marie by Mack Lewis Yesterday my father was dying by Chip Livingston Watch by Jonathan Odell Attention Johnny America! Please read! by Jack Pendarvis Old pro and the open by Brewster Milton Robertson Hard to remember, hard to forget by Dayne Sherman Joy of funerals by Alix Strauss Artifacts by Brad Vice Dear neighbor by Daniel Wallace Mystery Hill by D.B. Wells Gimple and Odum by James Whorton, Jr.

Proving that the waters of Southern talent run deep and traditions are meant to be both honored and stood on their ear, the third volume of Stories from the Blue Moon Caf? IV presents the most talented practitioners of Southern writing. This year's anthology includes writing from Rick Bragg, William Gay, and Suzanne Hudson amongst others. Readers need not ever have set a foot south of the Mason-Dixon Line to appreciate the bold, the brash, the horrifying and the humorous short stories, essays, poems, and even songs from the South's preeminent authors and its strongest new voices gathered together for a feast in Stories from the Blue Moon Caf? IV. Fans of Southern literature cannot miss this Includes: Our Uncle Willem Stanfield by Howard Bahr The good neighbors by John Boyer Dear friend by Rick Bragg Those summer Sundays by Andrea Hollander Budy An explanation by Andrea Hollander Budy In the thirteenth year of the jonquil by David E. Campbell Joe and Sheila by Marshall Chapman Like kudzu by Ryan Clark Pulp fishin' by Jim Dees Taking off from Welty by Ellen Douglas Spleen by Ann Fisher-Wirth Where, beneath the magnolia by Ann Fisher-Wirth Strawberry fizzle by Kristin Grant When the fish don't bite by Jason Headley The beauty seat by Ingrid Hill The thing with feathers by Suzanne Hudson Cicadas by Cecilia Johnson In the tall grass by Bret Anthony Johnston The midwife's son by Suzanne Kingsbury Ghost dance by Chip Livingston Lost, not lost by Humphreys McGee Jimmy the playwright began to slur by Jeff McNeil Talk by Diane McWhorter Broad and Jackson by Carol Megathlin Rehab by Janet Nodar Chicken bone man by Anna Olswanger The cryptograph by Nic Pizzolatto Chitlins by Robert St. John The turkey hunt by Philip Shirley Down there on a visit by Charles Simic Shadow and Solomon by Mac Walcott A full boat by Daniel Wallace The Freddies by M.O. Walsh A map of the forest by Marly Youmans

Rick Bragg. Tim Gautreaux. William Gay. Fannie Flagg. Diane McWhorter. Charles Simic. Daniel Wallace. Steve Yarbrough. These are just a handful of the acclaimed writers whose work has appeared in the Stories from the Blue Moon Café series since its 2002 inception. Now, in Cast of Characters and Other Stories, the fifth installment of the series, Sonny Brewer has selected a new crop of fiction promising to satisfy even the most discerning of tastes. This dynamic collection of fourteen short stories is a must-read, offering the best in contemporary Southern writing and a glimpse into the future of Southern literature. Includes: Coppers : 1939 by Howard Bahr Five and riding shotgun by Stuart Bloodworth A cast of characters by Rick Bragg A man by Pia Z. Ehrhardt The safety man by Tom Franklin Where will you go when your skin cannot contain you? by William Gay Push by L.A. Hoffer New York City marathon by Frank Turner Hollon My sestina, his sestina by Chip Livingston Holiday by Thomas McGuane Your body is changing by Jack Pendarvis Their ancient, glittering eyes by Ron Rash Hattiesburg, Mississippi by James Whorton Jr. When Jesus lost his head by Karen Spears Zacharias