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