“An emotionally taut and often haunting collection.” — (starred review)   “[An] always compelling novel in short stories.” — “[A] powerful family portrait … heartbreaking authenticity.” — Online Exclusive   “A tightly written and often emotionally gripping collection.” — A sudden snowfall in Houston reveals family secrets. A trip to Universal Studios to snap a picture of the shark from becomes a battle of wills between father and son. A midnight séance and the ghost of Janis Joplin conjure the mysteries of sex. A young boy’s pilgrimage to see Elvis Presley becomes a moment of transformation. A young woman discovers the responsibilities of talent and freedom. , by award-winning Houston writer Thomas H. McNeely, moves from its protagonist Buddy Turner’s surreal world of childhood into the wider arenas of sex, addiction, art, and ambition. Appearing in the country’s finest literary journals, including , The , , and , shortlisted for the O. Henry Award, Best American Short Stories, and Pushcart Prize collections, the stories in are gems that refract their characters’ complex relationships. ...