As if Press 53 didn’t already have a plethora of new, exciting titles recently published or forthcoming (think Women Up on Blocks by Mary Akers, Bad Monkey by Curt Smith, and a collection forthcoming from Darlin’ Neal) they’ve gone ahead and added another–In an Uncharted Country by Cliff Garstang. Whoopee! I’ve been a fan of Garstang for several years. In addition to being a great writer, he’s a nice guy, and he also has a frequently updated and informative blog, titled Perpetual Folly.

This is what Press 53 has to say about the collection:

The award-winning stories that make up the linked collection IN AN UNCHARTED COUNTRY showcase ordinary men and women in and around Rugglesville, Virginia, as they struggle to find places and identities in their families and the community. They experience natural disasters, a sun-worshipping cult, Vietnam flashbacks, kidnapping, addiction, and loss. The book’s opening story, “Flood, 1978,” follows Hank, who comes to understand his father’s deep sense of grief over the death of his wife. Later, in “Hand-painted Angel,” Hank’s sons see the family spinning apart as their father ages and family secrets are disclosed. In “The Clattering of Bones,” Walt mourns the collapse of his marriage after the loss of a child, but in the collection’s title story he recognizes his emotional need for family. The concluding story, “Red Peony,” unifies the collection, as many of the characters from other stories come together for a tumultuous 4th of July Celebration.

And because I’m so behind on pimping, In an Uncharted Country is now available. Order it here.