On May 1, 1982, Martin Oliphant witnesses a horse drown in Lake Michigan, the first in a series of equine deaths that mark his escape from Pierre, Michigan. He finds solace in the cowboy poets of Elko, Nevada, but life keeps pulling him back.
Through a dying mother convinced she has tennis elbow, a stroke-addled father, and a cast of eccentric characters, Martin navigates family duty and artistic yearning. Can he break free from his Midwestern confines and embrace his true calling, or will the ghosts of his past forever tether him to Pierre? A tale of small-town secrets, big dreams, and the enduring power of poetry. For readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of wry humor and a whole lot of heart. Keywords: literary fiction, cowboy poetry, small town, Midwest.