Displacement, exile and return haunt the pages of Gaither Stewart’s second short story collection. Wind River Press is proud to present this lyrical, personal collection that explores both the luxury of escape and the bittersweet joy of return.

The characters in Stewart’s fictions ask themselves questions like: “What is freedom?” And from there, the logical follow-up: “Am I free?” Their answers often contradict how they behave. And that’s the beauty of the best fiction: you get to know characters, their foibles and contradictions; you try to understand what makes them tick; you follow them around. In doing so, you gain insight into what it means to be human.
      Stewart’s fiction feeds precisely on the conflict between what one thinks or believes and how those mental constructs are translated into action. Ultimately, the friction that occurs when the mind rubs against body is the driving force of all fiction.

Gaither Stewart grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. After studies at the University of California at Berkeley and other American universities, he settled first in Germany, then in Italy. Following a career in journalism as Italian correspondent for the Rotterdam daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad and contributor to the press in several European countries, he began writing fiction full-time five years ago. Since then he has authored three novels and two short-story collections. He has resided in Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Russia and Mexico. Today he lives with his wife, Milena, in the hills of north Rome.