SERIAL

A PAINTED HOUSE 
Luke discovers that the brawl he witnessed has deadly results that threaten his family. Part Two.
by John Grisham

FEATURES

PERFECT STRANGERS ON A TRAIN 
Riding the rails of Amtrak’s Crescent, a passenger becomes part of a moving village.
by Tim Gautreaux

THE CHESS KING OF DECATUR STREET
A day in the excellent world of Jude Acers, sidewalk chess master and French Quarter original.
by Matthew Teague

SHORT STORY

FATHER JUDGE RUN 
A boy pining for his absent mother thinks his employer’s parrot is an ominous and eerie presence.
by Carrie Brown

DEPARTMENTS

LOCAL FARE

SOUL FOOD SERVED ON A WHITE TABLECLOTH 
Sampling the Nouveau Soul offerings of Puff Daddy, Gladys Knight, and Evander Holyfield.
by John T. Edge

SOUTHERN GALLERY

Q & A WITH Denise Giardina
A novelist turned gubernatorial candidate discusses the controversial issues in West Virginia politics.

Q & A WITH Ernest Gaines
The author of A LESSON BEFORE DYING comments on the book’s new adaptions to stage and screen.

POLITICS

IN GOD WE TRUST—BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN JESUS 
What our Founding Fathers really thought about religion and its place in politics.
by H. W. Brands

WILDLIFE

TURTLEMANIA
Confessions of a boyhood passion for turtles and the one that got away.
by Rick Bass

BUSINESS

HAIRDRESSER TO THE AUTHORS 
A new East Texas business combines two form of artistry—literature and hairstyling.
by Carol Dawson

SOUTHERN MUSIC

CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME 
Hot Jazz singer Banu Gibson recalls the early days with her unforgettable trombone player.
by Tom Piazza

COLUMNS

DEALER'S CHOICE 
by Hal Crowther

MEDITATIONS FOR BAD GIRLS 
by Vicki Covington

GONE OFF UP NORTH 
by Roy Blount Jr.

COMICS

by P. Revess

POETRY

STALKING THE ORDINARY 
by Joshua Gordon

OTHER DEPARTMENTS

DEAR OA

EDITOR'S BOX

UNCLE ART

OFF THE SHELF 

MUSIC NOTES

SOUTHERN SCENES

Cover Art by Jeff Louviere