Off The Shelf

Synopsis of Safe from the Neighbors 

When a long-lost friend suddenly returns to Luke May's hometown of Loring, Mississippi, where years ago her family had been consumed by an act of spectacular violence, Luke begins to realize that his connection with her runs deeper than he ever imagined.

The Story Behind the Pick 

Steve Yarbrough is a long time friend of Lemuria and has been to the bookstore on all of his book tours.  Safe from the Neighbors is the fourth of Yarbrough's books to be a First Editions Club pick. When we found out that he was putting out another novel there was no question as to whether we would use if for the First Editions Club or not.

Oxygen Man-June 1999

Visible Spirits-June 2001

The End of California-June 2006

Steve Yarbrough was born in Indianola Mississippi to John and Earlene Yarbrough in 1956.  After graduating high school he went to Ole Miss then to the University of Arkansas where he got his M.F.A. in creative writing.  His southern style of writing has been compared to Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner and Willie Morris.  Yarbrough has been quoted as saying: "I think Mississippi is the best place in the world for a writer to grow up.  It's not a bland place, and people there tend to be very passionate about life.  And despite what a lot of people outside of the state might think, it's a place where books still matter; people read there and they're proud of their writers.  I wouldn't trade my childhood there for anything." (Mississippi Writers and Musicians)

As Nan said in her blog about Safe from the Neighbors "...when I did not have it in my hand, I was thinking about it and could not wait to pick it up again."  If that's not a sign of a good book, I don't know what is.

Steve Yarbrough was here for a signing and reading on February 11 2010.  Safe from the Neighbors had a initial print run of 17,500 copies.  It was published by Alfred A Knopf.