LEWIS NORDAN grew up in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and received his BA at Millsaps College, his MA from Mississippi State University, and his PhD from Auburn University. A professor of creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh for many years, he was the author of seven books of fiction, including Wolf Whistle and Music of the Swamp, and a memoir. His many awards include three American Library Association Notable Book citations, two PEN Syndicated Fiction Awards, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for Fiction, the Mississippi Authors award for fiction, and the Southern Book Critics Circle award for fiction.