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by Poe Ballantine (Author), Cheryl Strayed (Introduction by)
FOR READERS OF IN COLD BLOOD AND MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL
This work of true crime as memoir is as much of an investigation of a shocking murder as it is a portrait of small-town Americaand the folks that make their homes there--and a deeply moving examination of parenting an autistic child For well over twenty years, Poe Ballantine traveled America, taking odd jobs, living in small rooms, trying to make a living as a writer. At age 46, he finally settled with his Mexican immigrant wife in Chadron, Nebraska, where they built a family with their son, who was red-flagged as autistic. But this quiet life is disruptd when one day in 2006, his neighbor, Steven Haataja, a math professor from the local state college, disappears. Ninety-five days later, the professor was found bound to a tree, burned to death in the hills behind the campus where he had taught. No one, law enforcement included, understood the circumstances. Though Ballantine had never contemplated writing mystery or true crime, this murder was too close to home to ignore. With this intimate knowledge--and occasional friendships--with all the players, the suspects, the sheriff, and the police involved, Ballantine and his son set out together to find out what might have happened to the professor and uncover who is ultimately responsible.Front Jacket
Fans of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and John Berendt's In the Garden of Good and Evil will embrace Poe Ballantine's Love & Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere. For well over twenty years Poe Ballantine traveled America, taking odd jobs, living in small rooms, and wondering the big whys. At age forty-six he finally settled with his Mexican wife in Chadron, Nebraska, where they had a son who was red-flagged as autistic. Poe published four books about his experiences as a wanderer and his observations of America and its people, but one day in 2006 his neighbor, Steven Haaja, a math professor from the local state college, disappeared. 95 days later the professor was found burned to death and tied to a tree in the hills behind the campus where he taught. No one, law enforcement included, understood the circumstances. Poe had never contemplated writing mystery or true crime, but since he knew all the players, the suspects, the sheriff, the police involved, he and his kindergarten son set out to find out what might have happened. Love and Terror is not only a six-year examination of this case, but of Poe's eccentric High Plains town, its kooky residents, his rocky marriage to a beautiful Mexican woman, and his purportedly autistic son.
Author Biography
POE BALLANTINE currently lives in Chadron, Nebraska. His work has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The Sun, Kenyon Review, and The Coal City Review. In addition to garnering numerous Pushcart and O. Henry nominations, Mr. Ballantine's work has been included in the anthologies The Best American Short Stories 1998 and The Best American Essays 2006.
