My Dakota. Tales of Happiness and Heartbreak on the Prairie. (Paperback)

Eric Anderson and his boyhood friends find adventure, and danger, in unexpected places. They seek refuge from a winter storm in a cave they share with hibernating rattlesnakes; they run for their lives through a railroad tunnel, chased by the world's slowest freight train; and they enjoy lazy summer afternoons riding their horses and swimming in Lonesome Lagoon. The prairie offers Eric and his friends the freedom to go anywhere and do almost anything, a freedom seldom found anywhere else. It's through these experiences that Eric also learns the lessons of life on the Great Plains as he takes a closer look at himself, his family and how the prairie shapes those who live there. To most people, the prairie might look like the most peaceful place on earth, with its rolling grassland and grain fields stretching to the horizon. But Eric discovers that the prairie is also home to hidden threats and extremes, which can bring happiness and heartbreak in a single day. In the end, the prairie spirit still tugs at Eric's heart, but he can't help but wonder whether he still belongs there. About the Author: Alan Quale was born and raised on the Great Plains. A journalism graduate from the University of North Dakota, he embarked on a newspaper career, working as a reporter and editor, and later as a technical editor. My Dakota is his first novel.