Fat Lightning: A Novel

A darkly comic novel by the author of the critically acclaimed "Little John"

Lot Chastain, who has dreams about eating the oily, highly flammable pine kindling known as fat lightning, is generally avoided by the people of Monacan because of his meanness. But when the image of Jesus appears in the moss-covered boards of his barn, thousands of tourists flock to his home. Soon, gospel preacher Sebara Tatum seduces Lot into joining forces to capitalize on the Jesus Barn.

Nancy, an aspiring writer and a city girl from Richmond, has been dragged to Monacan by her husband, who happens to be Lots nephew. While adjusting to the quirky Chastain family and reevaluating her marriage, she slowly becomes fascinated by the twisted Lot and the convincing Sebara. As she is pulled into their dark universe, the action heats up and ignites with the burning intensity of fat lightning

"Mr. Owen stretches himself, probing some of the dark reaches of the demented mind".
-- "New York Times Book Review"

"[ "Fat Lightning" ] resonates with imagery invoking the spiritual tradition of such Southern writers as Faulkner and Flannery O'Conner....This wise, warm and deeply satisfying story should brighten [Howard Owen's] rising star".
--" Publishers Weekly"

"Owen is a master storyteller and a writer to be watched".
-- "Library Journal"

A loopy and darkly comic novel by the author of the critically acclaimed "Little John" that "resonates with imagery invoking the spiritual tradition of such Southern writers as Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor".
-- "Publishers Weekly" (starred review).