The Campaign of Cole Stevenson

A story that takes place in a small fictional town and county in rural southwest Missouri, mid-1950's. Cole Stevenson is a young man running for State Representative, and the story revolves around his campaign and the many colorful people he encounters along the way. It's a story of a simpler time, but it's also a reminder that human beings and the relationships they have are often complex, and that small towns everywhere, in every era, have a fine array of the very best and worst of people inhabiting them. From the wise but down-to-earth retired Senator Charles Russell, Cole's mentor, to the shady Lenny Middleton, Cole's opponent in the election race, to the immensely likeable diamond-in-the-rough Willard Ruble, Cole's best friend, the little town of Red Oak, Missouri is filled with folks who will be remembered long after the story has been read and the election results have produced a winner.