Look Up

Every old water tower anchors a town’s character, its history, and sense of community. This one is in Linn, Missouri, America’s longest small town.

Souls Along the Road

My newest book–Souls Along the Road–is hot off the press! More “on the road” adventures blending local characters and mom-and-pop food into an archipelago of tasty stories, diving deep into America’s cultural fabric, finding badass good Samaritans and traces of … Read More

Rollercoaster

We drove into the heart of the Ozarks, where nature—with a little help from the highway department—lays down a series of thrilling roller coaster tracks along a driving loop called the Ozark Hellbender, named for the forearm-sized salamander that hides … Read More

Cave Food

The Undercliff Grill & Bar is cool and inviting, in its campy cave chic. The locals keep coming back for the food. I know why. The French onion soup comes protected by a helmet of Gruyère cheese that could stand … Read More

Looney Creek

It’s now a sanctuary for animals, this old church at Looney Creek Cemetery. Erifnus doesn’t mind. Buried here, my great great grandfather was shot by a Union firing squad, along with nine other young men, in a terrifying event that … Read More