The Thompson family cannot avoid Old Norm. He is wealthy, brash, insulting, and occasionally ostentatiously generous. Most people ignore his conduct. The Thompsons cannot. The story winds its way through war, a wedding, a funeral, an out-of-the-way tavern, a small college, and an undiscovered crime. The family's youngest son narrates. As he matures, he watches family members contend with Old Norm's persistent insolence, while he learns that people are connected in ways that are hard to imagine.

Tim Brown learned the value of words as an advertising copywriter and creative director. He holds a bachelors degree in journalism and a masters degree in mass communications. Between degrees he served as an army journalist in South Vietnam. This is his first work of fiction, and reflects his understanding of small-town life and of how tough personalities and strained relationships can become valuable threads in the fabric of a supportive community.