The Last Warner Woman (25 page)

Eventually I go back in to finish this thing that I have been writing, and it comes to me that every book is a miracle—at once fully itself, but also a portion of itself. That is to say, every book runs cover to cover, but the story within breathes its own breath, inhabits a space larger than its covers can provide. In the end every story is edited, brought down to some essence, because here is the sad truth: books end, and pages thin, and every word is pulling us toward that last, climactic full-stop.

In its final moments it may feel as if the book is holding you open. It may feel as if the book’s arms are spread wide, as if to embrace whoever has been holding it. Or maybe the book would simply like to say something, to look its reader in the eye, and then look just beyond.

And the book will say, Do you see what is coming toward you? Can you see over your shoulders? Warrant, the book always does.

The Last Warner Woman
was designed at Coffee House Press,
in the historic Grain Belt Brewery’s Bottling House
near downtown Minneapolis. The text is set in Garamond.

Coffee House Press is an independent nonprofit literary publisher. Our books are made possible through the generous support of grants and gifts from many foundations, corporate giving programs, state and federal support, and through donations from individuals who believe in the transformational power of literature. Coffee House Press receives major operating support from the Bush Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, from Target, and in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Support for this title was received from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Coffee House also receives support from: several anonymous donors; Elmer L. and Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation; Suzanne Allen; Around Town Literary Media Guides; Patricia Beithon; Bill Berkson; the James L. and Nancy J. Bildner Foundation; the E. Thomas Binger and Rebecca Rand Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation; the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation; Ruth and Bruce Dayton; Dorsey & Whitney,
LLP
; Mary Ebert and Paul Stembler; Fredrikson & Byron,
P.A.
; Sally French; Jennifer Haugh; Anselm Hollo and Jane Dalrymple-Hollo; Jeffrey Hom; Carl and Heidi Horsch; Stephen and Isabel Keating; the Kenneth Koch Literary Estate; the Lenfestey Family Foundation; Ethan J. Litman; Carol and Aaron Mack; Mary McDermid; Sjur Midness and Briar Andresen; the Rehael Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation; Deborah Reynolds; Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner,
P.A.
; John Sjoberg; David Smith; Kiki Smith; Mary Strand and Tom Fraser; Jefffrey Sugerman; Patricia Tilton; the Archie D. & Bertha H. Walker Foundation; Stu Wilson and Mel Barker; the Woessner Freeman Family Foundation; Margaret and Angus Wurtele; and many other generous individual donors.

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T
he mission of Coffee House Press is to publish exciting, vital, and enduring authors of our time; to delight and inspire readers; to contribute to the cultural life of our community; and to enrich our literary heritage. By building on the best traditions of publishing and the book arts, we produce books that celebrate imagination, innovation in the craft of writing, and the many authentic voices of the American experience.

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IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK …

C
offee House Press publishes exciting, vital, and enduring authors of our time. If you enjoyed
The Last Warner Woman,
please visit our website at
coffeehousepress.org
to learn more about the innovative literature we bring to life on the pages of our books.

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