Pete Hurley is not the first person to have the idea that building his dream house in the country will bring him some kind of peace and happiness. But he may be the first to arrive in Montana with a World Series ring, a three-legged dog, and a thirst for self-destruction.
High and Inside documents with stark clarity one man’s struggle with the dark side of fame, as well as his internal battles with alcoholism and a crumbling sense of self-identity. A community of people who love him and a generous inheritance aren’t enough to counterbalance Pete’s apparent determination to sabotage every healthy aspect of his life. It’s a downward spiral that won’t end until he’s forced to confront not only his own ugly past but his unfulfilled future as well.
With wit and compassion, sharp humor and startling insight, author Russell Rowland gives us not only a portrait of fame and addiction, but also an indispensable glimpse into the character of the modern West.
Book Information
Dimensions: 6 x 9
Price: $16.95 Paperback, $9.99 Ebook
Release Date: June 15, 2013
About Russell Rowland
Russell Rowland was born in Bozeman, Montana, in 1957. His first novel, In Open Spaces, made the San Francisco Chronicle bestseller list and was named among the “Best of the West, 2002” by the Salt Lake City Tribune. It received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. His second novel, The Watershed Years, similarly garnered rave reviews. He currently lives in Billings, Montana.
Endorsements
“Like its protagonist, Russell Rowland’s novel isn’t afraid to come at you with the hard stuff. There’s no false glamour in this portrayal of a World Series champ done in by lousy choices, no shortage of painful consequence, and no cheap grace in his eventual redemption. Rowland’s people are on a search, and he writes them with wit, humility, and a satisfying sense of trajectory.”
— Leif Enger, Author of Peace Like a River
“In High and Inside, two great American passions—baseball and the wide-open spaces of the West—collide with deeply pleasurable results….Rowland’s writing is clean and clear, his characters engaging, and he knows both Fenway Park and the Big Sky Country like the back of his hand.”
— Peter Fish, Editor-at-Large for Sunset Magazine
Excerpt
Varitek called a masterful game, and it seemed that wherever he positioned his mitt, whether it was on the outside black or down at the knees, the ball popped within an inch or two of the target. My curve spun like a gyroscope, and my change-up had the batters swinging way before the ball arrived.
When I strolled out to the mound for the ninth inning, the crowd gave me a standing ovation. I’d never experienced anything like it. For that moment, I felt completely adored. Maybe for the only time in my life.
Unfortunately, the second batter of that inning was the one I became famous for. On a two-two count, I decided to give my fastball a little extra, and the pitch got away from me. The ball sailed high and inside, and the crack of ball against bone lifted my balls right up into my throat. The crowd, still standing, moaned as the player crumpled. I hit him square in the eye socket. He never played again. And neither did I.
— Russell Rowland
From High and Inside
