"McLarty's storytelling skills shine in this ribald, riotously funny, but also poignant novel." —David Baldacci With his first two novels, Ron McLarty won acclaim for fashioning authentic characters that hook readers from the first page. With Art in America , McLarty has invented another unforgettable protagonist in one failed writer, Steven Kearney. Hired by the Creedemore Historical Society to write and direct a play about the rural Southern Colorado town, he unwittingly stumbles into a range war over property rights, a media circus, a diabolical plan that threatens the very safety of the town-and, with the help of a little romance, newfound self-confidence. With its sprawling cast of vivid characters and spellbinding pace, Art in America confirms Ron McLarty's enormous talent. "A rollicking, robust, Rabelaisian tale of common sense and neighborliness run amok." — Houston Chronicle "A thrilling ride through a still-wild West . . . McLarty writes with heart about both big-town artistic insecurity and small-town foibles . . . His main characters are complex, quirky, and utterly likeable . . . He writes with grace about the balancing act between art and life."  — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  "McLarty's storytelling skills shine in this ribald, riotously funny, but also poignant novel." —David Baldacci "If you enjoy your antiheroes scruffy and your comedy topped with a dollop of Americana, buy a ticket for Art in America ." — The Christian Science Monitor Ron McLarty is an award-winning actor and playwright best known for his appearances on television series, including Law & Order , Sex and the City , The Practice , and Judging Amy . He has appeared in films and on the stage, where he has directed many of his own plays.