The Silver State Stories (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781960329455)

Amidst the casinos of Reno, Nevada, the "Biggest Little City in the World," Michael Darcher introduces us to the dealers, workers, and patrons of the Aces Oasis Casino. Like Leonard, a blackjack dealer who makes earrings out of flies meant for fishing; James, a craps dealer who falls in love with Phyllis in a bad year for relationships; Liz, a blackjack dealer who struggles with how big a part she played in a player's suicide; and Gessler, a slots worker who reckons with his girlfriend Polly's charge to be more. Darcher's steady, assured, and compassionate prose shows us more than high rollers and underbellies. He gives us real people.