It's 1984 and Father Sam isn't living in McGuffin Ridge to evangelize, assimilate indigenous people, build a church, or lead Bible lessons-although he gets asked about the Bible pretty often. He's not one for steeples and stained glass.

Folks around this Appalachian village like Father Sam because he likes them. He's just a good neighbor who wears a white collar and lives in a log cabin at the end of Main Street. He keeps bees, grows organic herbs, teaches Cherokee kids English, drinks coffee with the old sheriff, and favors the cherry pie at Mabelline's Cafe.

Then, one day, his age-old trespasses catch up with him, and he must break the laws of man and of God to right the wrong he ran away from in the crazed days of 1960 when he was a stumbling, addicted seminarian.

For more information email him at STBoergadine@yahoo.com