A HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN PRAYER, Lucius Shepard’s first novel with the Concord Free Press, comes at a time when prayer is in the air — when prayer breakfasts are accepted as viable political events. In his fascinating, hilarious, and disturbing novel, award-winning author Shepard examines the power of prayer in a way no minister ever expected. Wardlin Stuart, ex-bartender and murderer, stumbles across a way of praying that actually works. Calling it prayerstyle, Stuart becomes a cult hero with millions of followers. But he can’t bring himself to take advantage of his newfound fame and riches — or escape them. Then the mysterious Lord of Loneliness creeps in with plans of his own.