Yellow Mesquite

Harley Buchanan wants out—out of his hardscrabble existence in West Texas, out of the heartbreaking discovery of his high school sweetheart with another boy. He hitches out of Separation, Texas, determined to forge his way in the art world of the
1960s. But he can’t leave his past as easily as he left Texas. A startling discovery ignites a bloodlust that propels him on an adrenaline-driven mission of revenge back to Texas, where he finally confronts the obsession that has crippled his entire life.

“[…] The places Asher takes us, both visually and emotionally, range from the dirt-poor farms of West Texas, to Dallas, to Lower Manhattan, to Uptown, and back again. The people he becomes involved with range from trailer-trash, to oilfield millionaires, to eccentric artists, to art-scene sophisticates. They lie, cheat, steal, love, and hate. They betray and they support. They are petty and generous. One thing they are not is forgettable.”
—J. T. Conroe: Blue Hotel, The Tower Maker.

“Easily my favorite of Asher's novels. This coming-of-age story has all the author's trademark ingredients—rich, visual descriptions and three-dimensional, nuanced characters…”
—Phoebe Fox: The Breakup Doctor, Bedside Manners.