I had read Ron Hansen's NEBRASKA and ATTICUS a decade or so ago, but after enjoying the film of THE ASSASINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD, I decided to read that -- and this afternoon I finished DESPERADOES, about the Dalton gang.  These are remarkable achievements in their recreation of time and events and powerful, moving, astounding narratives.  "How did he do it?" I kept asking myself.

Then Googling around for information of them and it, I learned he teaches at Santa Clara.  (Maybe I'd missed it, but I'd never noticed his name popping up as a Northern California-based writer.) 

Anyway, terrific stuff.