Stephen Coyne, professor of English, recently received the Midwest Book Award for Short Stories from the Midwest Independent Publishing Association for his new novel in stories, “It Turns Out Like This.”

Stephen Coyne, professor of English at Morningside College, recently received the Midwest Book Award for Short Stories from the Midwest Independent Publishing Association for his new novel in stories, “It Turns Out Like This.”

The book is the life story of Stu Jakes, told in snapshots from his childhood as a folk healer to his later years living on a crabbing boat and every hard turn in between. The book was published last year after winning the Many Voices Award from New Rivers Press.

“It Turns Out Like This” earned the Midwest Book Award for Short Stories with near perfect scores from all three judges of the contest. “I loved this book,” one judge said. Another called it “outstanding.”

“Very engaging – absorbing, even,” that judge said. “Surprisingly wistful in a story of harsh lives and struggling characters, who are complex, appealing and frustrating, showing unexpected glimmers of depth. This book reminds me of works by Peter Geye, and should be widely read and enjoyed by similar audiences.”

Coyne joined the faculty at Morningside College in 1988. He teaches American literature and creative writing and serves as faculty adviser for Kiosk, the college’s literary magazine. His stories have appeared in such journals as North American Review, New England Review, The Southern Review and The Georgia Review. He has received a number of writing awards for his short stories, including the Roberts Writing Award, Heartland Fiction Prize and Prairie Schooner Readers’ Choice Award. This is his first book.

“It Turns Out Like This” can be purchased at the Morningside College Bookstore, at Barnes and Noble at Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City, or from Amazon.com.

The Midwest Independent Publishing Association is a professional nonprofit association that serves the upper-Midwest independent publishing community through education, networking and peer recognition. For more information, visit www.mipa.org.