Baseball becomes a lens and a barometer for exploring the lives of the characters who experience the magic and pain of hope, loss, and understanding themselves in the world in which they attempt to function. Unexpected moments catch them off-guard and compel them to make very difficult choices, as in the title novella, where an aging ballplayer must choose between the game he loves and running the family farm. Most of the stories in the volume occur in a distinctly midwestern Wisconsin setting. Mr. Winkler's stories are written in precise prose that possesses an ear for both the honesty of a story well-told and the music of language. The result is a collection of work that makes the stomach believe.

The Wide Turn Toward Home is also available as an ebook on Amazon.com for the Kindle.