“The stories in Mercy and Debris follow characters as they move, as people do in life, through rage and resignation, exuberance and despair, love and grief, heartbreak and hope. This is an exceptional collection, emotionally powerful and technically brilliant.”—Larry Watson, author of Let Him Go and The Lives of Edie Pritchard

“Mercy and Debris emerges from the Great Plains and shows why this country is called the Heartland. These stories are all heart, big and wide and shot-through with feeling, showing people and landscapes that are ever-changing and ever-returning to themselves. . . . Each life in these pages is given its full due—funny, tragic, and full of meaning.”—Maxim Loskutoff, author of Old King and Ruthie Fear

“I love how well Steven Wingate captures the different shades of Midwestern experience and the complexity of the characters. Over and over I found nuggets of clarity and humor that solidified the characters into real people. While some of the stories are bleak, Wingate balances these with moments of hopefulness and those who are willing to reach out in love despite everything. This book is for those who are looking for real slice-of-life stories with consequence but not resolution.”—Erin Flanagan, author of Deer Season, winner of the 2022 Edgar Allan Poe Award