What place does Mike not return to for many years after Johanna's death and why is that?

How does Mike handle his writer's block?

What does Mike discover when he first talks to Bill Dean at Sara Laughs? Why does it rattle him?

Who does Mike meet for the first time when he returns to SL? What is significant about their meeting and in which ways will this change the course of his life?

What is the significance of The Childhood Friend? Why does it never see publication?

What happens to Mattie and why?

How is Sara Tidwell significant to this story?

How many entities seem to be inhabiting SL and who are they?

What happened to Sara and why?

What does Mike discover about the names of locals in the TR? How is this important?

What does Sara almost make Mike do and...