It's 1993. Kimmy Ho's never really been happy (and thinks her life sucks). She's not really good at anything - or at least, that's what her mother says. But music makes her feel better, and gives her something to live for. Then, she gets raped on the day Kurt Cobain's found dead. And her life begins to suck even more. From his death comes her cross-dressing imaginary friend Joey, and her budding romance with Walter, the skinny kid from special-ed. Walter shows her love and the ability to feel pleasure again, but even he can't make everything better. Not when he also awakens a lust for violence and revenge that she never knew she had inside her.

Hardcover Nominated for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Non-Fiction."Tales from Siberia is sincere, fresh and interesting. Mr. Black's stories portray the essence of Siberia and her people, especially the babushky (grandmothers). I recommend this book." Sergei Khrushchev, son of Nikita Khrushchev. "Black captures the harsh conditions, the stern babushky, the bone-chilling Siberian winter juxtaposed with the generosity and warmth of the Russian people." The Dallas Morning News "From the Russian Mafia to the politicians and the retired surgeon who found it hard living on her $14 a month pension, Black provides avenues of concern, laughter and shear delight." The Minneola MonitorThis collection of warm, inspiring, heart-touching and humorous stories brings to life Russians as they confront the painful thawing out process from their 75-year communist deepfreeze.

Tales from Siberia is a poignant, entertaining and stimulating narrative from the first American to live in Omsk (Siberia) during Russia's economic and social upheavals of the 1990s. Randy Black's collection of heart-touching, inspiring and sometimes humorous stories chronicles Russians as they confront the painful thawing out process from their 75-year communist deepfreeze.