In "Upon the Breasts of Heaven," Rick Zabel has crafted a unique mix of pathos and comedy set in a remote Kentucky coal company town that is doomed to be overrun soon by a mountain topping operation. The story unfolds against the background noise of the strippers and the silence of the psychological pressures. Yet the characters we meet, despite their circumstances, are resilient and at times brimming over with comedic bravado.ABOUT THE AUTHORRick Zabel is a Midwest novelist, raised in the farm and factory region of rural Illinois. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, he spent a number of years writing in southern California and Kentucky. Years ago, he walked from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., interacting with many faces and voices across the land. His works, a tongue-in-cheek blend of drama and humor, include "Book Tour," "Save the Wild Ass," and "Pluto's Garden." Rick lives in Champaign, Illinois.