Read early installments of "Thirsty," a book about a young Croatian woman who faces the consequences of following her heart to the fictional steel town of Thirsty, near Pittsburgh. The debut novel by Bethel Park native Kristin Bair O'Keeffe will be published Oct. 1 by Swallow Press ($22.95). Starting Sept. 7, installments of "Thirsty" continue at PG Plus.

"Thirsty"

• Chapter 1, Part 1: Klara meets Drago and his promise of America
• Chapter 1, Part 2: The proposal
• Chapter 1, Part 3: "This is your home now"
• Chapter 1, Part 4: A Pittsburgh region steel community
• Chapter 1, Part 5: The constant smell of rotten eggs
• First published on September 5, 2009 at 12:00 am