The total package: a book, play, music

A conniving crook and a young innocent. Paths cross. Beliefs are challenged.

That's the setup for Clyde Edgerton's ninth novel, "The Bible Salesman," which was recently released in paperback. When the book was published last year, the homage to Flannery O'Connor drew praise in publications ranging from The Washington Post to Oprah Winfrey's magazine, O.

Earlier this year, a musical radio play version was released on CD. Edgerton, who grew up near Durham and teaches at UNC-Wilmington, and former Red Clay Ramblers musician Mike Craver collaborated on the project. Edgerton sings, plays mandolin and guitar, narrates the story and plays most of the characters. Craver sings, plays keyboards and guitar, and is the voice of Henry -- the young Bible salesman -- and a cat.

It's familiar territory for both men. Edgerton has for years livened up his readings with music. Craver appeared with the Ramblers in Sam Shepard's "A Lie of the Mind" and in the band's "Diamond Studs" musical.

"The Bible Salesman" will be the subject of an informal discussion with members of Deep Dish Theater Company this week before a performance of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross." The company's artistic director, Paul Frellick, explains the connection: Both plays are about salesmen, in some ways similar and in others very different.

As is the case with the best literature, both are timeless, and both resonate particularly well in today's climate.