>
✔ 100% Money-Back Guarantee on Eligible Items
✔ Prices Displayed in Your Local Currency
✔ Final Price = No Surprise Import Fees
✔ Complimentary Insured Worldwide Shipping on Qualifying Orders
✔ Select Collector & Specialty Pieces May Require Secured Delivery Handling
by Jeff Manes (Contribution by), Joan Paylo (Contribution by), Kathy Bashaar (Contribution by)
In the 20th century, a flood of Central European immigrants, southern Blacks and Latinos sought work in the steel mills, railroads, oil refineries and factories of the Calumet Region of Northwest Indiana and the Pittsburgh area. They settled in diverse and close-knit neighborhoods where ethnic traditions were hardcoded into everyday life along with pollutants that wafted over all, and a second and third generation followed their parents into earning a "good living" through back-breaking union jobs.
Children of Steel is a collection of short stories and fictionalized memoir from Americans who woke up to smog-filled skies and slept through nights that flared orange whenever steel was poured at the mills. These stories of life in steel towns recall an awkward first date at the local bowling alley; a contentious flying saucer sighting; an older couple bickering over where to place their plot at the cemetery; a hard-hatted mentor, skin leathered from the heat of the blast ovens, teaching a gangly youth how to stay alive on the fiery line; a group of talented siblings who dream of becoming the next Jackson Five; the struggles of a naive immigrant wife; the mouthwatering foods served at weddings, picnics and funerals; a son who tries to protect his widowed mother from unwanted advances by a neighbor; and the last days of the last bar standing across from a newly automated mill. This anthology is the nine-year community creative writing project of editor Gloria Ptacek McMillan, Ph.D., born and raised in East Chicago, Indiana, who has taught writing, literature and rhetoric at the University of Arizona Tucson. Its contributors are Jeff Manes, Joan Paylo, Kathy Bashaar, Karen Banks Pearson, Patrick Michael Finn, Sharon Hale Hotko, Curtis Mazzaferri, Barbara Dubos, Joseph S. Pete, Kurt Samano, John Szostek, Hardarshan Singh Valia, Connie Wachala, Alice Whittenburg, Stacy Alderman, Robert McKean, Phyllis Woods, Bianca Roman, Jane Ammeson and Gloria Ptacek McMillan.- In stock, ready to ship
- ✔ Authenticity Guaranteed — Verified Designer Goods
- ✔ Sourced from Authorized European/U.S. Luxury Distributors
- ✔ Secure Checkout — SSL Encrypted Payments
- ✔ Fast Global Delivery — 3–11 Business Days
- ✔ Easy Returns on Eligible Items
- ✔ 100% Money-Back Guarantee — Full Refund if Not Satisfied
AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED
Reserved for you — complete your purchase to secure this piece.
OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED RESELLER
Discover Officially Authorized Authentic Items at STORE7994.com - Certificates Available on Request!
Independently verified for store quality and customer safety.
Trust score: 91/100
All designer items offered by STORE 7994 are sourced from trusted luxury distributors and verified through independent authentication services.
Learn how STORE 7994 authenticates luxury items
Guaranteed Authentic — Includes Brand Documentation & Third-Party Verification Options.
Shipping information
- Free Shipping* on all orders over $300 USD to most countries* Estimated delivery: 2-5 business days Mon-Sat to U.S., CA, EU etc.
- Tracking available: DHL Express
- Store 7994 Shipping policy
- Global delivery in 3–9 business days (location dependent).
- Free Worldwide Shipping $300+. International duties & VAT are calculated by destination country and may be collected upon delivery. UK orders are subject to 20% import VAT upon delivery.
Our innovation isn’t just in the brands we carry — it’s in the way we connect them. From our automation engine that keeps collections globally updated to our commitment to authenticity-first presentation, STORE 7994 exists where timeless design meets modern precision.
Every product we offer is:
Elevated · Intentional · Exclusive · Authentic
STORE 7994 is an authorized reseller of luxury fashion houses. Certificates and proof of authenticity are available to brand owners and partners upon request.
Returns & Refunds
We want you to shop with confidence at STORE 7994. If your purchase does not meet expectations, eligible items may be returned under the conditions below.
Return Eligibility
Items must be unused, unworn, and in original condition with all tags, packaging, and accessories included. Items showing any signs of wear or damage will not be accepted.
Return Window
Return requests must be made within 14 days of delivery.
Return Shipping
Customers are responsible for return shipping costs unless the item is defective, damaged, or incorrect.
Luxury Items
Items valued over $1,000 may be subject to a 7% restocking fee upon approved return.
Non-Returnable Items
For hygiene and product integrity reasons, the following items are final sale once opened or used:
• Underwear
• Fragrances
• Any worn or used items
Made-to-Order Items
Custom-designed products, including STORE 7994 hoodies, are made exclusively for each customer and are final sale. These items are not eligible for return or exchange unless defective or incorrect.
If you receive a defective or incorrect item, please contact us and we will make it right.
International Shipping & Duties
Many of our products ship directly from trusted international partners. Any applicable customs duties or import taxes are calculated at checkout and are non-refundable, even if the item is returned.
Returns & Associated Fees
All approved returns are subject to a $24 return processing fee. For international orders, duties, taxes, and return fees will be deducted from the original payment.
Shipping Policy
Complimentary shipping is offered on orders over $300. Orders below this threshold are subject to standard shipping rates at checkout.
