SEEKING REPRESENTATION FOR SPECULATIVE NOVEL
A FRAGILE PIECE OF THE PROMISED LAND
I am currently seeking representation for my second novel, a speculative domestic drama, which I most recently revised at the 2024 Northern California Writers' Retreat.
A Fragile Piece of the Promised Land follows a family from the late 2020s to the late 2040s, as a disputed election leads to the U.S. splitting into two nations: one country of red states, one country of blue states.
A Fragile Piece of the Promised Land is not dystopia. It's a glimpse into the lives of a handful of Americans after their leaders fail to keep them united. It's the story of a family facing pivotal decisions, examining what happens when the love a mother has for her children becomes so relentless that it obscures the right decisions.
a more convenient fate
On December 13, 2000, Al Gore conceded the presidency to George W. Bush a full five weeks after election night. Even more intriguing than the disputed Florida election results was the implication of Bush's win for the future of the country and the world. If the Supreme Court decision and the results of the hand recounts in four Florida counties had made Gore the winner, what would the world look like now?
How would Gore react to the worst terrorist attack in US history--or, would the tragedy of 9/11 have been avoided if Gore had been President?
Would a Gore administration evoke War on Terror rhetoric, forever changing the way the world's leaders deal with national security with immense ramifications for personal privacy? Would President Gore choose to invade Iraq, and if not, how would the Middle East look today?
Because the 2000 presidential election was so close, and the ensuing years so remarkable, it is difficult to encounter an American who hasn't asked themselves, at least once, "What if Gore had won?"