Novels
I’ve been writing novels since 2001. I’ve written six, and though I’ve been fortunate to land agents who’ve submitted manuscripts, in the end, none has found a home.
It’s still a thrill, though, at nearly every stage — from the architecture to the crafting to the revising to the waiting for the email or phone call.
When I die, I will likely be disappointed that the ride is over, and if I never publish a novel, I will be disappointed about that, too. But it won’t be at the top of the list of my regrets.
Still, It would be nice.
Here they are. I’ve attached PDFs of the first Pages of each of them in case you’re interested. If you want more, send me a note.
Make it Beautiful | 2001-2008
In Make It Beautiful, Ian Murphy’s carefully maintained life begins to fracture when his teenage niece, Rachel, announces her pregnancy. Having raised Rachel after his sister Charlotte’s tragic death, Ian wrestles with his own guilt, unresolved grief, and the fraught dynamic between them. Adding to the tension is Peter McIntosh, Ian’s former best friend and the man responsible for Charlotte’s death, whose release from prison reopens old wounds. Set in suburban Ohio, the novel delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the fragile connections that define us. Make It Beautiful is a raw exploration of family loyalty, the lasting impact of trauma.
American Charm | 2009-2011
American Charm follows Ferris and Jordan Charm, two half-brothers with a complicated history and an even more complicated goal: retrieve their grandfather's hidden fortune in California. Ferris, twenty-three, and white, is determined to lead the mission, while sixteen-year-old Jordan, Black and defiant, is driven by his own inner battles. Alongside them is Samantha, a mysterious girl from a youth shelter who becomes a crucial part of their scheme. The novel uses the framework of a classic chase story and delves into race, family, and the pull of the American West, weaving together each character’s past and present until the road runs out and their stories collide.
The encyclopedia lot | 2011-2015
The Encyclopedia Lot follows Paige Smythe, a former actress who, at forty, reflects on a summer that changed everything. At seventeen, she left Cleveland to confront her estranged father, Reggie, a brilliant philosophy professor now ravaged by multiple sclerosis. Expecting answers, Paige instead finds herself shouldering his care, all while pursuing an acting dream and facing an unplanned pregnancy. As her father’s condition worsens, Paige is forced to make impossible choices about his care and her future. Decades later, she lives with the memories of that summer and the remnants of her father’s life. The Encyclopedia Lot is a story of family, reconciliation, and the legacies we carry.
Bend |2015-2017 | 2020-2023
Over five years, I wrote Bend and went out with it twice. It’s the book that got the closest. Bend follows the Richmond twins, Wade and Will, as their bond faces a profound test at a Thanksgiving gathering. Wade, newly diagnosed with recurring leukemia, grapples with whether to share the news while navigating tensions between his daughter Amanda and her step-cousin, Luke. As family secrets and insecurities surface, Wade confronts his own fears, setting off confrontations that spiral out of control. Bend explores brotherhood, fatherhood, and the struggle to overcome mistakes, capturing family ties’ complexities and the power of love and resilience.
The Year We Learned Nothing| 2017-2025
In The Year We Learned Nothing, Jackson Graft, a teacher at McGuire Academy in New Hampshire, contends with the challenges of fatherhood, a crumbling marriage, and his own identity amid America’s cultural divide. Set against the backdrop of the 2018 Kavanaugh hearings, Graft’s world becomes a crucible where personal and political tensions collide. As his teenage daughter, Mallory, leads protests on campus, Jackson faces questions around gender, privilege, and power—both in his past and his present. Through a blend of intimate storytelling and cultural critique, The Year We Learned Nothing reveals the complexities of legacy and morality, capturing one man’s struggle to find his place in a world that’s rapidly evolving, and raising the question of whether he can live up to the principles he once held dear.
Pure | 2023-2024
In Pure, a fractured America splits into Pure and Safe States, pushing personal freedoms to the brink. Ava, Head Counselor at Camp Sugar—a sanctuary for women seeking abortions—uncovers a hidden truth: women are secretly sterilized under the guise of protection. As her loyalty wavers, Ava’s father, Miles, a former teacher turned underground transporter, risks his life crossing Pure States to reunite with her, haunted by guilt over her past abortion. When they finally meet, raw confrontations force Ava to choose between her family and the community she’s helped build. Pure explores survival, redemption, and resilience, capturing the complexities of family bonds in a divided nation.