River Faces North

Book excerpt: The year is 2036, and the land once known as North America is ravaged by environmental decay and ruled with an iron fist by the oppressive Millennial cult known as The Elect. Seventy-eight year-old Flo is documenting what might be, in her opinion, “the last history of the world,” while managing the diverse, odd, and sometimes dangerous individuals hiding out in her rural Nova Scotian swamp. Flo clings to her granddaughter River, the only light left in this otherwise dark existence. Her Inuit-born son and his Salish partner, River’s parents, have escaped to Quebec to lead the resistance. There is no one left for Flo to trust now, but she holds onto the belief that change is possible and she diligently prepares for the revolution. As River approaches her twelfth birthday, the Elect’s sinister plans threaten to tear them apart. Forced into a breeding program euphemistically dubbed “The Resurrection,” River faces a grim fate. Determined to defy the tyranny, Flo and River race against time to ensure River’s escape. At times irreverent and always honest, Flo draws us into a dark world, shocking us while summoning us to hope, and sometimes even to laughter. This is her story: the story of a rebel grandmother, in which saving her granddaughter River will be the key to all. River Faces North marks the first novel of a new trilogy, delivering readers a dystopian tale of survival, sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring power of hope and love.