Publisher's Synopsis
Laurel Bradford has lived her adult life in an insulated world of her own making. But when her husband dies unexpectedly, that world is upended, and Laurel is launched toward a path of professional, sexual, and ecological discovery. Under the tutelage of wise and mysterious escort-cum-environmental activist Dak Gordon, Laurel's universe will expand to the far reaches of the globe, and when she opens herself to vibrant new experiences, she'll find opportunities she never knew existed... This is not a romance novel. It is an eco-fiction tale spiced with current issues, based on fact, that will keep you reading. (Never heard of Kiribati? Read the book-it will leave you wanting to know more.) The Rising Tides and Undercurrents Series is composed of a quartet of globetrotting novels. All evolve in a setting affected by climate change, social issues, and the development of its characters throughout the four volumes. While the stories are works of fiction, they are based on scientific fact and, in most cases, actual places. They are previously unexplored views of people's lives who are touched by global warming, gender and identity issues, religious radicalization, and personal tragedy, while in time frames where awareness and consciousness are integral. Volume One: The Secret Ecology of Sex This novel is to be considered the first dimension, or a one dimensional story, where individuals consciously discover their self-identities, thus allowing them to begin to connect to others in new ways. The devastation that climate change can bring is a powerful focal point and binding force. (Some adult content.) Volume Two: Greta's Family In this two dimensional view, individuals form groups and families, defined not by blood but by ties that are equally strong. The topics of climate change and social issues continue to be a driving force. In this story, distant familial roots and fleeing from violent homelands are also explored. Volume Three: The Dragon's Children This three dimensional work portrays some of the same characters who move beyond the two dimensions of self and others to become an active part of a worldwide reality. Topics cementing plot lines together include politics, violence, belief systems, climate change, personal happiness, and social justice. Volume Four: Mycelium Minds (Working title, now in progress) This fourth dimensional view of existence will delve into the cerebral, the spiritual, the metaphysical, and planes of being and communication beyond the usual three-dimensional world in which humans operate. This will not be a work of science fiction, but rather an examination of realities often ignored by, or unknown to, most of us.
