Sinking Islands

Sinking Islands

Sinking Islands

SINKING ISLANDS by author Cai Emmons.

Sinking Islands continues the story of Bronwyn Artair, a scientist who possesses the power to influence the natural forces of the Earth. After several successful interventions, including one in Siberia, she has gone into hiding, worried about unintended consequences of her actions, as well as about the ethics of operating solo. But circumstances call her to action again, and an idea takes shape: What if she could impart her skill to other people?

Order Now!
About the Book

Sinking Islands continues the story of Bronwyn Artair, a scientist who possesses the power to influence the natural forces of the Earth. After several successful interventions, including one in Siberia, she has gone into hiding, worried about unintended consequences of her actions, as well as about the ethics of operating solo. But circumstances call her to action again, and an idea takes shape: What if she could impart her skill to other people? Gathering a few kindred souls from climate-troubled places around the world—Felipe from São Paulo, where drought conditions are creating strains on day-to-day life; Analu and his daughter Penina from a sinking island in the South Pacific; and Patty from the tornado-ridden plains of Kansas—she takes them to the wilds of Northern New Hampshire where she tries to teach them her skill. The novel, realistic but for the single fantastical element, explores how we might become more attuned to the Earth and act more collaboratively to solve the enormity of our climate problem.

SINKING ISLANDS won the May Sarton Award and the Montaigne Award

SINKING ISLANDS has been awarded the May Sarton Award for which it was a finalist, and the Montaigne Award, also a finalist

 

Details
Author:
Genre: Booklist
Publisher: Red Hen Press
Publication Year: 2021
ASIN: 1597093246
ISBN: 1597093246
Endorsements
“This prescient tale of a not-too-distant eco-dystopia will have readers on the edge of their seats. Shifting between vivid characters and far-flung settings, Sinking Islands spins a potent story about what happens when the unbelievable becomes reality, when the earth goes mad and takes all of us along for the ride. A captivating read.”
– Diana Abu-Jaber, author of Birds of Paradise
“With a dazzling array of characters and locations and just enough magic to surprise and enchant us, Sinking Islands explores how connection, mentorship, and dedication might alter the course of lives and planet. This novel is an ecofeminist gem.”
– Sharma Shields, author of The Cassandra
"Emmons gets readers to think about their small, everyday actions and how they can counter climate change. A gifted panel of characters has the reader reflecting upon their own gifts and qualities in this sweet and uplifting read."
– Chelsia Rice, Montana Book Company, Helena, MT
The Rumpus Book Club chats with Cai Emmons about her new novel, Sinking Islands (Red Hen Press, September 2021), how writing sequel is and isn’t different from writing a standalone novel, the research involved in writing about climate change, and the importance of teaching as a way of changing perspectives.
Order Now
About the Author
Cai Emmons

Cai Emmons is the author of several books of fiction: His Mother's Son, The Stylist, Weather Woman, Vanishing, and Sinking Islands, as well as the novels Livid and Unleashed, both forthcoming in 2022. Winner of the Oregon Book Award, the Leapfrog Press Fiction Contest, a Nautilus Award, and finalist for the Missouri Review Editor’s Prize as well as the Narrative Magazine Fiction Prize, Emmons was also short-listed for the Sarton Award and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her essays and stories have appeared in such publications as TriQuarterly, LitHub, Electric Literature, The LA Times, and Ms. Magazine. A summa cum laude graduate of Yale College, Emmons holds MFA degrees in film and fiction. Before turning to fiction Cai wrote for theater, film, and television. Two of her plays—Mergatroid and When Petulia Comes—were produced in New York theaters. She wrote for the TV show The Trials of Rosie O’Neill, and has optioned numerous feature-length screenplays. She has taught at several colleges and universities, mostly recently in the University of Oregon’s Creative Writing Program. She lives in Eugene, Oregon.

Preview