conscience and identity
The Object of His Affection
recognition and belonging
Scapegoat
accusation and persecution
A Name Unbroken
history and the struggle to reclaim a name
Hardship Alaska, shortlisted for the 2024 William Saroyan International Prize in Writing, chronicles Donald Proffit’s life as a Vietnam War-era conscientious objector as he sets off on two years of exile, service, soul-searching, and self-discovery in Alaska’s rugged, unforgettable beauty.
Some memories of his two years of alternative service as a Vietnam-era conscientious objector continue to haunt Donald Proffit, aka Buzz, in unresolved conversations and partings over dinners, by front doors, in beds, and at bars. Others, however, have been exorcized completely, leaving him with a better understanding of who he was during that time, the most formative period in his life, and who he is today. Arriving in Anchorage, Alaska, on Halloween night 1970 after a ten-day transcontinental journey by car, his trek replete with a breakdown on a Yukon mountain pass, a freak snow squall on the Saskatchewan prairie, rough men in roadhouses, Soviet skaters, and good Samaritans, he realized quickly that he was no longer in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In Alaska, his world was about to change forever as he began working with children in group homes and emergency shelters; living in a church basement closet while being in the closet and pining for his first love—his straight college roommate, and spending extended time in an Iñupiaq whaling village 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle where his worldview began to take shape as he experienced the isolation of the outsider and what it means to be part of a community.
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In the tranquil town of Beachside, New Jersey, pianist Billy Pine finds solace in his music, enchanting patrons at La Péniche. But when Pierce Talon, an enigmatic chef from his past, reappears, Billy’s world is turned upside down. Drawn into the mysterious ambiance of the Sea Spray Inn, Billy is swept into a whirlwind of romance and intrigue. Pierce’s request for help in the kitchen reignites old sparks, but as summer heats up, those sparks quickly grow into flames. Thad Lambert, a renowned music director, sees Billy’s untapped potential and awakens ambitions he never dared to dream of. Yet beneath the surface, dark secrets and hidden desires threaten to unravel Billy’s carefully balanced life. When a mysterious accident rocks the hotel’s kitchen, Billy is thrust into a dangerous game of love, trust, and ambition. Teetering between the comfort of small-town life and the allure of broader horizons, Billy must confront his deepest fears and decide who truly holds the key to his heart.
The Object of His Affection is a captivating romance that delves into the power of music, the complexities of love, and the courage it takes to follow your heart. Will Billy embrace the future he’s always dreamed of, or will the shadows of the past keep him anchored in a life half-lived?
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Bruges, 1558—a city of faith and ferocity, grandeur and terror, where whispers can turn to accusations, and justice serves power above truth.
When young Matthias arrives in Bruges, he is drawn into the orbit of François van Daele and Willem de Clerc, two men living quietly in the shadows—until a jealous rival brands them as sinners. Dragged into a society ravenous for vengeance, they face sentences of unspeakable cruelty—caught in a corrupt inquisition where innocence is condemned, and guilt walks free. As the grip of authority tightens, loyalties fray, truths are twisted into confessions, and the city itself turns predator, hunting those who dare resist its will.
Yet even in Bruges’ darkest corners, songs are sung, stories endure, and redemption may still be found—for those willing to pay its price. Guided by Knowledge, a towering puppet from the morality play The Summoning of Everyman, François must confront a world gone mad and search for truth within its lies.
Inspired by actual events, Scapegoat is a searing tale of power, persecution, and the enduring strength of human bonds. Rich in historical detail and haunting allegory, it is a story of courage in the face of tyranny—and the hope that even in the darkest times, truth, love, and the loyalty of a true friend may find a way.
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In 1692, Susannah North Martin was hanged during the Salem witch trials. Three centuries later, one of her descendants faces a different kind of trial—growing up under the weight of religious condemnation and queer erasure. A Name Unbroken braids these stories across time to reveal how fear misjudges difference across generations, and how the refusal to be false to oneself can become an act of survival.
Blending lyrical first-person narrative, documentary fragments, and historical reconstruction, the book traces Susannah from the moment she is served her warrant through her examination, imprisonment, and execution. Alongside her story unfolds a modern account of being outed by rumor and scrutinized by institutions that claim moral authority.
Threaded through both narratives is the voice of Joseph Ring, a war-traumatized neighbor whose private wounds feed the hysteria of Salem—an intimate portrait of how moral panic takes hold in wounded communities.
Early praise calls the book “a fascinating, time-crossed collection… an urgent narrative that breathes the air of colonial New England and, movingly, finds forgiveness” (BookLife Review).
At a time when questions of identity, belonging, and public accusation feel newly urgent, A Name Unbroken returns to Salem not as distant history, but as a mirror.
Coming June 1, 2026 from Synthetic Prophetic.