Inland

Inland

by Kate Risse

Released June 15, 2024

When water rises on the Eastern Seaboard, and coastal cities and towns flood, Juliet and her friend, Martin, flee Dog Island, on Florida’s Panhandle, and drive north, toward New England, searching for their families. They face relentless challenges as they encounter individuals and communities racing to adapt to the rising sea. When smartphones malfunction, Juliet plays a confounding game of phone tag with her 16-year-old son, Billy, stuck in the family’s sinking house in Boston. Tormented by the gnawing uncertainty of his family’s fate, Billy loses himself in a hazy mix of reality and dreams until he is joined by Martin's daughters, Lana and Agnes, who have abandoned their collapsing house. As nature rages on, Billy, Lana and Agnes collaborate, bicker, and share secrets. But when Billy’s home slides into the currents, the three friends are forced on a precarious journey to seek higher ground. With each turn of the page, Inland dives into the intricate weave of human relationships and the influence of technology. Ultimately, it is a story of family separation, survival and resilience in a warming world.

Kate Risse teaches Spanish language and culture at Tufts University. She has published articles on the history and culture of Spain and Latin America. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with her family and spends time on Dog Island and in the mountains of Vermont. "Inland" is her debut novel.