Drought
Coming June 3, 2025 from Rebel Satori
When Parnell, a recluse from Newark, New Jersey, inherits a dilapidated tobacco farm in Kentucky from his estranged Uncle Willy, he moves to the farm hoping to jump start his empty life. Such begins an odyssey igniting a dual narrative as Uncle Willy shares from the grave about his deep love for a man named Phil, and a violent curse born from hate and intolerance. In Kentucky, Parnell befriends Darl, who works at the Sonic, and John, an eccentric preacher who guides him to learn the twisted fate of his Uncle Willy. Parnell discovers there are more than tobacco leaves buried in the fields. As he unearths a long-hidden crime, to his surprise, he gains a new sense of self.
Book cover design by Brian Alessandro
"Drought is as full of compassion for its characters--and humanity, in general--as it is unexpected in its storytelling. Hess has written a novel that manages to be simultaneously tender, macabre, and transcendent."
--Brian Alessandro, author of Performer Non Grata and Julian's Debut
“I must give Scott Alexander Hess that great bookish compliment: I stayed up late to read this. Each character is unforgettable and compelling, written in a way that you can feel their emotions echo in the spaces between Hess’ words which turn a farm, a church, and a fast food joint into a microcosm of humanity. In the fertile ground of our hearts, this story plants seeds of compassion, desire, and hope. Hess conjures the rains that causes those seeds to sprout, break through the soil, and grow towards the light.”
-T.Q. Sims, author of Godspeed, Lovers
“Drought is an electrifying story of the elemental powers of friendship and connection. Parnell’s journey—from barren American institutions into a fertile bond with the land he inherits and the people he encounters there— is a grounded, transformative joy.“
-Dana Burnell, author of The Tame Man
"This is a tale as haunting as the landscape it depicts, with lovely explorations of solitude and transformation achieved throughout. Parnell's journey, coupled with Hess's masterful control over atmosphere and sense of place, will stay with you. Though I wanted to salivate over every sentence, I also couldn't stop reading ahead."
-Evan Lambert, Author, Freelance Writer
“With breathtaking prose that paints a belated coming-of-age story, Drought explores the harrowing legacy of one man's connection to his uncle's land, and all the ghosts it conjures.”
-Amy Dupcak, author of Dust