Local professor and author S.M. Hulse debuted her new novel earlier this month at Sundance Books and Music in downtown Reno.
“Eden Mine” follows Jo as she faces the fact that her brother has just bombed their hometown in Montana. Her brother is now in hiding, and Jo may or may not know where he is. Jo struggles to side with family or the law, and along the way, she befriends a pastor whose nine-year-old daughter was put in a coma after the bombing. The novel explores the gut-wrenching question of how far one is willing to go for family.
The community gathered to hear more from Hulse about her newest novel, learning about the Western setting, the reasons behind the domestic terrorism, and pivotal character traits.
At the end of the reading, Hulse opened it up for questions.
It was then we learned the book has been a seven-years-long project. Hulse joked about how much research she had to do for the novel in that time, potentially placing her on some type of government watchlist. She also wrote it in the present tense, which is atypical of modern literature. However, this perspective offers a sense of immediacy and may be a new experience for the reader.
Hulse’s first novel, “Black River,” won several awards and received starred reviews in Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journals, and Publisher Weekly. Hulse said she is excited to start her next project and already has an idea for her third novel.
“Eden Mine” retails for $27 and is available at Sundance Books and Music or wherever books are sold.
