Publisher's Synopsis
According to the coal company, young activist and mother Henrietta Owens is a "social terrorist in a hijacked plane" hurtling toward them with a vengeance. Jack Dalton's world faces imminent implosion. His boss screams, Kill her! But there's just one problem: every word she says is true . . . and people know it Henrietta, with her baby in her arms, shakes the nation awake with some tough-loving truth about coal, climate change, and the future of humanity. Corporate lawyer Jack Dalton's morality and career collide as a showdown with Henrietta becomes inevitable. The stakes are high: life, death, the extinction of humanity. Jack's wife crosses the line of loyalty, his daughter lectures him on heroism, the Appalachians foment a revolution, and the ghost of John Henry shows up to haunt him. The climate change countdown is ticking. Political pressures heat up. The sleeping giant of the common man awakens with a roar. One question hammers in Jack's ears: what are you going to do? Steam Drills, Treadmills and Shooting Stars sings the anthem of our times, celebrating the everyday hero, and rallying us all to meet adversity with gusto. The novel is alive with robust characters that appeal to environmentalists, soccer moms, students, seniors, and literature lovers alike. The story grabs the social issues of our times by the collar and shakes them hard, but at the same time, the rich metaphor and poetic writing create a soaring tribute to the beauty of the human spirit. This unforgettable book seizes you at the first page and sends you flying out the other side, refreshed, rejuvenated and empowered to change. Have a good read.
