Born of the Mountain

Set primarily in Tennessee in 2019, Born of the Mountain is narrated by Ches, an independent and perceptive young woman who is acutely aware that America and the world are in rapid decline. Her benign and spectacularly eccentric mother is a continuing presence, and after she meets her unusual biological father, she learns the details of her intriguing family history. When Ches becomes involved in the lives of two compelling brothers, she begins an epic journey that takes her deeper into the turmoil surrounding the political decline of the nation. Along with finding her soulmate, Ches discovers the parallels between radical political partisans and professional wrestling fans, and she develops a succession of insights. She is confronted by the arrogance of religious and political certainty, she comes to understand the intertwining of family history and world history, and she is exposed to the philosophical implications of infinite existence. After undergoing the ordeal of her journey, Ches emerges on a path that is far different from the one on which she was before, and the perspective she has gained gives her hope, and opens her life to a number of new opportunities.