In Just Passing Through, two estranged brothers are forced to set aside their differences when their teenage sister, Mariel, goes missing. Their odyssey takes them below the surface of a nostalgic country tableau and into the violent underworld of their hometown. Over the course of their journey, the brothers grapple with the ghosts of ancient patriarchal traditions and question how their own actions may have led to Mariel's disappearance. Their struggles serve as an examination of the complex and problematic hyper-masculine attitudes that pervade rural America. The novel also explores the economic effects of the 2008 Recession, racism and misogyny, Greek mythology, and the opioid crisis.

Master of Fine Arts