Bountiful Calling: A Novel

by Fred Burton

Joe has a successful government position working with a state senator in Pennsylvania, Nicole and her family enjoy their life on their rural campgrounds, and the two seem headed towards romance and possible marriage. But Nicole’s very way of life is threatened when the government takes over her father’s property for fracking, stealing away the life her family has known for years. Responding to this tragedy, Nicole finds her personal relationships strained, even the one with Joe. What will she do? As Joe weighs his career goals against his personal morals and individual aspirations, he’s left with this fundamental Does he put his job above everything else, or risk a total professional loss for Nicole’s sake? .

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2020

About the author

One thing I strive for in my writing is to avoid easy answers. I try to carefully construct situations and characters so that at a certain point they place demands on me as the author, and I become a conduit for the action that needs to unfold. My hope is that this approach gives readers the opportunity to reflect on different threads of experience. Then they can decide what’s important to them, and affirm what rings with the sound of truth.

I grew up in Queens, New York and wrote fiction through my early 20s. This was my first passion and I returned to it after my sons reached their teens years. I’ve lived most of the past 30 years in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very captivating story that shows many different angles of the implications of fracking. The story seamlessly weaves in themes of "good can come from bad" but also maybe "everything does happen for a reason" and sometimes "it is what it is". Well written and easy to read. Super interested to read this author's other work!

[Diana G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the characters were developed -- politicians, drillers, consultants, property owners, and local people -- to show the many moving parts of fracking and related industries and how people willingly participate in this industry or are unwillingly and unknowingly affected by it. The plot kept it a page turner until the end.

[Elaine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a compelling read. I enjoyed the fullness of the characters and their issues, but especially how realistically the plot resolved. I gained what I consider valuable insights into the fracking industry. I recommend this book.