National Bestseller

by J. Lloyd Morgan

Kendra White authors a book warning of the danger of peak we have reached the point where oil consumption surpasses the amount that can be extracted from the Earth. She intends to inspire a stronger focus on renewable energy. Her book catches the media’s attention, mainly because her agent insists on using the pen name Kimani Adebayo and hypes her as an African-American female scientist. Focusing on the worst-case scenarios of Kendra’s research, the media uses the book as a catalyst for wide speculation of gas shortages, and in turn, the book becomes somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Steven Monroe is an Operations Manager at a 24-hour news station. He sees firsthand how those who make editorial decisions help feed the public fear, causing gas prices to skyrocket. With the extreme gas prices comes civil unrest. The government is deadlocked on how to address the issue as conservatives want to increase the ease of getting fracking permits while liberals push an environmental agenda. Kendra and Steven face navigating the challenges created by higher gas prices on their personal, professional, and family lives.

323 pages, Paperback

Published January 25, 2020

About the author

J. Lloyd Morgan is a best-selling author and English Professor. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Communications and a minor in English. Morgan earned a Master’s degree in Creative Writing in 2014. He has lived all over the United States, but now resides in North Carolina with his wife and four daughters. Aside from writing, Morgan is an avid reader. He’s also a huge fan of baseball and enjoys listening to music.

Aside from Darker the Shadow, Morgan’s other published novels include The Bariwon Chronicles (The Hidden Sun, The Waxing Moon, The Zealous Star), Wall of Faith, Bring Down the Rain, and The Mirror of the Soul written in conjunction with musician Chris de Burgh.

His published short stories include “Howler King,” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “With Bells On” and award-winning “The Doughnut.”

An anthology of short stories, observations and insights called The Night the Port-A-Potty Burned Down and Other Stories was released at the end of 2012.