Nighttime Kingdom

In the stirring narrative of Nighttime Kingdom, artist William J. O'Brien's first fiction novel, readers are transported into the heart of small-town America, where the ghosts of the past collide with the complexities of the present. Ted Krieger, haunted by the events of the 1983 Hubert Apple Butter Festival, grapples with the scars of trauma as he wanders the bustling streets of New York City. Sensory triggers evoke a tumultuous mix of nostalgia and pain, leading Ted on a poignant journey of self-discovery and healing. As he confronts the societal constraints of masculinity and the confines of boyhood that once held him captive, Ted finds solace and empowerment in the cherished recipes passed down by his grandmother, Ruthie. These culinary treasures serve as both a balm for his wounded heart and a catalyst for his quest to reclaim his identity and embrace his true self. From the foreword by T. Cole Rachel: "Nighttime Kingdom is many things - a coming-of-age tale, a document of loss, a