A New America: The State of Independence

In A New America, journalist Roman Wolfe ventures into Independence, a collection of counties on the High Plains that seceded from the U.S. following widespread protests that rattled North America. Entering through a dusty border crossing in Eastern Colorado, Roman is confronted with a country weighed down by a U.S.-led embargo, fuel shortages, and crumbling infrastructure. But as he is making his way to his hotel in Capital City, another story is developing that will capture the national spotlight.

The murder of a southern Latino man, the nation's first homicide, sparks widespread controversy, quickly becoming a flashpoint for deeper cultural friction. Initially reported as the killing of a U.S. fugitive, it's revealed to be disinformation spread by a local militia. Despite the victim being a longtime resident, rumors of a fugitive incursion dominate public discourse, intensifying divisions between the rural militias and townspeople. The escalating tension exposes cultural resentments as the nation's fragile unity is tested by conflicting narratives and rising suspicion.

Roman chronicles the media's role in shaping public perception, as fabrications and sensationalized rhetoric fuel the nation's growing unrest. Amid the growing turmoil, his journey turns deeply personal when he reconnects with Kat Taylor, a woman from his past. Their reunion is far more complicated than he imagined. Eventually they move to a remote farmhouse, which amplifies their challenges, mirroring the nation's growing discord and conflicting values.

As winter sets in, Roman documents the political rise of Albert Gonzalez, a controversial new leader whose vision of the country is met with fierce resistance. Scattered incidents of rural crime and pervasive fear-mongering loom over both the nation and Roman's relationship with Kat. They struggle to reconcile their needs and desires with the country's inescapable austerity.

Evocative and timely, A New America is an exploration of desire, desperation, and the delicate threads that bind us together.