Moonrising

A debut near future romance, where Sea of Tranquility meets Winter's Orbit, told against the backdrop of the Moon's first lunar colony, with a multicultural and LGBTQ+ cast, about a cynical agronomist and charming Emirati businessman who fall in love, and battle eco-terrorists.

In 2073, controversial agronomist Dr. Alex Cole has dedicated her life to mutagenetic food, the only solution to feeding a world torn apart by climate change. When fierce opposition from radical environmentalists wipes out her lab funding, a surprising lifeline appears in the form of Mansoor Al Kaabi, a charismatic Emirati businessman who needs a sustainable food supply for his guests on the Moon's first hotel.

Alex moves to the Moon colony with Mansoor, and they immediately dive into the challenging work. As she smuggles in illegal chickens, fights a vexing tomato fungus, and dreams of olive groves on the Moon, Alex is surprised to find herself falling in love not just with the lunar colony, but with Mansoor, whose vision for the future of the Moon extends far beyond luxury hotels.

Back on Earth, eccentric genius Victor Beard and Mansoor's younger brother Rashid fight to push the Homestead Act through Congress. Without the support of the US government, they'll never be able to achieve their goal to relocate humanity to the Moon and secure a second chance for life on Earth.

When eco-terrorists threaten the lunar colony, Alex, Mansoor, Victor, and Rashid must choose what they're willing to die for-and what they're really living for. Is it their grandiose visions of saving the planet-or is it each other?

Author: Claire Barner
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9798895150368

About the Author
Claire Barner studied public policy and education at the University of Chicago and has spent her career in operations. She is an avid gardener, on a mission to maximize the number of tomatoes her small bungalow lot can produce, and she loves to cook freshly harvested vegetables, mix strong cocktails, and host lively dinner parties. Barner and her husband are raising three children and love exploring Chicago's garden walks, lakefront, museums, and forest preserves. She leads the parent engagement group at her children's school and is committed to enhancing equity at Chicago Public Schools.