Natural Disaster Fiction

Five short stories that give glimpses into the lives of Griffin, Jorie, and the other characters from Second Nature.

Unfolding across 24 hours, Natural Disaster is a propulsive, darkly funny and sharply observed novel about the absurd, frustrating, hilarious, precarious, bittersweet, sometimes astonishing challenge—literal, existential—of being a woman, a mother, a wife, a person for one single, entire day. For weeks, she has been saying it will be their special day. One last, perfect day with her children before she returns to work after maternity leave.

Carter Morelli had a plan when he left London: deliver the wildlife photographer and complete his secret mission. Except a lethal enemy has watched their every move. They tampered with the plane, leaving them stranded on a deserted island. And they kidnapped June Porter, the innocent photographer. In order to save her, Carter must confront the mysterious man in the jungle. Who is he? Savior or betrayer? He has no choice but to face the greatest enemy of all: the powerful feelings that draw him toward both June and the man in the jungle. Those feelings might kill them all.

Twenty-year-old Harper Weston always wanted to be a book editor. But when she inherits her grandmother's beloved bookstore, she has to decide between carrying her grandmother's legacy forward and the carefully planned life she had envisioned for herself. After all, her love for reading came from her grandmother, who always supported her dreams; but grief, sadness and resentment at the loss of both her grandmother and her dream job resurfaces every time she steps foot in the store.

A wild ride through the 70’s and 80’s, this family saga is told through the eyes of a child who can gather no moss during her nomadic upbringing. Full of high times and holy rollers, her absurd journey has her bouncing between Southern California and South Carolina — several times — as she’s shipped back and forth from drug & drama-filled chaos on the one coast, to a pistol-packing Pentecostal great-grandmother on the other. From a family that’s part rock, a little country gravy, and almost 100% crazy, is it any wonder she’s a “Natural Disaster” in the making?

This Valentine’s Day, Daisy Murray has her heart set on binge-watching rom-coms. Instead, an earthquake traps her inside a bakery with its impossibly rude and insufferably handsome owner and head baker. They already have a history: she’s always smiled, he’s always scowled. Where better to finally get to know each other than amid the disaster? Then again, they have no choice. Besides, it could have its sweet, undeniable, and unpredictable perks.

When Nozomi Nagai pictured the ideal summer romance, a fake one wasn't what she had in mind. That was before she met the perfect girl. Willow is gorgeous, glamorous, and…heartbroken? And when she enlists Nozomi to pose as her new girlfriend to make her ex jealous, Nozomi is a willing volunteer. Because Nozomi has a master plan of her own: one to show Willow she's better than a stand-in, and turn their fauxmance into something real. But as the lies pile up, it's not long before Nozomi's schemes take a turn toward disaster…and maybe a chance at love she didn't plan for.

Alvin Ho is back and his worst fear has come true: he has to go camping. What will he do exposed in the wilderness with bears and darkness and...pit toilets? Luckily, he's got his night-vision goggles and water purifying tablets and super-duper heavy-duty flashlight to keep him safe. And he's got his dad, too.

In a world plagued by devastating storms, Gavin and his team find themselves thrust into a life-or-death struggle in the gripping second installment of the series. Captured by ruthless looters, their survival hinges on an impossible task: mending the shattered atmosphere before time runs out.