A Novel in Progress · Jacob Clifton
Oldie
The world didn’t end. It shattered — and that’s not the end. It’s always ending and being born.
What’s left of America’s west coast, as far as we know, is the Chain: seven islands held together by ancient relics and a family of seven immortal beings called Dreamers who have guided humanity through the wreckage for centuries. But on a quiet morning on the Arizona Coast, the candles go out. The family is snuffed out — all of them, all at once.
When they wake up on the pale sands of a strange beach, they’re reborn. But hollow. They’ve forgotten their names, their powers, the fact that they were ever a family. Now they have to find the seven Aces to unlock their memories and stop whatever is hunting them — before the Chain falls apart for good.
A story about the weight of forever, the cost of being a hero, and the trauma we inherit from our past selves.
The story so far
The Prelude →
Before Part One begins, one candle goes out.
Chapter One: The Gathering →
The Dreamers wake up scattered and hollow. Holder Stone is an hour behind them.
Follow the novel
New chapters, published in real time.
Oldie is being written now. New chapters are published at kidswithnukes.com as the story finds its shape — along with world notes, character pages, and dispatches from the midapocalypse.
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About the author
Jacob Clifton spent fourteen years as a flagship staff writer at Television Without Pity, reaching a million readers a week. He has written for Tor.com/Reactor, Vulture, BuzzFeed News, and the Austin Chronicle, and is the founder of A Rough Trade Writing School.
For content strategy and editorial work: Clifton Creative →