One of the things that I've come to really appreciate in the time I've been working with John is just the diversity of the regulars here at C&L. There are some incredibly smart and interesting people that really just enhance the quality of this blog with their comments and perspectives. One of those people is Lee Jackson, who very early on started sending me post ideas and tips (I realize now a lot came from research for this book). While the name might be unfamiliar, Lee is a very recognizable voice on C&L. More on that later.

Lee has a new book out, Redemption, published by St. Martin's Minotaur, and it touches on themes that should be familiar to anyone on this blog. From the description:

Set a few months or a few years from now, novelist Lee Jackson’s portrait of America is a very familiar one. People carry their ID cards wherever they go. Gas is expensive and the value of the dollar has dropped so far that even rural areas like Redemption, Montana, have thriving black markets, barter economies, and high unemployment. But otherwise, life in the small town goes on day by day. And terrorism is a constant worry across the country, even in a town three thousand miles from New York City with a population of only three hundred.
Ben Trinity hitchhikes into Redemption during a snowstorm with a story about a parole-mandated job on the West Coast that he’s never going to make. His story earns him a job as a handyman at Carlene Ryton’s roadside diner and a place to sleep, and once he clears it with Homeland Security—the top law enforcement agency in the United States—he tries to settle in as best he can. But hiding in plain sight is no easy task for a convict, much less a terrorist, which is what the government says Ben is, and it’s only a matter of time before the locals find out who he is.
Never tried, let alone convicted—due process has been suspended in the United States—Ben contends that he is innocent, and he may be, but does he have enough strength and conviction left to prove it?
Lee Jackson’s engaging thriller is both a powerful cautionary tale and a mesmerizing portrait of an unlikely hero.

Amazing how it doesn't sound as far-fetched as it did seven years ago, isn't it? So we at C&L are thrilled to support Lee with Redemption and we encourage you to purchase the book (mine should be here soon). Another one of our regulars will be reviewing the book and we'll be scheduling our very first book salon with the author to discuss in the coming weeks (we want you to have a chance to read it first!)

Any guesses as to the cyber-identity of Lee Jackson? She's our very own "Voice of Reason," NonnyMouse. :) Congratulations, Nonny...er, Lee.