Austen, broken by a turbulent past, sets out on a cross-country journey to California, seeking the faint promise of a new beginning. But early on, he encounters a troubling scene—a baby left alone in a rundown roadside motel in a small Missouri town.
The child’s mother, Taylor, is on her own desperate journey, battling addiction and the crushing weight of poverty in a town gripped by the opioid crisis. In a fragile attempt at redemption, Austen and Taylor forge an unlikely companionship. Together, they navigate the ruins of their lives, seeking hope, healing, and a chance to reclaim what remains of the American Dream.
American Moon is a haunting, tender exploration of survival, connection, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Praise for American Moon
“Berner’s characters are drawn with humanity, and he explores timely themes with heart… A soulful meditation on struggle, hope, and healing.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“With the masterfully crafted novella, David W. Berner extends his literary journey toward understanding the complexities of identity and, ultimately, the meaning of life. American Moon is a human quest, filled with kind, honest, flawed people searching in common for that which makes life worth living.”
—Gary D. Wilson, author of numerous books, including the short story collection, For Those Who Favor Fire, winner of the 2023 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year award for Indie Fiction
“American Moon abounds with insights about the sorrows and joys of the human condition. With a clear, poetic style that often brings Hemingway to mind, David W. Berner has written a work of pathos and stark beauty.”
—Christine Sneed, author of The Virginity of Famous Men and Please Be Advised
“American Moon is a heart-wrenching journey through love, loss, and redemption against the backdrop of America’s vast and breathtaking landscape. The author’s sharp, economical prose vividly brings both the characters and their world to life . . . gradually revealed in a way that feels both natural and profound. It’s a compelling read, filled with emotional depth and moments of reflection, making it difficult to put down. A powerful exploration of self-discovery and resilience.”
—International Review of Books
“David W. Berner has written a new American Western. In prose that’s tight, durable, and fit for the road, Berner adapts a timeless story for a new generation.”
—Chris Fink, editor, Beloit Fiction Journal and the author of Farmer’s Almanac: A Work of Fiction
“American Moon is at once an unexpected road trip tale, a series of vivid landscape portraits, a cultural meditation, and a map of two lost travelers, searching for renewal. Contemplative and compassionate.”
—Megan Schikora, author of A Woman in Pink
“Reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy and Jack Kerouac, American Moon is a skillfully layered narrative with the complexities of the human condition. Heavy-hearted characters journey in seeking connection, place, and meaning as David W. Berner shines a bright light on man’s struggles with identity, and the rough edges of survival.”
—Nancy Chadwick, author of Mercy Town
“David W. Berner’s American Moon is a beautifully rendered novella told with prose as clean and powerful as an open road, reminiscent of Hemingway and Denis Johnson, Berner crafts a moving and timeless story of redemption, connection, and quiet resilience. American Moon will stay with you long after the final page.”
—Randy Richardson, author of Havana Hangover
