A mysterious death, a techno-dystopian backdrop, a crumbling climate. A young woman searches for answers in this meditative, lyrical thriller.

In 2060 Orlando, FL, the state’s corruption festers amid unpredictable storms and climate upheaval, plunging society into a desperate eat the rich struggle for survival. As the world crumbles around her, 23-year-old Savannah fights to secure the bare essentials—drinkable water, dwindling food rations, and coveted orange juice. With only her father to rely on, Savannah navigates a world where tech reigns over humanity; and healthcare, climate-controlled housing, and life-saving news alerts are a privilege for the wealthy elite. Everything changes the day she stumbles upon her late sister's journal. Grief morphs into determination as she learns about her sister’s involvement in a pharmaceutical project that could revolutionize medicine for all.

Armed with this knowledge, Savannah holds the key to completing her sister's work. Will she have the courage to do so? Or will fear and despair shackle her to a fate worse than death?
 

Vanessa Frances is an Orlando-based, award-winning writer whose work blends the intimate and the uncanny, exploring what it means to be human in uncertain worlds. She works across theater, film, and fiction. Orange Island is her first novel. When she is not writing, she is biking, kayaking, or slipping into the water, drawn to quiet, in-between places where stories take shape. Find her at https://vanessafrances.me/