Shine

Landy, a 14-year-old boy burdened with the secrets of his impoverished Irish immigrant family farming the hills of Kentucky, struggles to meet the seemingly endless demands of his challenging young life.

On a cold and rain-soaked November night, Landy and his two younger brothers, Jack and Jerry, are forced by their tyrant father, M'dad, to venture with him into the woods to collect a run of 'shine from the family's stillhouse. They travel in a wagon pulled by Old Nancy, the family's blind mare, and their journey escalates into an unimaginable tragedy as the evening unfolds.

With literary nods to Faulkner and Steinbeck, wrapped in the framework of a Hawthorne moral tale, this prohibition-era southern gothic story immerses the reader in a world of intergenerational struggles that carry the weight of an inherited past and ripple out
as a harbinger for one boy's future.

At its core, Shine is a tale of innocence lost and a reminder that not every life's story has a happy ending—not even when the expectations of hope for the next generation are carried on the shoulders of a child.

Rick Hall grew up in a small farming community on the prairie of central Illinois. The son of a father with southern roots and a homemaker mother born and raised in central Illinois, he is the youngest of 21 children and comes from a long lineage of farmers. His unique upbringing has
shaped his perspective on everything from his relationship with nature to the way he connects with people and nurtures relationships—all of which continue to influence his storytelling and writing.
Natalia Slattery is an artist and illustrator whose work highlights small moments of intimacy. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Natalia now resides in New York City. A multi-disciplinary artist at heart, Natalia draws techniques from printmaking, collage, and painting in her work, and loves connecting with students in her teaching practice. To learn more about her work, visit nataliaslattery.com or @adas_estate on Instagram.