Eugene Slaven

The Sorghum Saga Eugene Slaven

Drowning in gambling debt, Chuck Newhouse, a powerful Senator's chief of staff, spearheads a biofuel program that subsidizes two eccentric farmers to sell sorghum juice to a biofuel manufacturer. In exchange, the farmers bribe Chuck with a portion of their federal subsidy. But when Joanna-a journalist who writes for a once reputable political magazine turned clickbait site-gets a tip from an anonymous source about the program's suspicious origins, Chuck has to cover his tracks by navigating the perilous political labyrinth. As Joanna pursues the story while fending off her employer's insipid "outrage" culture, she becomes romantically involved with one of the scandal's central players. Recovering from recent heartbreak, the philosophically-minded Joanna struggles to reconcile the inexorable conflict of interest between her devotion to her partner and her journalistic integrity. Containing suspense, mystery, wide-ranging philosophical themes, and ample comic relief, The Sorghum Saga depicts contemporary American politics and culture through a relentlessly realistic lens.