Empire of Dirt Paperback – March 6, 2026

You can have it all. My empire of dirt.Empire of Dirt is a dark coming-of-age story following Chester Stump through the turbulence of adolescence-drinking with his best friend, the springlike rush of first love, flunking college, and grave robbing. But under the light of the full moon, Chester begins to realize that sneaking into cemeteries with a shovel may not be enough to satisfy the darker desires that grow inside of him.Set against the backdrop of the Long Island Pine Barrens, Empire of Dirt explores the legacies we inherit-grief, sorrow, darkness, and the things we don't even know have taken root. What begins as a story of youth, love, and loss slowly reveals something far more unsettling-a darkness that doesn't arrive suddenly, but grows patiently within the soil of our family tree. Read more