A Wider Universe: A Novel

Gene Shepherd, still grieving his wife’s death, alone in his home after his daughter moves in with her good-for-nothing boyfriend, has grown accustomed to a life of solitude. When he gets a series of unexpected visits from bible-toting Patrick Frye, a young man on a personal crusade for Jesus, Gene must confront not only the pushy young missionary, but the painful past he has been quietly suppressing. Gene’s nineteen-year-old daughter, Chelsea Shepherd, caught in a destructive relationship, finds herself at a crossroads in her life, unsure of her future, as well as her present. One night, after an argument turns violent, Chelsea flees from her relationship and finds solace, safety, and an unexpected friendship with Swedish college professor Alexander Jansson. Both Gene and Chelsea must face choices and challenges that will guide them towards their places in the world with the help of some unexpected characters and a major test of faith. A Wider Universe is a story of family, redemption, and one man’s discovery that even the loneliest man is not truly alone.