The Midori

In the heart of the struggling Rio Grande bosque, the river—once a vibrant force connecting cottonwood roots, animal life, and humans—has been silenced by misuse and environmental neglect. In a final act of grief and hope, the river births the Midori, ten water spirits charged with restoring lost connections and healing the fractured web of life. Among them is Richard, a contemplative soul who senses a greater purpose beyond the Midori's comfortable rhythms in their adobe sanctuary of Anahuac.

Richard heeds the river's call and seeks out Charlie Roebuck, a grieving, isolated teenager in coastal Connecticut. Charlie's life is haunted by a family tragedy and constrained by forces he struggles to escape. When Richard appears to him on a quiet fishing dock, Charlie embarks on a journey that begins with escape—and becomes a lifelong transformation for both him and Richard, his mentor.

Told with lyrical depth and quiet urgency, The Midori is a contemporary myth exploring grief, environmental loss, transformation, and the power of radical empathy. It is a tale for readers who believe in the unseen connections between nature and humanity, the quest for clearing the invasive species in our minds, and the enduring light of a soul that listens deeply to the orchestra of spirits just beyond the portal of our senses.