In her new novel “Fallout,” local author Jordan Rosenfeld weaves a narrative of environmental activism, maternal grief and moral complexity through the interconnected stories of two women navigating a world threatened by corporate pollution and climate change.
The “eco-thriller,” which Rosenfeld has spent nearly a decade crafting, follows journalist Justine Goodman as she becomes entangled with Project Nemesis, an all-women “eco-anarchist” group determined to dismantle environmentally destructive energy companies.
“It is a book about loss, not just the loss of a child but also our loss of the natural world,” Rosenfeld said. “The characters are fighting against these big corporations that pollute the world, pollute the earth.”
Set in 2016, the novel begins with Justine feeling stifled by new motherhood while pursuing a journalistic investigation into Project Nemesis. Her growing obsession with these radical environmental activists leads to tragedy when her child dies during her absence.
“She becomes obsessed with these eco-anarchist women, because they’re doing something purposeful, something powerful, and they’re all these very powerful women,” Rosenfeld said. “That is partly what leads to her child’s death—not directly, but it is partly responsible for her not being there when something happens to her child.”
A year after this devastating loss, Justine confronts Zoe Rasmussen, the wife of energy magnate Phil Rasmussen, whose company stands as the primary target of Project Nemesis.
“At gunpoint, she strong-arms Zoe into going with her,” Rosenfeld said. “That is really when the story comes alive and where it begins.”
The narrative unfolds through three perspectives: grief-stricken journalist Justine; Zoe, who remains in an unhappy marriage for her daughter’s sake; and Hannah, Zoe’s idealistic daughter who questions her father’s corporate empire.
When armed and emotionally unstable Justine appears with demands, Zoe experiences a complex mixture of “terror and excitement,” according to the book’s synopsis. Their confrontation triggers unforeseen consequences as dangerous forces emerge, pushing each woman toward difficult moral choices.
“What I’m trying to do is show that sometimes, to go up against powerful forces, you have to get a little dirty yourself,” Rosenfeld said. “Every character in the story has a moral grey area.”
Beyond its environmental activism storyline, “Fallout” explores the impossible choices mothers often face between career and family obligations. Justine experiences “that drudgery of being a mom and being needed for everything, and not having the flexibility that her husband has.”
The novel also highlights environmental justice issues, examining how pollution and climate change disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
“Who is the most harmed? The poor, the working class, and often people of color, because their communities have often been built in places where there is not a lot of great infrastructure because of things like systemic racism,” Rosenfeld said.
The author hopes readers will take away a message about collective responsibility in the face of environmental threats.
“When you have these powerful oppressive forces, a lot of people just stand by and wait for someone to save them, and maybe the message is we have to save ourselves,” she said. “We need to care about more than just our own experience. We need to care about the planet, we need to care about people who are suffering, we need to care about mothers having to make choices between their jobs and their children.”
Published by Running Wild Press, “Fallout” has already received praise from literary voices, including New York Times bestselling author Caroline Leavitt, who described it as “achingly real and totally unforgettable.”
Born in Marin County, Rosenfeld moved to Morgan Hill two decades ago when her husband took a job in San Jose. The couple chose Morgan Hill seeking the small-town feel reminiscent of Petaluma, where they had previously lived.
“Morgan Hill is an incredible community, and there are good people here doing really important work and caring for each other,” she said. “It’s why we’re still here, 20 years later.”
The community is invited to celebrate the book’s launch at Margarita’s Bar and Grill, located at 411 Vineyard Blvd. in Morgan Hill from 2?30-4:30pm April 26. The event, sponsored by BookSmart of Morgan Hill, coincides with Independent Bookstore Day and will feature conversation with the author, book signings and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, with drinks available for purchase.
Rosenfeld encourages community members to support local bookstores rather than purchasing through online giants like Amazon.
“Cinda and Brad (at BookSmart) are amazing. They really champion local writers and ideas and education,” she said. “If you have to buy online, there is something called bookshop.org, and you can select an independent bookstore that you want to get a proceed from the sale.”
Rosenfeld emphasised the importance of the urgent themes in the story of “Fallout,” and encouraged everyone to read the cautionary tale, regardless of their political persuasion.
“If we don’t have this beautiful planet, and drinkable water, and people don’t have places to live because wildfires are taking them out and sea levels are eroding their homes, then what is the point?”
Calvin Nuttall is a Morgan Hill-based freelance reporter.
