Fire in the Canyon

A California novel about the lifelong vitality of family bonds in the face of climate disaster for readers of Jonathan Evison and Nickolas Butler.

Since his release from prison after serving a two-year sentence for growing cannabis, Benjamin Hecht has grown increasingly reclusive, finding comfort in the daily rituals of working on his farm just outside of Natoma. He keeps busy cultivating a dozen acres of grapes, hardly interacting with anyone but his wife, Ada, a writer whose once-promising career is coming to a stall. Ben’s relationship with his son, Yoel, whose trust he betrayed years ago, has continued to degrade as well, becoming all the more distant during the years Ben spent in prison. When Yoel comes home from Los Angeles for a rare visit in early summer, Ben is finally ready to try to repair their relationship when a wildfire sweeps through the region, forcing the Hecht family to flee to the coast, setting into motion a chain of events that will transform them all.

This is a story about grape growing and wine, financial and familial struggles, and the unlikely heroes and community one will always find in small-town California if one simply learns to accept a helping hand. Through the experiences of the Hechts and their escalating challenges, Fire in the Canyon looks, with sober attention, at the reality of those already living through the climate crisis—not in some future dystopia, but right now, in this moment.

Story Locale:Northern California

About the Author

Daniel Gumbiner’s first book, The Boatbuilder, was longlisted for the National Book Award and a finalist for the California Book Awards. A 2022–23 Hermitage Fellow, he lives in Oakland, CA, and works as managing editor of The Believer.

Author Residence: Oakland, CA

Author Hometown: Northern California