Winnerland is a work of fiction by J.R. Barrett.
The novella came to me, in its entirety, in a dream. I experienced the story though Caleb’s eyes, so it is Caleb’s version of events you will read or have read.
If you’ve read the book I thought you might want some additional information about the characters.
Anthony ‘Tony The Boss‘ Maroni completed two years of culinary school. He works as a sous chef at a restaurant in San Francisco. He’s saving to open his own restaurant one day.
Maggie McClure returned home to find that her parents had separated. Her father had moved to another community. She cut off all contact with the group three months after the escape.
Carter Robinson has nearly completed his pre-med courses at the University of Chicago. He and Chloe Evans share an apartment. They plan to marry when he finishes medical school. Chloe is studying to become an elementary school teacher.
On his eighteenth birthday Devon Baker joined the United States Navy. He completed his training to become a Navy Seal. He is now in sniper school.
Caleb Wiseman did not return to high school. He tested out of his remaining classes and received his GED. He works part time in the produce department of a local food market and he attends night school, studying criminology. He plans to take his LSATs and apply to law school in the fall. He spends all his free time with his daughter, Lily.
Caleb and Lily flew to Israel on Lily’s second birthday. Caleb received permission to scatter Jael Ben-Aron’s ashes on Mt. Tabor, the highest mountain overlooking her deceased father’s kibbutz.
Daniel Tokunaga’s parents keep his ashes on their mantel. After Daniel’s disappearance they had another child, a boy. They’ve since had a little girl. They named her Jael. They send Caleb and Lily a birthday card every year.
Joe Jenkins’ body was found in the driver’s seat of his RV. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Montgomery Peters is currently serving ten years in a federal penitentiary. He turned state’s evidence in exchange for a lesser sentence. He was never implicated in the death of a child. He tried to save Jael, Daniel and two younger children, but he was unable to do so because of the heat of the flames.
Eight children between the ages of twelve and fourteen survived the fire that consumed their dormitory. Four died, including Jael and Daniel. Jael and Daniel were killed when they entered the burning building for a third time in an attempt to rescue two missing children. The roof collapsed, trapping the four of them in the inferno.
Four adult males were found shot to death with a twenty-two caliber rifle.
The NEW Army - Neo-Evangelical Warriors.