 But on arrival, they find the mining camp is home to a cult.” The novel deals with “the extremes to which we go to find meaning in our lives.”

The accompanying music for the novel was released on the album "Songs from the Big Wheel" on the label Outside Reading.The songs are performed by Marissa Nadler and accompanied by Marc Ribot, Robert Powell, Andy LeMaster, Joe Gore and Son of Dave with Shapero on acoustic guitar and mandola.The art for "The Hope We Seek" was created by Donald Pass.