The first time we meet Carol, she's in a Dallas Barnes & Noble reading from Bloodsongs of Wycaro, the fourth book in her wildly popular Wycaro series, which follows the adventures of the sand pirate Lucasia and the rogue who has captured her heart. The members of her audience technically aren't the living dead, but they all want a piece of the author. Carol, in turn, is barely able to mask her disdain even as she enjoys the spoils of their adoration.
Group stress seems to be spreading like a bad cold. People seem on edge. Tempers are shorter. There's more honking at the green light. Conversations often turn to resigned regret about the division in the country. And the other day, someone I hadn't seen in 35 years left a surprisingly snarky comment on a social media post, an act out of character for the person I once knew.