THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA

No one can say with any reasonable certainty when the United States of America began to fall apart.  Many point to the presidential election of 2016, but most believe the breakup started long before this.  Now, in the year 2110, the former United States is made up of 13 nation-states and The Wastelands.  Some of the nation-states have prospered under self-rule, while others have declined.  Some nation-states are very accepting of outsiders, while others trust no one…sometimes not even their fellow citizens.  There is chaos in some places, and order in others…sometimes too much order.

The first state to break away from the USA was, not unexpectedly, Texas, and from there, things continued to spiral out of control as the national government tried to hold on to control that the state governments wanted back, and eventually, the federal government was no longer able to control the states, and the break-up came about.

Some of the nation-states kept the name “America” in their new names.  Some did this as a tribute to where they had come from, while others did it to remind their citizens of what they were breaking away from.  Others adopted new names, or took on names that were given to them.

Borders in some areas are heavily patrolled, even walled in places, while other borders have no protection at all…mostly it depends on the views of the new government and its citizens, even though sometimes those two groups still don’t agree.  Let’s face it, greed and independence are bred into the human race, and even allying with others that have similar viewpoints does not necessarily mean that they will always get along.

If you’re interested in learning more, please click here to see a map of the new nation-states and to read a little about each of them. Submission guidelines can be found here.

Green Grievances by J Alan Erwine
The Green States of America is a fairly peaceful nation, but not everyone is happy with the current government, and when armed terrorists take over the congressional building, it’s up to Speaker of the Month Robert Nesmith to fight back for his nation, but what does he have to use against armed militants? Only his words.

Serenity's Gambit by Ian Brazee-Cannon
Having survived the trap in Colorado, Serenity, Debra, and Marco now find themselves in what used to be Washington D.C. looking for something, but they don’t know what it is. While they’re looking for the unknown item, a very well known enemy is looking for them. Can they survive, and what exactly is the item they’re looking for?

Return to the Wastlands? by J Alan Erwine
Robert Jenkins escaped The Wastelands, but he feels that the best part of him has been left in that horrible place. Now, with the help of unexpected friends, Robert has to decide if he goes back to save the love of his life, or enjoy his new life in The Rocky Mountain States of America.

Fight or Flight by J Alan Erwine
Robert grew up in The Wastelands, where kids are forced to grow up fast, or they die. Now as a member of The Rose Clan, Robert finds himself on his first mission outside of The Wastelands…a raid into The Rocky Mountain States of America, but nothing has gone as planned, and now he finds himself on the verge of death…but he’s been there many times before, and maybe death isn’t as bad as going back to The Wastelands.

BKX: Tuskegee by William Landis
Kobe Griffin was born in the Confederate States of America, and although he's a good Christian, he's also a scientist. He struggles to be good at both, even in a society that believes that the two can`t coexist. Everything changes when Kobe is invited into a secret scientific honor society, Beta Kappa Chi.

Die With Dignity by Tyree Campbell
Things in Calivada are usually very well organized, perhaps too well organized, but something strange is going on up north…people are disappearing. But who would want to leave such an organized society, and why would they want to leave? Is there something sinister going on, or is the answer right in front of everyone’s face?

A Game of Disruption and Revelation by Ian Brazee-Cannon
Debra Lennon has returned to The Rocky Mountain States of America with her new employer Serenity Payne and Sernity’s faithful assistant Marco for a meeting with some of the most powerful people from the old United States and Mexico, but nothing can prepare any of them for the attack that comes from a secret society dedicated to destroying Serenity’s power…but the secret society has never dealt with the likes of Debra Lennon and Marco…

Mission Alternate by Dana Bell
Cherrie Metcalf was descended from the "royal" families of New England, but she wasn't an Adams, and she aways thought that had cost her a spot on the first crewed mission to Mars, but when a letter arrives asking for her help on the project, she has no choice but to head to Maine and to deal face to face with Samuel John Adams, but nothing can prepare her for what the mission might uncover, and for what she might learn while she's in Maine.

Tested by Lorelei Suzanne
Nancy is desperate. Her daughter is seriously ill and even the wealth and science of the Great Lake Congloemrates can’t save her. With a mission to the moon nearing, Nancy has to do whatever she can to save her child, but just how far will she be willing to go?

Path to a New Life by Ian Brazee-Cannon
Marco has taken all of the skills he learned from Emrey and become one of the best fighters in the Confederate States, but he hates the life he's forced to live. Now he's reached New Orleans for a massive pit fight championship, but the fights that he'll face in the pit are nothing compared to the fights that await him in life.

Frozen Ambitions by J Alan Erwine
The Great Lakes Conglomerate is ready to launch an ambitious mission to Mars, but is there a saboteur among the designers?

Behind the Scars by Ian Brazee-Cannon
Marco had been a kid on the streets of the Confederate States of America with nothing to look forward to until he met Emrey. Now as an adult, he has everything to look forward to, but will he ever get a chance to make his dreams come true?

Trial of Payne by Ian Brazee-Cannon
Debra Lennon has found that she does not like Corprotopia. While waiting to renew her gun permit, she contemplates returning to The Rocky Mountain States, but an invitation to renew that permit at the home of a wealthy corporate matriarch leads to a series of trials that will not only test her shooting abilities, but will ultimately test her character.

Alaskan Everglades by Debby Feo
Fred Selkerson continues his exploration of The Divided States of America. This time his travels take him to Alaska where he and his new Personal Assistant Android meet his Grandma Julia, and they also explore what is left of the wilds of Alaska.

Delivery by Lorelei Suzanne
Reed makes deliveries between the Great Lakes Conglomerate and the Wastelands on a regular basis, but this delivery is more dangerous, and much more important than any previous delivery. Reed is willing to risk his life to make a difference in a divided world, but is the risk worth it? He certainly thinks so…

Back to the Old Ways by J Alan Erwine
Captain Christopher Chases Crows knows that something horribly evil is going on in the Wastelands, but can he convince his government to get involved, and is getting involved even the right thing to do? Morality and law aren’t always the same things, but in the Wastelands, there are times when neither exists.

A Cavallo by Debby Feo
Fred Selkerson and his faithful companion Pat37 continue their exploration of Calivada, but this time, things go very wrong, and they’ll face dangers they never could have expected.

Where Do You Go From Here by Ian Brazee-Cannon
After losing her beloved Leslie, Debra Mucklow has moved to the Independent City of St. Louis in the hopes of starting again, but her diplomatic duties for the Rocky Mountain States of America aren’t quite what she was looking for.
Then a simple guard duty mission offers her a chance to change her life…or maybe lose her life.

Can't Go Home Again by Ian Brazee-Cannon
Debra Mucklow returns to The Wastelands to face her past and her father, but she finds things have changed a great deal in twelve years, and now she has to determine if there is an immediate threat to her team and to the Rocky Mountain States of America, while fighting the demons of her past.

Calivada Dreaming by Debby Feo
Fred Selkerson has left the Green States of America to start his exploration of what had once been the United States. Along with his android assistant, Pat37, Fred heads south, where things are somewhat different, but still recognizable…and it’s not long before Fred finds himself Calivada Dreaming.

What Lies In the Wastelands by Ian Brazee-Cannon
An exploration group from the Rocky Mountain States of America comes to the Wastelands to learn what they can, but when they’re captured by natives, they begin to wonder if their advanced technology can save them.

It's In the Water by J Alan Erwine
Richard hated being a corporate drone, but what else was there to be in Corprotopia? After losing his girlfriend to the government, Richard struggled with just surviving, but when he learns a deep secret, a secret of resistance, he suddenly finds a reason for his life…or does he?

Green in 2110 by Debby Feo
Fred Selkerson often heard his grandmother talk about how life had been different in the old United States, but he never understood, because all he knew was what life is like in the Green States of America. Now that he’s approaching 18, maybe it was time for him to find out for himself…

The Wall is Beautiful by Mike Morgan
Rick Moreno always felt out of place in the Republic of Texas. Being one of the few non-Anglos left in Texas left him facing racism and hatred, but he had to stay for his sick madre. He had to stay at a border patrol job that he hated, with a partner who hated him, but neither he, nor his Anglo partner Mitch are prepared for what they find, and what it might mean to each of them as individuals, and to the Republic of Texas.

The Dustbin by Tyree Campbell
Pierce had had enough. He’d finished his five year mission, and he was done…done with what was left of society, done with people, done with everything. He was ready to give up on all that was left of the United States until he meets Jenny Lee.
Suddenly, Pierce realizes there may still be things left to fight for.