Pinned

(my novel in-progess)

Athletically talented, socially awkward senior Aidan Roberts feels like the purest version of himself — like art in motion –while competing on a wrestling mat for his small, Midwestern town that stakes its reputation on the success of its high school wrestling team.

When a long-shot opportunity emerges to earn a spot on the team at his father’s prestigious college alma mater– and follow a path of honor —  he commits himself fully to the goal, despite the mystery surrounding his father’s years there.

As Aidan endures cutting weight, undermining teammates, an unreliable best friend and the onset of Covid-19, the only person who seems to understand and accept him for who he is is his childhood playmate, Evvy Turner, recently moved back to town.

When achieving his goal seems like the only way to prove his worth and avoid shame, Aidan abandons his sensibilities and commits a shocking crime.

Pinned brings to life a young man whose desperation to meet others’ expectations of him leads to pain and destruction, and forces readers to ask Who would I be, if my actions were not motivated by what others expect of me?