Vanessa Grossmann is an author and illustrator living in northern Arizona with her husband and daughter, several ill-behaved dogs and two ancient cats. An unrepentant introvert, she writes surrounded by a bewildering jumble of antiques, art and far more books than her shelves can handle.
With a master’s degree in psychology, she writes about mental health recovery, surviving trauma and finding self-acceptance. Her characters work to take back control of their destinies and usually discover found family in the process.
The Underwest is her first novel, set in a world of mutants and sentient plants, where science fiction blurs with fantasy and a home is found for weirdos and misfits of all descriptions.
The Underwest by Vanessa Grossman
A life of chaos. A fall into a dark world. A way home, but at a price.
Alma has been taking care of everyone and everything her entire life, and it’s left her an anxious, depressed wreck. When her mother announces they’ll be moving in with Grandma, she’s cautiously optimistic. It might bring the stability her autistic brother Waylon needs.
As expected, Grandma’s place is peaceful and calm – but it turns out to be riddled with portals leading into a world of mutants and steam trains!
By accident, Alma and Waylon stumble through, and find themselves stranded in the wilds of the Mutant Federation. There, they meet Sasha, a clockwork android with super strength, but with an unfortunate tendency to break down at the worst possible moments. Sasha promises to protect them until they can reach her guardian who may be able to help them return home.
When Sasha suffers a catastrophic breakdown, the burden falls on Alma’s shoulders once more. It doesn’t help that she has no idea where she’s going, or that Waylon’s condition is deteriorating under the strain.
Can Alma finally wrench control of a life that always seems to sweep her along?
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