I Don't Recognize This World Anymore

Kristopher Triana goes to prison... with a new novel.

This spring, Kristopher Triana goes to prison.

As loyal readers of my newsletter, I wanted to give y’all the first look at my forthcoming novel, I Don’t Recognize This World Anymore.

Here is the awesome cover art by Scott Cole.

Below is the story synopsis.

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Most people who go to prison don’t go willingly. The same cannot be said for corrections officers, who take on one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

Liam Donnelly’s new profession requires him to spend most of his time in a women’s correctional institution. Norrington houses the worst female offenders in the country, but with his dog in need of cancer treatment, Liam is desperate for cash, and works whatever overtime shifts the captain offers. But it’s simply not enough.

When inmate Zoe Hallister is brought to Liam’s unit, he begins a criminal partnership with her, running dope, cellphones, and other contraband into the prison. Zoe even pairs him with a drug dealer on the outside—her unstable cousin, Dennis.

Tensions rise as the privately-owned prison fills with narcotics. Violent attacks increase. Predators thrive. Prisoners reconnect with their old gang members. Liam knows things are getting too dangerous, but his feelings for Zoe continue him down a dark path. Soon he realizes he’s not as in control of the situation as he thought he was, and finds himself in a world he no longer recognizes as Zoe drives Norrington into chaos.

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With the exception of my horror westerns The Thirteenth Koyote and Ballad of the Werevixens, I did more research for I Don’t Recognize This World Anymore than anything else I’ve written. I went spelunking into America’s prisons, reading books and articles by correction’s officers, prisoners, and reporters who went undercover as both. I consulted friends who work in prisons and law enforcement, and my buddy Nick, a corrections officer, read the rough draft and offered notes, so the novel would be as realistic and accurate as possible. I also watched documentaries and a reality TV series relating to the subject. Learning about America’s for-profit prison system really disturbed me, leading to this vicious novel.

I was also inspired by the experience of my dog Bear going through chemo treatment and the toll it took on both of us. Despite how dark and twisted the book is, it highlights the lengths some people will go to take care of their beloved pets. It’s like Breaking Bad but the dog has cancer instead of the main character. I dedicated it to Bear and Shadow, my sweet girls who died within less than a year from each other.

I thought it would be interesting to create a fictional prison that houses the worst female offenders in the country, a sort of super-prison for ladies like Aileen Wuornos, Karla Homolka, and Bonnie Parker. The women I created for this novel give those evil bitches a run for their blood money. This isn’t Orange is the New Black. This is the female Brawl in Cell Block 99, with female character equivalents to biopics like Bronson and Chopper. Ultra-violent, depraved, and sadistic, this book welcomes you into the belly of the lady beast.

I Don’t Recognize This World Anymore will be released in early May.

Finally, Kristopher Triana is going to prison, and if you know my work, you’ll know it’s about damn time.

Until next time, keep reading, and try not to get arrested.

Your future cellmate,

Kris