A recent college graduate, Matt Miller, takes a summer job on the carnival, hoping to make a large sum of money in a short amount of time. On the road, he runs afoul of Butz, a tough, ruthless carnie whose profits he is cutting into. Over the summer, their rivalry grows increasingly dangerous for Matt, but he carries on mainly because of his romance with Veronica Burns, a young carnie with a reputation as a troublemaker. The conflict with Butz comes to a head at the final show of the year: The Michigan State Fair, surrounded by the poorest neighborhoods of Detroit, where a riot breaks out and threatens Matt’s life.
The story is told by an older Matt, reflecting on what the carnival taught him and how it changed his worldview. At its core, Tilt-A-Whirl is a tale of awakening, a lesson on trust, and a study of the ubiquitous art of the grift.
Coming in the fall of 2024