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Dramatically Changed by Circumstance
Born Again American: Megan follows a wounded woman and the boy from her past as they reunite and slowly rebuild their lives and each other through friendship, patience, and imperfect healing. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
My wife is a country artist who has had several songs on the charts and was nominated for Best Female Artist in country music in 2002, She wrote a song about a decade ago called Born Again American. This is the story behind that song. It was intended to be inspirational, and at the same time, is written as the back story for Megan, one of the main characters in the Tachyon Tunnel series.
Why was Alaska the right setting for Isaac and Megan’s reunion, and how did it shape the emotional tone of the book?
Megan grew up in Alaska and Isaac was a military brat who spent 18 months there during a time when they both were learning to become adults. When he leaves, he continues along his trajectory, but hers is dramatically changed by circumstance. Alaska has significant mental health problems because of the long periods of darkness in the winter. This adds to the storyline.
How did you approach writing addiction and depression with honesty without letting them overwhelm the relationship arc?
The point of the story is not necessarily the depression as much as how solving problems and pulling oneself out of tough situations builds strength and character. The point of the book is not the depression, but instead how determination and belief in something can make a person stronger. Megan is the strongest character in the Tachyon Tunnel series, and this book shows the challenges she had to overcome to rise above and truly build the foundation of that strength. There’s a line from an old Dan Fogelberg song: “When faced with the past, the strongest man cries.” That line explains that strength is built in adversity.
What do you hope readers take away about healing and second chances after finishing the book?
Even the worst situations can be turned into something positive. Just pick a target, focus, and don’t let the chaos around you pull you under.
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Megan Hoglund had every reason to give up. Life shattered around her, family lost, dreams abandoned, and nothing positive to turn her around.
Then one Marine picked her up… and taught her how to save herself.
Megan learned that American Dream doesn’t begin with success, but instead is forged in the hottest furnace, forcing her to rise in the wake of failure.
With discipline, grit, and a spark of genius she once believed was gone forever, Megan rebuilds her body, mind, and spirit. She becomes a fighter, a creator, a visionary, and a woman who refuses to be defined by tragedy. She turns tragedy into strength and renewed purpose.
And in that transformation, she discovers something profound: She is not just surviving.
She is becoming a born-again American.
In the process, Megan crafts a revolutionary technology that could change the world, and discovers the higher she climbs, the more powerful the forces that try to pull her back down.
This is the second in the Born Again American series, telling the early life of Tachyon Tunnel badass, Megan Hoglund.
Born Again American Megan
Born Again American: Megan is one of those books that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels like a quiet, character-driven story about reconnecting with someone from your past, but it quickly turns into something much deeper and more emotional. The opening chapters set a vivid scene in Alaska and immediately pull you into Isaac and Megan’s shared history, making their unfinished high school bond feel authentic and unresolved. The writing is straightforward and easy to sink into, which makes the emotional moments hit harder because they don’t feel forced or over-polished.
Megan, in particular, is a raw and painfully honest character. Her struggles with grief, addiction, depression, and self-worth are portrayed in a way that feels uncomfortable at times, but that’s kind of the point. She isn’t written as a “fixed” or sanitized version of someone going through trauma. Instead, she’s messy, sarcastic, defensive, and deeply human. Isaac works well as a counterbalance to her chaos, bringing steadiness and patience without coming across as some unrealistic savior figure.
What really stands out is how the book handles healing. There’s no overnight transformation or miracle cure. Progress comes in small, uneven steps, going to the gym, sharing meals, and talking instead of running away. The relationship builds slowly, grounded in friendship and trust before anything romantic takes center stage. Even when the story leans into intimacy, it feels like an extension of emotional connection rather than the main attraction.
Born Again American: Megan is a heartfelt, sometimes heavy read that rewards patience. It’s not just a romance, and it’s not just a redemption story, it’s a mix of both, anchored by believable characters and emotional honesty. If you enjoy stories about second chances, personal rebuilding, and relationships that grow through shared struggle rather than perfection, this book is worth your time.
Pages: 145 | ASIN: B0G75T3YLD
LITERARY TITAN 