The Road to Roswell (preorder)

(preorder—copies of the limited edition already in our warehouse)

Dust jacket and interior illustrations by Tristan Elwell.

About the Book:

Francie definitely doesn’t believe in aliens, but she does believe in friendship. And that’s how she finds herself in Roswell, New Mexico, alien conspiracy hotbed, to participate in her college roomie Serena’s UFO-centric wedding to her latest fiancé, this one a true-believer, during an annual festival filled with chatter about abductions, sightings, probes, Grays, and Reptilians. Here’s hoping she can help her roomie regain sanity before she says “I do.”

Which is why at first Francie thinks she must be taking leave of her senses when she’s abducted by a tentacled tumbleweed who forces her to drive out of town—and keep driving. But it soon becomes clear that her abductor isn’t keen on letting her go—or probing her, thankfully—but also doesn’t hesitate to scoop up others. First there’s Wade, a hitchhiking conman who immediately becomes Francie’s ally. They christen their alien captor Indy, for his whiplike tentacle action.

Their assembly is soon joined by several other colorful abductees, including Western-obsessed Joseph. Using Joseph’s collection of old movies, Francie finally begins to communicate with Indy—and this unlikely band becomes determined to help him complete his mission…whatever that may be.

The Road to Roswell is bestselling, multiple-award-winning, beloved author Connie Willis at her madcap screwball best, exploring issues of communication and perception with inimitable, laugh-out-loud, chaotically profound results.

This edition contains a bonus non-fiction piece by Connie, not reprinted in decades: “Roswell, Vegas,  and Area 51: Travels  with Courtney”

Limited: 400 signed numbered hardcover copies

From Publishers Weekly:

“Multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner Willis (Blackout/All Clear) returns with a delightful, intergalactic twist on the romantic comedy. Francie only agrees to show up for her college roommate’s doomed wedding in Roswell, N.Mex., because she hopes her presence will make the bride-to-be realize she’s making a mistake… Willis makes Francie’s journey to, from, and around Roswell an absolute blast with abundant humor, copious references to old westerns, and sweet budding love between Francie and Wade. Readers will not be disappointed.”

From Booklist:

“Aliens and westerns go together like tequila and lime in Willis’ screwball comedy about an alien on a mission and the woman it abducts to drive it there.”

From Kirkus:

“A skeptic abducted by an extraterrestrial with a mission finds herself on a road trip around the desert in Willis’ latest cheerily frenetic genre-blending romp… There’s nobody quite like Willis for good-hearted, fast-paced fun.”

From Library Journal:

“E.T. meets Stagecoach in this wild romp of a laugh-out-loud tale that shows the power of friendship and the downright silly things that people will talk themselves into.”