UNTIL THE CLOUDS ARE EMPTY (78,500 words) is a haunting tale of loss and fated love in an impoverished, and unnamed Central American republic, one where U.S. charities operate unchecked -- as both victims and villains. At the novel's core is a political fable examining the unity of the human condition and the grave consequences of cultural misunderstanding. It asks readers to consider the consequences of adhering to one's belief system when confronted with life-changing realities directly conflicting with those long-held beliefs.