Griftopia: A Novel

Suzy Vitello

Tradwife scams, pickleball mania, and the hazards of raising a viral child star ...

Orphaned and separated as young children, the Freischin sisters are nothing if not survivors. Now, in middle age, Pearl is blindsided by a sexual harassment allegation, while her son Declan, a college student and track star struggling with anxiety, quits school when he becomes entangled with a young con-artist. Meanwhile, Pearl’s sister Scarlett is left penniless after her husband is imprisoned for embezzling, and Scarlett’s daughter Helena turns to pickleball coaching as a side hustle when her six-year-old child, Burkleigh—who’d achieved meteoric social media fame for her ability to sing like Billie Holiday—is canceled for appropriation.

Close to destitute, the Freischin clan is in danger of homelessness unless they can pull themselves out of financial instability. Leveraging Burkleigh’s talent, they arrive at a series of progressively dubious internet scams that lead them to an unexpected alliance.

Griftopia explores the struggles of a modern family in free fall who turn to grifting for survival.

Praise for Griftopia

“Griftopia has everything I crave in a novel–a wry gaze, prose that crackles, and a messy multi-generational family full of flawed, sardonic, delightfully-scrappy characters who are fumbling through their bittersweet versions of the disintegrating American dream (and taking us along for the delicious ride).”

–Kim Culbertson, author of Other People’s Kids

About the Author Although Suzy Vitello’s first novel, A Plot to Kill a King, never made it out of her sixth-grade classroom, writing it fueled her interest in themes of justice sprinkled with humor. In one form or another, she’s been writing about power imbalance ever since. Her notable novels include Bitterroot (Sibylline Press), The Bequest (Running Wild Press), and Faultland (Ooligan Press). As the Managing Editor of Sibylline Press, Suzy enjoys deep-diving into the minds and hearts of other writers. She lives and writes in Portland, Oregon with her husband and an elderly Rottweiler.

Tuesday, May 12, 7PM | Third Place Books Ravenna, Seattle, WA

Suzy Vitello with Michael N. McGregor

Third Place Books will host Suzy Vitello at their Ravenna location for a conversation about her new book Griftopia: a biting but big-hearted jaunt through modern malaise featuring a family in free fall who turn to Internet grifting for survival. Michael N. McGregor joins in conversation.

This event is free and open to the public. For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A.

Tuesday, May 26, 7PM | Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR

Suzy Vitello in Conversation With Monica Drake

Vitello will be joined in conversation by Monica Drake, author of The Folly of Loving Life. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

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Publishing the Brilliant Work of Women Authors over 50

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