credit the author photo to Rob Arnold.


Author Jennifer Haigh Drills into the Hydro-Fracking Controversy in Heat and Light

By Laura LaTour

More than most places, Pennsylvania is what lies beneath. This compelling line appears both at the beginning and end of author Jennifer Haigh’s fifth novel, Heat and Light.  Appropriate bookends for what Haigh calls Pennsylvania’s “weird, ongoing history as an energy state.”

“Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I feel like I have an investment in that part of the world.  When fracking came into existence it felt like a third act for a region that had been given up for dead.” Haigh says, “This was a story that was too good not to write.”

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is a process which involves the smashing of rock with millions of gallons of water, sand, and an undisclosed cocktail of chemicals, in order to bring natural gas to the surface.  Many argue that fracking causes harmful environmental effects such as the contamination of groundwater, exposure to toxic chemicals, and infrastructure degradation, not to mention the dangerous working conditions for energy employees.

Though full of information about the process of hydro-fracking and its consequences, Heat and Light is a surprisingly dispassionate exploration of the controversy. The novel examines characters on both sides of the dispute, bringing the debate to life with empathy and insight through the eyes of Haigh’s many-faceted characters.

“Had I written the book with an agenda, it would have been horrendous,” explains Haigh.  “Writing is the ultimate exercise in empathy. The whole job of the novelist is being able to think your way into [the character’s] lives.”

The author drew on real-life “fracking king” Aubrey McClendon, Chesapeake Energy’s Co-Founder and former CEO, to create Clifford “Kip the Whip” Oliphant.  Kip acts as the plot’s catalyst, setting events into motion by buying up mineral rights in Bakerton in order to drill for natural gas.

“Kip was obviously a product of my imagination,” says Haigh, “but there could be no Kip had there not been a McClendon.  He was so charismatic [and] exerted such a hold on my imagination.  It was easy for me to get [his voice] in my head.”

But the heart of the novel are the residents of Bakerton who wrestle with their distrust of the outsiders —both energy companies and their employees and the environmental activists — and their need to survive and prosper.

Though “heat and light” refer to the energy sources like coal, oil and gas which help the town of Bakerton “light the world,” they may also be a metaphor for the characters’ desires and subsequent enlightenment. Each of Haigh’s characters wrestle with desire — whether for money, power, drugs, love, or attention — and each of them come to a realization as to how their decisions have impacted their lives, for better or worse. In Jennifer Haigh’s deft hands, Heat and Light offers empathy and understanding to a dark topic that has many people stuck in an ethical morass.

On Sunday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m., Jennifer Haigh will be appearing at Partners Village Store in Westport, Massachusetts, located at 863 Main Road. She will discuss Heat and Light and her writing experiences with the public, and sign books for interested patrons. The event is free and open to the public.  Seats are limited, so reserve your spot by calling 508-636-2572.

Laura LaTour is an avid reader, a former bookseller and author-events coordinator, and is currently working as a freelance writer and publicist. Drop her a line, and tell her what you are reading:  Laura@LaTourCreations.com