Sometimes life hits harder than we expect. Horizon Homeless by Larry Peterson is not just a story—it’s a gut punch wrapped in compassion, truth, and raw reality. This novel pulls back the curtain on how fast ordinary families can slip from stability to survival mode. It’s a powerful, moving story that forces you to ask, “Could this happen to me?”
Meet Bob and Tracey Slider. They’re not lazy, not irresponsible. They’re just like millions of hardworking Americans trying to do the right thing every day—until life throws a series of brutal curveballs. Lost jobs, medical bills, mental health struggles, and the crushing weight of bad luck pile up faster than they can keep up.
“This place had been like a second home and just like that it was gone. It was almost as if someone close had suddenly died. Fear of the days ahead suddenly grabbed Bob Slider in a chokehold. He could not breathe.”
— Horizon Homeless, “Memorial Day Weekend,” p.5
Surviving the Slippery Slope
This book holds up a mirror to society. It shows the slow, painful slide from middle-class comfort to the terrifying edge of homelessness. Bob and Tracey, along with their son Jake, face every possible setback—job loss, car repairs they can’t afford, mounting rent, and the painful reality that bills don’t care about circumstances.
The story kicks off when Bob loses his job at Bildot Building Supply—a job he’d held for 16 years. On the very same day, Tracey’s unemployment gets cut off due to a technical error. Their financial freefall starts immediately. Rent is due. Utilities are on the chopping block. Their son’s medication is non-negotiable. And yet, life keeps demanding more.
Standout Moment: Chapter 1, “Memorial Day Weekend”
It’s the turning point. Bob, after hearing the business closed, sits in his truck—paralyzed.
“Fear of the days ahead suddenly grabbed Bob Slider in a chokehold. He could not breathe. He pulled to the side of the road and got out of his truck. He stood straight up and tried to breathe in. As traffic passed by, he turned away and vomited.”
This moment perfectly captures the gut-wrenching anxiety of realizing that everything stable could be ripped away in an instant.
Through every chapter, readers witness how easily life’s dominoes can fall. But it’s not just about the fall. It’s about resilience, faith, and the daily fight to hold on to dignity and hope. This story shines a harsh but necessary light on an invisible crisis: the millions living on the brink of homelessness, who are often unseen and unheard.
A Voice for the Forgotten
Larry Peterson isn’t just an author—he’s a storyteller with purpose. His passion for advocacy shines through every page of Horizon Homeless. Larry is a Catholic/Christian blogger whose work has appeared in Zenit (Rome), Aleteia, New Evangelists, Top Catholic Blogs, Big Pulpit, Catholic365.com, and more.
His past works include the children’s book Slippery Willie’s Stupid, Ugly Shoes (2011) and the critically acclaimed novels The Priest and the Peaches (2012) and The Demons of Abadon (2016). Larry is also a proud member of the Catholic Writers Guild, The Catholic Writer’s Society, and The Knights of Columbus, and has served for over twenty years bringing communion to the homebound and hospitalized.
A devoted father and grandfather based in Pinellas Park, Florida, Larry’s personal story is one of resilience as well. After losing his first wife to cancer and later becoming a caregiver for his second wife battling cancer and Alzheimer’s, Larry understands hardship firsthand. His work is fueled by faith, empathy, and a commitment to giving voice to the voiceless.
This is not just a book. Horizon Homeless is a must read. The book invites you to step into the shoes of millions of unseen Americans—and challenges you to see them differently.
Horizon Homeless
Larry Peterson
Grab your copy before the horizon disappears.