About the Book An ambitious debut novel by an original young writer, We Eat Our Own blurs the lines between life and art with the story of a film directors unthinkable experiment in the Amazon. When a nameless, struggling actor in 1970s New York gets the call that an enigmatic director wants him for an art film set in the Amazon, he doesnt hesitate: he flies to South America, no questions asked. He quickly realizes hes made a mistake. Hes replacing another actor who quit after seeing the script -- a script the director now claims doesnt exist. The movie is over budget. The production team seems headed for a breakdown. The air is so wet that the celluloid film disintegrates. But what the actor doesnt realize is that the greatest threat might be the town itself, and the mysterious shadow economy that powers this remote jungle outpost. Entrepreneurial Americans, international drug traffickers, and M-19 guerillas are all fighting for South Americas future--and the groups arent as distinct as you might think. The actor thought this would be a role that would change his life. Now hes worried if hell survive it. Inspired by a true story from the annals of 1970s Italian horror film, and told in dazzlingly precise prose, We Eat Our Own is a resounding literary debut, a thrilling journey behind the scenes of a shocking film and a thoughtful commentary on violence and its repercussions-- Book Synopsis A canny, funny, impressively detailed debut novel (The New York Times) that blurs the lines between life and art with the story of a film directors unthinkable experiment in the Amazon jungle.When a nameless, struggling actor in 1970s New York gets the call that an enigmatic director wants him for an art film set in the Amazon, he doesnt hesitate: he flies to South America, no questions asked. He quickly realizes hes made a mistake. Hes replacing another actor who quit after seeing the script--a script the director now claims doesnt exist. The movie is over budget. The production team seems headed for a breakdown. The air is so wet that the celluloid film disintegrates. But what the actor doesnt realize is that the greatest threat might be the town itself, and the mysterious shadow economy that powers this remote jungle outpost. Entrepreneurial Americans, international drug traffickers, and M-19 guerillas are all fighting for South Americas future--and the groups arent as distinct as you might think. The actor thought this would be a role that would change his life. Now hes worried if hell survive it. This gripping, ambitious...vivid, scary novel (Publishers Weekly) is a thrilling journey behind the scenes of a shocking film and a thoughtful commentary on violence and its repercussions. Review Quotes [A] canny, funny, impressively detailed debut novel ... [from] a novelist of real substance and promise. -The New York Times Book Review