1820 Studios

After Rafe and Bri report a horrendous news tragedy in the small town of Sodium, TX, they discover a white supremacy plot that affects the whole country. The United States is in a divisive uproar, and they soon find themselves in the middle of what has been called the Sodium War.

Rafe returns to the Bible for solace, and Bri witnesses an inhumane act that propels them both to attempt the inconceivable for the sake of the country.

Taken from real-life stories of gun violence, white supremacy riots, and political upheaval, Nathan Merritt has painted a near-future dystopian landscape of what could happen in the United States if the divisiveness is taken too far.

Praise for A Country Called Philadelphia

"... A story of both the brutality of humans when pushed to the extremes and the power of the morally-just to persevere in times of oppression.... Themes of anti-racism, peace, and loving, religious faith pervade the book’s every page." — IndieReader

"Wow — this is more than a book, it's a work of art. I read a lot and, truly, I'm blown away." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"This was an interesting and thought-provoking book." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"A good read and managed it one session, always a good sign of a good book if you ask me." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"A modern-day classic and highly imaginative..." ★ ★ ★ ★

The Story Behind the Story

In August 2019, 38 people were killed in mass shootings in the United States. These included the El Paso, TX shooting at a Walmart, where 22 people lost their lives. The shooter had written an anti-immigrant manifesto and believed in a conspiracy theory that the "white race" was being replaced in the United States.

A close friend challenged me with the idea of writing a screenplay about combating gun violence, and after brainstorming, I settled on telling a story about fighting racism. After a lifetime of hearing racist speech, listening to countless stories from victims, and reading about horrid acts in the news, I felt compelled to help in any way I could.

Unfortunately, I found it hard to tell someone not to use racist speech, especially if they were a friend or a family member, and I was sure that I wasn't the only one. I created a character, Bri Gilchrist, in the story that is willing to stand up to anyone that uses racist speech, and the process was very helpful, but I still have a hard time, even today.

My hope is that this story helps others to step inside their neighbor's shoes, to seek out a peaceful and loving relationship with everyone, regardless of their skin color, religion, political beliefs, or character.

-Nathan Merritt

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The Story Behind the Story

The Vision of Saint Eustace, Other Scenes with Tests of His Faith Beyond by Maarten de Vos, 1601Protest Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash© 1820Studios, 2025

The Vision of Saint Eustace, Other Scenes with Tests of His Faith Beyond by Maarten de Vos, 1601
Protest Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash
© 1820Studios, 2025