Join us on the evening of Monday, November 3 as we welcome writer Jess Hagemann, author of Mother-Eating, a ghoulish, blackly comic new horror novel that reimagines the life of a famously guillotined French queen in modern-day Austin, Texas. Yes, this event takes place on a Monday when the store would normally be closed, but that’s how much we’re looking forward to hosting! Jess will be in conversation with St. Louis writer S.L. Coney, so this will be a great opportunity to pick up signed books by not one, but two great writers. It's the perfect wrap-up to a moody weekend that includes Halloween, All Souls Day, and Marie Antoinette’s 251st birthday!

If you’d like to reserve a copy for pickup during the event, order here.

About the Authors:

Jess Hagemann’s recent work has appeared or is forthcoming in Beneath the Bluebonnets: Tales of Terror from Texas Women, Three Seasons of Winter, and Last Girls Club, among others. Her debut novel Headcheese (2018) won an IPPY Award in Horror. Her sophomore novel Mother-Eating (2025) marries Marie Antoinette and cults. Jess received her MFA from the Jack Kerouac School, and has been awarded a teaching fellowship at McNeese State University as well as a writing residency at Dear Butte. She lives in Austin. More at www.jesshagemann.com.

S. L. Coney is the author of Wild Spaces, an Esquire Best of Horror 2023 pick and a finalist for the 2024 Philip K. Dick Awards. Their work has appeared in St. Louis Noir and Gamut Magazine, and their short story "Abandoned Places" was selected for 2017's Best American Mystery Stories. They still hold seashells to their ears to hear the ocean speak, and are still deeply disappointed that their fins never grew in. You can find out more at slconey.com.