Gracetown, Florida, June 1950 – A chilling journey into the terrors of the Jim Crow South unfolds as bestselling horror author Tananarive Due unveils her latest novel, “The Reformatory.” In this tale, 12-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys after defending his older sister, Gloria, by confronting the son of the town’s largest landowner. The institution they call The Reformatory becomes the backdrop for a harrowing experience that Robbie and many others will endure.
On Weds., Nov. 1, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., The Seattle Public Library invites you to join them at the Central Library’s Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium for an engaging discussion with Tananarive Due about her first full-length novel in a decade, “The Reformatory.” Seattle speculative fiction author Nisi Shawl will be in conversation with Due during this anticipated event.
Tananarive Due is a prominent figure in Black speculative fiction, boasting a bibliography of 16 books, including “Blood Colony,” “The Living Blood,” “The Good House,” “Joplin’s Ghost,” and “Devil’s Wake.” Her impressive accolades include the American Book Award, NAACP Image Award, and British Fantasy Award. Due serves as an executive producer for Shudder’s groundbreaking documentary “Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror.” She, along with her collaborator and husband, Steven Barnes, wrote “A Small Town” for Season 2 of Jordan Peele’s “The Twilight Zone” on Paramount Plus. Beyond her literary work, Due teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Nisi Shawl is a multi-award-winning author, co-author, and editor of over a dozen speculative fiction books and related nonfiction. Shawl is best known for their Nebula Award finalist novel, “Everfair.” Recent releases include the horror-friendly story collection “Our Fruiting Bodies” and the Middle Grade historical fantasy novel “Speculation.” Their editing credits include the 2023 anthology “New Suns 2,” a sequel to the acclaimed “New Suns 1,” which earned recognition from Locus, World Fantasy, FIYAH Magazine IGNYTE, and the British Fantasy awards.
“The Reformatory” delves into the untold story of a long-forgotten relative, bringing his tragic experience and that of numerous others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to light. This appearance marks a significant moment for Tananarive Due, who also contributes to “Out There Screaming,” Jordan Peele’s new anthology of horror.
Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the world of horror and history with Tananarive Due and Nisi Shawl as they discuss “The Reformatory” on November 1st at the Central Library. Register now for an unforgettable evening of literary exploration. Admission is free, but registration is required to attend.
