Fantasy Horror Panel

This event is free to attend, but we kindly ask that you RSVP so that we can get an accurate headcount!

We're celebrating BEYOND THE GRAVES WAITS MIST AND SEA by Kathleen Kaufman. Kathleen will be joined in conversation by authors Brandie June, Jo Kaplan, and Sarah Langan. This panel will be moderated by Dahlia De La Vega.

About the book:

From the author of The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, this hauntingly evocative novel is perfect for fans of Emilia Hart’s The Sirens, Sarah Penner’s The Amalfi Curse, and Adrienne Young.

Twenty nautical miles off the coast of Boston lies Bell Island, shrouded in fog, mystery, and legend. Historically a refuge for women fleeing the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s and a way station on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves in the 1800s, the island is isolated and rumored to be haunted by spirits and . . . other things.

It is to Bell Island that microbial biologist Harper Hafdóttir ventures in search of evidence of a new species of octopus, Thalassa, possibly lurking below the swirling water’s surface. Along with her equipment, and her luggage, Harper carries with her the burden of past trauma and vivid, recurring dreams.

Swept up in unexplained phenomena ranging from increased seismic activity and a boat-capsizing rogue wave to encounters with island creatures that defy explanation, Harper looks to the island’s venerated if mysterious mayor for answers. Lady Loreana Bell comes from a single matriarchal line that has ruled the island for 400 years—and seems to have been expecting Harper’s arrival.

It is within the walls of Bell Manor—its gothic grandeur matched only by the intensity of Harper’s deja vu—that she discovers the 1690 journal of a young woman in the grips of a religious cult. As a tsunami threatens the island, Harper finds herself on the verge of a revelation that will ultimately unlock the mystery of her haunted dreams and disclose her true purpose on Bell Island . . .

About the authors:

Kathleen Kaufman:

Kathleen Kaufman is the bestselling author of magical realism and feminist gothic horror novels, including The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea, Hag, and the Diabhal trilogy. Her novel The Lairdbalor has been optioned by Screen Australia for a feature-film adaptation helmed by award-winning director Nicholas Verso. A Colorado native and graduate of the University of Southern California, she currently works as an English instructor and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, kitten, and hound. Visit her online at KathleenKaufman.com.

Sarah Langan:

Sarah Langan's a three-time Stoker Award-winning writer, whose novels (A BETTER WORLD, GOOD NEIGHBORS, THE MISSING, etc.) have made best of the year lists at NPR, Newsweek, The Irish Times, AARP, and PW. Her short stories have appeared in NIGHTMARE, F&SF, WIRED, Year's Best Horror, Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy. She has an MFA from Columbia University, an MS in Environmental Health Science/ Toxicology from NYU, and lives in Los Angeles with her family. Her sixth novel TRAD WIFE is out now.

Brandie June:

Brandie June spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as both activities let her live in fantastic stories. She moved to Los Angeles to study acting at UCLA, and eventually branched out into costume design, playwriting, prose, and got MBA in Entertainment Marketing, becoming a Director of Product Management and Marketing for home entertainment. Her award-winning debut novel, GOLD SPUN, is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. CURSE UNDONE is the second book of the duology. Her recent novel, MAGIC AT THE GRAND DRAGONFLY THEATRE, is her love letter to theatre. As part of her research, she studied magic at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood. Her upcoming fantasy, RULER OF THE DEAD CITY, is scheduled to come out in Fall 2027. Her theatre credits include TRULY OUTRAGEOUS: AN UNOFFICIAL JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS PARODY and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR, both of which premiered and garnered awards at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Brandie is a volunteer story coach for middle and high school students through SpiritCorps. She lives with her husband, two spoiled rescue pups, five spoiled birds, and many bookshelves.

Jo Kaplan:

Jo Kaplan is a Shirley Jackson Award nominated author whose work has been described as “addictive… as beautiful and moving as it is creepy” (Publishers Weekly) and “immersive, chilling, and compelling” (Library Journal). She is the author of It Will Just Be Us, When the Night Bells Ring, and The Midnight Muse, as well as short stories which have appeared in publications such as Fireside Quarterly, Black Static, Nightmare Magazine, and award-winning anthologies. In addition to writing, she teaches English and creative writing at Glendale Community College and is the co-chair of the Horror Writers Association’s Los Angeles chapter. She also plays cello in both the Symphony of the Verdugos and the indie Spanish rock band Guerra/paz.

Dahlia De La Vega:

Dahlia De La Vega is the LA-based content creator and interviewer behind ofpagesandprint on social media. She can be found moderating book events at bookstores and festivals; hosting her monthly book club, Musings of the Nine; and chatting about her favorite reads on Instagram.