For readers who just aren’t ready to let go of the spooky season, this month’s column highlights three local women writers whose stories take up dark mythologies, history, women’s relationships, and open graves.
The Jinn Daughter
A richly woven mother-daughter story, spiced with delicious Middle Eastern mythology, magic, and folklore, Rania Hanna’s debut novel is the story of Nadine, a Hakawati (a storyteller in Arab traditions) and Jinn, who “tells the stories of the dead” so that their souls can peacefully transition into death. Shortly after the pomegranate seeds that carry souls and their stories stop appearing, Death herself arrives to claim Nadine’s daughter, Layala, as her successor. Layala willingly takes on her new role in the underworld, but Nadine refuses this turn of events and desperately quests to bring her daughter back to life, even sacrificing loved ones and challenging Mother Earth herself. A tale of a mother’s love and her desire to save her child. Featuring fierce female characters, exquisite worldbuilding, and the complexities of women’s familial relationships, this novel will appeal to fans of dark, folklore-inspired fantasy.
To purchase The Jinn Daughter see: https://auress.com/author/rania-hanna
Rebecca of Ivanhoe
For anyone who has wondered what became of the woman saved from the witch-pyre in Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe, Alison Bass provides an answer in her newest release. Bass reimagines Rebecca and 12th century Europe, as Rebecca’s family flees England for the vibrant Jewish quarter of Toledo, Spain. There, under the intellectually and religiously tolerant, Alfonso the VIII, King of Castille and Leon, Rebecca’s abilities as a healer capture the attentions of La Fermosa, the king’s exquisite Jewish mistress, Rachel of Esra. As Rebecca treats Rachel’s infertility, the two women become friends. Doors to a new world fling open for Rebecca—as the story unfolds Rebecca entertains a dashing suitor, builds a thriving business, and finds recognition for her family. Meanwhile, conflict between the Moors and the Christians keep tensions high and pages turning. For readers craving a slice of medieval history, Bink Books releases Rebecca of Ivanhoe on November 19th—just in time for holiday gifting.
More about Alison Bass, a long-time medical and science writer for The Boston Globe, at: https://alison-bass.com
photo:Cait Brady
Graveyard Shift: A Novella
If the only place to smoke in a college town is an abandoned graveyard, what is the ragged bunch of midnight smokers who often congregate there—calling themselves the “Anchorites,” no less—to do when they stumble upon a mysterious, open grave? This atmospheric novella stars a cadre of sharp-witted characters who dance with each other’s idiosyncrasies through a series of plot twists as an engrossing story unfolds. Fans of Rio’s bestselling If We Were Villains will enjoy this eerie page-turner, for the incisive characterizations, stylized dialog, and mystery.
More about M.L. Rio: https://mlrio.com
November Events for Book Lovers
MidnightRose: A Reading Series of
Poetry & Prose
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 2pm to 4pm
Tenley Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave NW
An evening of poetry and prose, with writers Kenneth Carroll, Sasa Aakil, and Elizabeth Bruce. Midnight Rose showcases award winning DC-Area poets and writers, highlighting the richness of DC’s multigenerational, multicultural literary community. To pre-, please visit: www.estherproductionsinc.com
Queer Indie Author & Vendor Market
Saturday, November 16th, 2pm to 6pm
Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery
& Taproom, 2052 West Virginia Ave NE
LGBTQ+ authors, artists, and vendors at this showcase, promising Queer stories, art, literature, crafts, artists, healers, vendors, creativity, diversity, and inclusivity.
Hosted by Healing Stories, Animal Party Kiki Books, LLC & ThirdEye Editing, LLC
The Inner Loop November Reading
Tuesday, November 19th, 7:30pm
Sonny’s Pizza, 3120 Georgia Ave NW
This month’s reading features A. B. Spellman and nine local writers, including Luke Sutherland. Inner Loop seeks to “create an inclusive writing community in DC.” Readings are open to bookworms, new writers, and all fans of story. For more about Inner Loop’s creative writing community: theinnerlooplit.org
Michelle La is Associate Professor of English at George Mason University. Writers of all experience levels are invited to her at the Hill Center in November for two writing classes, Writing DC and Writing Your Life. Classes provide a ive, fun afternoon of writing practice and neighborhood connection. See the programming calendar at hillcenterdc.org for more details or check out Michelle’s site: writinglostriver.org.
