Busboys and Poets Books Presents THE BALLAD OF PERILOUS GRAVES
Date and Time
Aug 3, 2022 6:00 pm
Location
Columbia
6251 Mango Tree Rd, Columbia, Maryland, 21044
Aug 3, 2022 6:00 pm
Columbia
ABOUT THE BOOK
Nola is a city full of wonders. A place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women help keep the order. To those from Away, Nola might seem strange. To Perilous Graves, it’s simply home.
In a world of everyday miracles, Perry might not have a talent for magic, but he does know Nola’s rhythm as intimately as his own heartbeat. So when the city’s Great Magician starts appearing in odd places and essential songs are forgotten, Perry realizes trouble is afoot.
Nine songs of power have escaped from the piano that maintains the city’s beat, and without them, Nola will fail. Unwilling to watch his home be destroyed, Perry will sacrifice everything to save it. But a storm is brewing, and the Haint of All Haints is awake. Nola’s time might be coming to an end.
Music is magic in this vibrant and imaginative debut novel from Alex Jennings. Set in a fantastical version of New Orleans, a battle for the city's soul brews between two young mages, a vengeful wraith, and one powerful song.
Praise for The Ballad of Perilous Graves
"Funny, wild, witty, and profound. The Ballad of Perilous Graves is the debut of a cosmic storm of talent.”―Victor LaValle
"A beautiful song full of magic and rhythm, darkness and delight.” — Christina Henry
"A hallucinatory wonder of a debut. Brimming with language and music, this phantasmagoric novel taps the deep root of multi-cultural, multi-racial life in, and beyond, New Orleans." ―Walter Mosley
"Vital and appealing, vibrant and propulsive!" — Kelly Link
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of THE BALLAD OF PERILOUS GRAVES will be available for purchase after the event, and there will be a signing. Full dinner service is available throughout the show. Please note that this event will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books. Proof of RSVP may be requested on arrival if capacity is reached.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Jennings is a teacher, author, and performer living in New Orleans. His writing has appeared in strangehorizons.com, podcastle, The Peauxdunque Review, Obsidian Lit, the Locus Award-winning Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia Butler, and in numerous anthologies.
His debut collection, Here I Come and Other Stories was released in 2012. He also serves as MC and co-producer of Dogfish, a monthly literary readings series. He is a graduate of Clarion West (2003) and the University of New Orleans. He was born in Wiesbaden (Germany) and raised in Gaborone (Botswana), Paramaribo (Surinam), and Tunis (Tunisia) as well as the United States. He is an afternoon person.
