Finding Family in Speculative Fiction

Saturday, November 8, 2025
2:30pm, Veterans Gallery (located upstairs from the Book Fair)

★ This event is ASL interpreted!

Two lauded masters in their respective fiction genres have just published “debut novels” of a sort: William Alexander, the National Book Award–winning writer of children’s books, presents his first science fiction novel for adults, a cozy space opera set in the far future called Sunward. Amber Sparks, renowned for her mastery of the weird short story over four previous books, presents her long-awaited first novel, the darkly funny gothic tale Happy People Don’t Live Here. Be ready for mind-bending thoughts as these genre-bending authors take the TCBF stage together!

About the Authors

William Alexander writes unrealisms for readers of all ages. His work has won the National Book Award, the Eleanor Cameron Award, the Librarian Favorites Award, the Teacher Favorites Award, two CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year Awards, and two Junior Library Guild Selections. As a small child he honestly thought that his Cuban American family came from the lost island of Atlantis. Visit him at willalex.net.

Amber Sparks is the author of the short story collections And I Do Not Forgive You and The Unfinished World. Happy People Don’t Live Here is her first novel. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, Slate, and elsewhere. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, daughter, and cats.  Visit her at ambernoellesparks.com.