Scott Guild will read from PLASTIC, a novel both realistic and hyperreal, about a plastic figurine named Erin who sells Smartbodies: wearable tech that immerses her fellow figurines in a virtual world, a refuge from real life’s brutal wars and eco-terrorist insurgency. “A world constructed from strange and wondrous materials,” according to National Book Award-winning Charles Yu (INTERIOR CHINATOWN). “A world that is deeply strange and deeply familiar, with language to match—funny, broken, sad and beautiful. Evocative and highly original, Plastic is a captivating debut.”

Rachel Cochran’s novel THE GULF, set in Gulf Coast Texas in 1970 in the aftermath of a major hurricane, tells the story of Louisa “Lou” Ward, who feels torn: should she cling to her dying hometown of Parson, or leave and build a future with her girlfriend, Heather? To make matters worse, Lou can’t stop obsessing about the death of her close friend and mother figure, Kate, who died under mysterious circumstances. Publishers Weekly declared THE GULF a “triumphant debut” and gave it a starred review. “Cochran perfectly paces her reveals, keeping readers guessing about who’s hiding secrets and why. Bolstered by true-to-life characterizations and superior prose, this character-driven Southern gothic will enthrall…”