Charlie J. Stephens will read from their debut novel in the Griffin Bay Bookstore Café.

"In 1980’s Oregon, Smokey is trying to survive childhood with a young mom who is increasingly desperate in her search for love. As their mother’s boyfriends come and go, Smokey aches for the safety their mother can never quite provide. When a dangerous new man moves into the house, Smokey seeks refuge in the nearby forests– finding comfort as they give themselves over to the strength and beauty of the natural world."

Charlie J. Stephens is a queer, non- binary, mixed-race writer from the Pacific Northwest, on tour from Southern Oregon.