Book Signing & Panel with Tamika Thompson | The Curse of Hester Gardens

Strange things are happening in Hester Gardens… and nothing stays buried forever.

Join Da Book Joint for an unforgettable afternoon of horror, suspense, and powerful storytelling as we welcome acclaimed author Tamika Thompson for a special book signing and panel discussion celebrating her latest novel, The Curse of Hester Gardens.

Set in an economically divided community where faith and survival collide, The Curse of Hester Gardens follows Nona, a mother fighting to protect her sons from the dangers that have already taken so much from her. But when unsettling and unexplainable events begin to unfold — phantom encounters, eerie disturbances, and a growing sense that something is watching — Nona must confront the truth: some actions come with consequences that refuse to be forgotten.

This gripping story blends horror, family, faith, and survival into a narrative that will stay with you long after the final page.

✨ In Conversation With:

• LP Kindred — Ignyte-nominated writer, editor, and co-founder of Voodoonauts
• Alex Jennings — Award-winning speculative fiction author of The Ballad of Perilous Graves
• Tara Betts — Poet, professor, and author of Refuse to Disappear

Together, they’ll explore the intersections of horror, speculative fiction, Black identity, and storytelling in a conversation you won’t want to miss.

• A signed copy of The Curse of Hester Gardens
• Access to the live panel discussion
• The opportunity to meet the author
• A curated literary experience at Da Book Joint

📅 Sunday, May 17th
⏰ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Da Book Joint at Pen & Paper
6900 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago

Tickets: $30
(Includes signed book + event entry)

Tamika Thompson is a writer of speculative fiction whose work explores the boundaries of horror, identity, and the supernatural. A former journalist and producer, she is the author of Unshod, Cackling, and Naked, winner of the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Horror, as well as Salamander Justice. Her writing has appeared in numerous anthologies and publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Prairie Schooner, and Interzone.

She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she hosts her blog and newsletter, Tamika Talks Terror.

If you love horror, speculative fiction, and stories that explore the deeper layers of community, consequence, and survival — this event is for you.

Seats are limited. Secure your ticket today and step into the world of The Curse of Hester Gardens… if you dare.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Da Book Joint, 6900 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, United States

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