John Vercher Author Talk and Book Signing

Ticket choices include free general entry, or you have the option to pre pay for a hardcover copy of Devil is Fine that you can get signed by John after the event.

From acclaimed novelist John Vercher, a profoundly moving novel of what it means to be a father, a son, a writer, and a biracial American fighting to reconcile the past.

Reeling from the sudden death of his teenage son, our narrator receives a letter from an attorney: he has just inherited a plot of land from his estranged grandfather. He travels to a beach town several hours south of his home with the intention of immediately selling the land. But upon inspection, what lies beneath the dirt is much more than he can process in the throes of grief. As a biracial Black man struggling with the many facets of his identity, he’s now the owner of a former plantation, passed down by the men on his white mother’s side.
Vercher deftly blurs the lines between real and imagined, past and present, tragedy and humor, and fathers and sons in this story of discovery—and a fight for reclamation–of a painful past. With the wit of Paul Beatty’s The Sellout and the nuance of Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, Devil Is Fine is a darkly funny and brilliantly-crafted dissection of the legacies we leave behind, and those we inherit.

John will be in conversation with esteemed author Maurice Carlos Ruffin - author of The American Daughters, and The One's Who Don't Say They Love You.

In addition to the ticket purchase for our author talk event, we are humbly requesting donations to help cover the associated expenses. While the ticket price covers the cost of the book and minor administrative fees, hosting author talks incurs significant operational costs. Your generous donations will enable us to continue bringing you some of the most prominent authors in the country and provide enriching literary experiences for our community. With your support, we can ensure the sustainability of these impactful events and continue to foster a vibrant literary culture.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

1030 Elysian Fields Ave, 1030 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, United States