Join the Georgia Center for the Book for an evening with Sadeqa Johnson, celebrating the paperback release of The House of Eve. “A triumph of historical fiction” (The Washington Post), an instant New York Times bestseller, and a Reese’s Book Club pick, this novel is set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, and explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal. She'll be in conversation with Nicki Salcedo. Free registration is requested, but not required.

About the Book:

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

About the Author:

Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the MFA program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, Virginia with her husband and three teens.

About the Moderator:

Nicki Salcedo is an Atlanta native with a degree in English and Creative Writing from Stanford University. She is the author of All Beautiful Things and three books of essays. Her writing career has led her to opportunities on stage, podcasts, and the radio. She teaches creative writing across the country including the writing certificate program at Emory University Continuing Education. She is a freelance writer, movie reviewer, and journalist. She is also a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and sought after speaker on the topics of wellbeing, mindfulness, self-care, creativity, DEI, and building company culture. Nicki lives in Atlanta with her family and cats. She loves connecting with writers, readers, people who care about each other.