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Children of the Wolf: An Evening with Abby Geni
Past event
Featured Book
Children of the Wolf
“A riveting mystery entwined with the rich story of a woman coming into her own while battling the wildest of demons. Whip-smart, unique, and chilling—I loved it.”—GILLIAN FLYNN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
A woman notices a pattern of men disappearing in her small town, reawakening memories of her childhood raised by a father obsessed with his violent Viking heritage.
As an adult, Liv leads a quiet life, tending to the beekeeping business that supports her and her brother. But when a dead body is discovered in her town, she is forced to grapple with a legacy of violence from when she was small.
As a child, she shared a home in rural Iowa with her brother Finn and their father Ulf. Swedish-born Ulf, a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red, raises his children as if they are Vikings. They are homeschooled, speak only Swedish, learn swordplay and archery, celebrate the Norse holidays, and worship the old gods with blood sacrifices.
But when Liv is fourteen, her family’s sanctum is broken apart by an FBI raid. Separated from their father, Liv and Finn must learn to adapt to normal life.
Now, twenty years later, Liv and Finn have changed their last names and moved to Haven, Michigan. Through her work as a beekeeper, Liv meets Penny, a secretive, unusual, beguiling woman. Just as her life is beginning to open up in new ways, Liv notices a strange and upsetting pattern in the area around Haven: men are disappearing. As she tallies up the missing, she senses disturbing similarities to her own father’s crimes.
While she's thrown back into the uncertainty she felt after Ulf's arrest, Liv, struggling to hold on to what she knows to be true, must decide how to proceed: whether to involve Finn and Penny in her suspicions, leave the whole matter alone, or take action to solve—and stop—the same kind of violence she always hoped to escape.
This book will be available for purchase at the event.
About This Event
The Book Stall welcomes award-winning author Abby Geni to the store for a discussion featuring her new book, Children of the Wolf, in partnership with Off Campus Writers' Workshop and Kelly Q Anderson. A woman notices a pattern of men disappearing in her small town, reawakening memories of her childhood raised by a father obsessed with his violent Viking heritage. Amanda Peters, author of The Berry Pickers, says, “Abby Geni’s writing is evocative, the story is unique, and the ethical dilemma played out in the book will linger long after the last page. A truly great read!”Abby Geni is a novelist and short story writer living in Evanston. She is the author of The Body Farm, longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the Story Prize; The Wildlands, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; The Lightkeepers, winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Award and the Chicago Review of Books Awards; and The Last Animal, a finalist for the Orion Book Award. Her short stories and essays have appeared in dozens of literary publications, including Best American Mystery and Suspense, The Missouri Review, Epoch, Ninth Letter, and New Stories from the Midwest. Geni is a faculty member at StoryStudio Chicago and a recipient of the Iowa Fellowship.Now celebrating its 80th anniversary season, Off Campus Writers' Workshop serves a global community of writers in all genres from our metropolitan Chicago home. Kelly Q. Anderson is an award-winning writer whose work has been anthologized, performed on stage, adapted for film, and installed for public art. She consults, teaches, and leads workshops on captivating storytelling, both in-person and online. She is a board member, the Director of Promotions, and former President of Off Campus Writers' Workshop, a global writing community with over 500+ members (learn more at OCWW.info).
Featured Author
Abby Geni
Abby Geni is a novelist and short story writer. Children of the Wolf, her most recent novel, is forthcoming in September of 2026. She is the author of The Body Farm, longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the Story Prize; The Wildlands, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; The Lightkeepers, winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Award and the Chicago Review of Books Awards; and The Last Animal, a finalist for the Orion Book Award. Her short stories and essays have appeared in dozens of literary publications, including Best American Mystery and Suspense, The Missouri Review, Epoch, Ninth Letter, and New Stories from the Midwest. Geni is a faculty member at StoryStudio Chicago and a recipient of the Iowa Fellowship.
In Conversation With
Kelly Q. Anderson
Kelly Q. Anderson is an award-winning writer whose work has been anthologized, performed on stage, adapted for film, and installed for public art. She consults, teaches, and leads workshops on captivating storytelling, both in-person and online. She is a board member, the Director of Promotions, and former President of Off Campus Writers' Workshop, a global writing community with over 500+ members (learn more at OCWW.info).
About the Venue
The Book Stall
At The Book Stall, you get great reviews, sage advice/recommendations, and a personalized service for all ages and interests. If You love books, look no further than an indie store!
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