All events are free to attend unless otherwise stated! Please give us a call if you have any questions or concerns.
If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms or have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you please do not attend in-person events. Instead, feel free to order the book over the phone so we can have it signed for you to pick up when you're out of the woods!

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Polly Stewart in conversation with Johanna Copeland: The Felons' Ball
Friday, July 25, 6:30PM

Join us at Bards Alley for a discussion with The Good Ones author Polly Stewart for her newest release The Felons' Ball, a Southern thriller following a family whose dark secrets set in motion a chain of events with deadly consequences. She will be in conversation with Johanna Copeland, author of the suspenseful, psychological mystery Our Kind of Game.

Please register for the event via the button below or at bardsalley.eventbrite.com. Polly and Johanna will be signing copies of their books after the discussion.

About THE FELONS' BALL: In their younger years, Trey Macready and his best friend Ben Marsh were distributors and enforcers for the local distillers who made their small hamlet of Ewald, Virginia, the moonshine capital of the world. But that was years ago, and now the only tie to their criminal past is the Felons’ Ball—Trey’s annual birthday party where they regale the crowed with tales of their youthful exploits. But when Ben is found dead after Trey’s fiftieth celebration, it’s clear those connections may not be past at all.

Finding Ben’s body propels his much-younger secret lover, Natalie—Trey’s daughter—to search for Ben’s estranged son, Lanny, and to find the truth about his killing. Her quest will lead to a battle with a police department that refuses to ignore her family’s history, and to form unexpected connections with Hardy, the sheriff investigating the case, and her brother-in-law Jay, who had a very public fight with Ben on the night of his murder.

When Jay goes missing on the morning he planned to meet Natalie, she begins to wonder if her mother was right... and if the past should be left in the past.

About the author: Polly Stewart is the author of The Good Ones. She grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she still lives. Her short fiction has appeared in Best American Mystery Stories, and her nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, Good Housekeeping, and other publications. She writes the monthly Backlist column for CrimeReads.

Story Time with Korena Di Roma Howley: Sarang Saves the School
Saturday, July 26, 11:00am

Join us at Bards Alley for a kid's story time with author Korena Di Roma Howley. She will be reading her debut picture book Sarang Saves the School, a tenacious story of female empowerment and inspired by true events in South Korea.

This reading is great for kids ages 3-7 and Korena will be signing copies of her book after the event. No RSVP is required, just show up!

About SARANG SAVES THE SCHOOL: At a seaside school in a sunny fishing village, Sarang and her classmates are surrounded by empty desks. More and more families have been moving away, and, with so few students, their rural school may be forced to close. Their village may be getting smaller, but it’s still home—a place filled with love and memories. So Sarang hatches a plan. If the school needs more students to keep its doors open, why not offer local grandmothers, including her own beloved Halmeoni, the education they were denied as girls?

Can Sarang and the other students and villagers convince the reluctant grandmothers to join forces and embark on their educational journey together? Set in contemporary South Korea and inspired by real events, Sarang Saves the School is a fresh and timely take on the power of intergenerational bonds and a charming testament to taking action for causes you believe in.

About the author: Korena Di Roma Howley is a freelance journalist and editor and was a finalist for the 2022 We Need Diverse Voices Mentorship Program and the 2022 PBParty. Sarang Saves the School is her picture book debut. She lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, with her husband and son.

Barbara Carroll Roberts: The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter
Saturday, August 2, 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Join us at Bards Alley for a discussion with author Barbara Carroll Roberts (Nikki on the Line) on her new middle grade release The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter.  The book is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. It appeals to young readers and families who enjoy nature, as well as to teachers and librarians. It will also appeal to adoptive families and to every child who has ever had to attend a new school without any friends. All ages are welcome!

This book is fantastic for readers aged 9-14, and we concede it might just be the next great American novel for your classroom! Barbara will be signing copies of her books after the discussion, and some themed snacks will be offered during the event!

About THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BUNNY BAXTER: If Bunny Baxter were an insect, she’d have so many ways to slip through seventh grade unnoticed. But she’s tall instead of tiny, has flaming red Medusa hair instead of camouflage, and she suffers from social anxiety, which makes it hard to be part of a swarm. Worst of all, she’s been redistricted to a new middle school away from her best friend who she could always hide behind when her anxiety got the best of her.

The first day at E.D. Britt Middle School does not go well. Bunny decides there is only one option: to get expelled so she can transfer to the school her best friend attends.

She soon discovers that it isn’t that hard to get in trouble—don’t turn in your homework, walk around the track instead of run in P.E., pretend you deliberately hit someone with a badminton birdie. What isn’t so easy for Bunny is realizing she now has a reputation as a troublemaker. And even more confusing, when it looks like her plan to get expelled might work, she’s no longer sure what to do. The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter is a heartfelt coming of age story about an insect-loving girl who is learning to grow into herself—quirks and all.

About the author: Barbara Carroll Roberts’s debut middle grade novel, Nikki on the Line, was a finalist for two state children’s book awards and made numerous best-of-the-year lists. Her nonfiction picture book, A Rose Named Peace, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, a Texas Topaz Award winner, and received a starred review from School Library Journal. She grew up in northern California and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She has two grown children and now lives in Virginia with her husband, two cats, and one very goofy springer spaniel.

Ellen Crosby: Deeds Left Undone
@ Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Pl, Oakton
Monday, August 11, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Join us at Oakton Library for a discussion with author Ellen Crosby for her newest edition to her Virginia Wine Country mystery series, Deeds Left Undone. Trouble is fermenting in Virginia winemaker Lucie Montgomery in this warm-hearted, twisty mystery featuring small-town rivalries, buried secrets and full-bodied murder.

This event will take place at Oakton Library. Ellen will be signing copies of her book after her talk.

About DEEDS LEFT UNDONE: When a vineyard accident during harvest season leaves Lucie Montgomery without a valuable employee, it’s her worst nightmare. But before she can search for a replacement, there’s more bad news: Paul Merchant, her winery manager’s husband, is found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool.

Police rule Paul’s death an accident, but his wife insists he was murdered because of his leadership of Don’t Pave Paradise, a conservationist group lobbying to keep the region’s beautiful country roads unpaved. And six weeks ago, Paul’s predecessor also died under mysterious circumstances.

As Lucie is drawn into investigating Paul’s death, she discovers more than one motive for the crime—and more than one person in their close-knit community who wanted Paul dead. And when she finds an old photo of a beautiful local heiress who died tragically in a fire eighty years ago among Paul’s papers, she starts to wonder if the modern-day crime might have roots in the past. Either way, someone is determined to make sure Lucie, who’s agreed to continue the work of Don’t Pave Paradise, hits a dead end before she even gets started. Even if it means committing murder. Again.

About the author: Ellen Crosby is the author of 18 mystery novels: 13 in the Virginia Wine Country series, four in the Sophie Medina mysteries, and Moscow Nights, a standalone. She lives in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. and serves on the national board of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Literary Society of Washington. Previously she was a freelance feature writer for The Washington Post, Moscow correspondent for ABC News Radio, and an economist at the US Senate.

Louis Bayard in conversation with John Copenhaver: The Wildes
Friday, August 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Join us at Bards Alley for a discussion with acclaimed author Louis Bayard to celebrate the paperback release of his most recent novel The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts which brings Oscar Wilde's wife Constance to the forefront to create a vivid, poignant story of love, loss, and secrets. He will be in conversation with author and professor John Copenhaver (Hall of Mirrors).

​Please register for the event via the button below or at bardsalley.eventbrite.com. If you would like a hardcover edition of The Wildes, please call the store ahead of time at (571) 459-2653 so we can order a copy in for you. Only paperback editions will be sold during the event. Louis and John will be signing copies of their books after the discussion.

About THE WILDES: In September of 1892, Oscar Wilde and his family have retreated to the idyllic Norfolk countryside for a holiday. His wife, Constance, has every reason to be happy: two beautiful sons, her own work as an advocate for feminist causes, and a delightfully charming and affectionate husband and father to her children, who also happens to be the most sought-after author in England. But with the arrival of an unexpected houseguest, the aristocratic young poet Lord Alfred Douglas, Constance gradually—and then all at once—comes to see that her husband’s heart is elsewhere and that the growing intensity between the two men threatens the whole foundation of their lives.
 
The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts takes readers on the emotional journey of this family, moving from the Italian countryside, where Constance Wilde flees from the aftermath of Oscar’s imprisonment for homosexuality, to the trenches of World War I and an underground bar in London’s Soho, where Oscar’s sons Cyril and Vyvyan must both grapple with their father’s legacy. And in a brilliant feat of the imagination, act 5 reunites the entire cast in a surprising, poignant, and tremendously satisfying tableau.
 
With Louis Bayard’s trademark sparkling dialogue and deep insight into the lives and longings of all his characters, The Wildes could almost have been created by Oscar Wilde himself. Lightly told but with hidden depths, it is an entertaining and dramatic story about the human condition.

About the author: Louis Bayard is the critically acclaimed bestselling author of nine historical novels, including Jackie & Me and The Pale Blue Eye, which was adapted into the global #1 Netflix release starring Christian Bale. His articles, reviews, and recaps have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, and the Paris Review. His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Melinda Mullet: A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder
Thursday, August 21, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Join us at Bards Alley for a discussion with author Melinda Mullet for her newest mystery release, A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder following charming, wickedly imaginative ghostwriter Maeve who finds herself in the center of a murder investigation with more twists and turns than any story she's ever written.

Please register for the event via the button below or at bardsalley.eventbrite.com. Melinda will be signing copies of her book after her discussion.

About A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER: Maeve Gardner kills people for a living. A dodgy occupation perhaps, but as ghostwriter for the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, Maeve has planned the perfect murder time and again, and she enjoys it. She dreams of writing something under her own name someday rather than babysitting her adopted character Simon, but at least she’s writing. And as one of the burnt-out souls who’ve run away from dry land to live on London’s waterways, she has the joy of working from the home she loves: a colorful houseboat. Life on the canals is grand, but when her cheating ex-boyfriend turns up floating facedown in the water outside her boat, murdered, and the police arrest her, the plot takes a wayward turn. 

Suddenly, Maeve is thrust into one of her own crime dramas, complete with missing money, violent thugs, extortion, and conspiracy. Only this time, there is no real-life Simon Hill to come to her aid. Instead, with the help of friends from the river—India, owner of a popular floating bookshop; Paul, the exceedingly attractive landlord of the local pub; and Ash, Maeve’s quiet, nerdy neighbor who is keeping some secrets of his own—Maeve may have a shot at saving herself. As Maeve and her motley crew of would-be investigators find themselves wondering if they are in over their heads, a killer lurks and won’t hesitate to kill again…

About the author: Melinda Mullet is the author of the Whisky Business mystery series, spent many years in the legal trenches, but is now happy to be known as a former lawyer, a travel junkie, and a lifelong advocate for children's literacy causes, both domestic and international. When she is not in the UK, Melinda lives just outside Washington, DC, with her whisky-collecting husband and two wild COVID canines named Bailey and Captain Jack.

Books 'n Brews: A Boozy Book Fair with Bards ALley and Caboose
@ Caboose Tavern, 520 Mill St. NW, Vienna
Sunday, September 7, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Books 'n Brews is back, baby!

​Relive your Scholastic book fair childhood at Vienna's own Caboose Tavern for an adult book fair, with newly released fiction and nonfiction, cozy summer reads, upcoming book club selections, and more curated titles courtesy of your favorite local indie, Bards Alley!

We will be set up on Caboose's second level with tables and tables of books and fun sideline items from our shop. Browse our reads, ask for a recommendation, and settle down for some drinks and great food from Caboose. Bring your family and friends; this is one of our favorite community events of the year!

Caboose Tavern will be offering happy hour deals during the book fair, with $1 off of food, $2 off of beer, and $3 off of wine and cocktails. No RSVP required; stop in any time between 4:00pm and 6:00pm to catch us.

Alyssa Colman: WHere Only Storms Grow
Saturday, September 13, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
@ Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Pl., Oakton

Join us at Oakton Library for an interactive kid's event with local middle grade author Alyssa Colman for the release of her historical fiction, Where Only Storms Grow: A Novel About the Dust Bowl. A fantastic family story of resilience set during the under-discussed American Dust Bowl storms of the 1930s. All ages are welcome - while aimed at kids, we encourage parents, librarians, and teachers to join and learn about your next classroom/family read!

This book is great for readers aged 8-12, and for fans of the I Survived series or The War that Saved My Life. Alyssa will be discussing the novel, the setting, and more alongside some activities for the younger readers in attendance. She will be signing books after her talk. Additional information can be found on the Fairfax County Library events calendar.

About WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW: It’s been four years since rain fell on the Oklahoma panhandle and the closeness between the Stanton twins has dried up as much as the land. Howe Stanton has been practicing running away and longs for the family to quit this land of dust where only troubles grow. Despite the scoliosis that causes Joanna Stanton near-constant pain, she isn’t ready to give up like her brother. But when Daddy leaves the family behind to find work in California, saving the farm from ruin falls on Howe’s unwilling and Joanna’s uneven shoulders.

To pay the mortgage, Joanna takes a job at the local hospital and discovers purpose in helping others. Howe finds unexpected joy in caring for his father’s horse and escapes in a borrowed book.

But then a tragedy in town reveals the dust’s deadly dangers. With the worst storm of the Dust Bowl bearing down on their home, Howe and Joanna must put aside their differences and work together, or everyone and everything they love will be lost to the dust.

About the author: Alyssa Colman is the author of The Tarnished Garden and The Gilded Girl, which won the 2021 Northern Lights Book Award for middle grade fantasy. Publishers Weekly called the story “a thoughtful and imaginative exploration of friendship, internal change, and perseverance” in a starred review. Alyssa lives in northern Virginia with her family.

Suzy Shaw: Mothers of Boys Survival Guide
Thursday, September 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Join us for a talk with author Suzy Shaw on navigating parenthood with boys. She will be at Bards Alley Bookshop on September 18th at 6PM to discuss her hilarious illustrated guide on the chaos of raising sons. Suzy will share her insights and tips on navigating the joys and challenges she has faced in her parenthood journey, great for anyone in a similar situation, and a perfect opportunity to connect with other parents! This book is her way of saying, “You’re not alone, and you’re doing great — even on the days that feel impossible.”

Dive into the joyful chaos of raising sons. In Mothers of Boys Survival Guide, Suzy Shaw blends humor and wisdom, providing invaluable tips and heartfelt stories for every mom navigating the adventure. Your essential parenting companion awaits!

Copies of the book will be available for purchase during the event and Suzy will be signing copies after her talk.

About the author: Suzy Shaw is an author, digital marketing expert, and proud mother of two Gen Z boys. With roots in broadcast TV, Suzy has seamlessly pivoted into life as an "imperfect boy mom extraordinaire." Mothers of Boys Survival Guide is her first book, with her own podcast and MOB community to back it up.

Story Time with Jen Fier Jasinski: Sidewalk Chalk
​Saturday, September 27, 11:00am - 12:00pm
rain date: Saturday, October 4, 11:00am

Join us at Bards Alley for a kid's story time and outdoor activity with author Jen Fier Jasinski. She will be reading her newest picture book Sidewalk Chalk, a story following a group of neighborhood kids joining together in drawing their own unique masterpieces.

This reading is great for kids ages 3-7 and Jen will be signing copies of her book after the event. No RSVP is required, just show up!

About SIDEWALK CHALK: PLINK. PLUNK. CLATTER. CLUNK! Imaginations soar when a group of neighborhood children scritch, scribble and scrawl in a rainbow of colors, crafting lovely works of art. But one little girl watches from afar, unsure how to contribute her own colorful creations. After gathering her courage, she misses the chance to grab the last piece, until a familiar face shows her how to draw with nature's chalk - a soft piece of rock. But then raindrops begin to fall and time is cut short, causing the lovely colors to fade into memories. In the morning, a new day begins, and the girl leads the way in welcoming a new friend to this creative community.

Sidewalk Chalk combines spare text with gorgeous illustrations in a story that is bound to delight readers of all ages. Using soft, but vibrant colors, the illustrations complement themes of inclusion, friendship, and determination. It's a perfect fit for elementary art teachers, librarians, community centers, and snuggle times at home.

About the author: Jen Fier Jasinski spent much of her childhood reading books and imagining new worlds. Unwilling to let go of Story Time, she grew up to become a teacher, mother, and author. Now Jen writes stories with elements of humor, heart, and above all, play. She is the author of My Piano, Sidewalk Chalk, My Violin (2026) and Because of You, I’m a Sister (2026). When she’s not writing, Jen can be found with her spouse and kids, running, or playing outside. Her favorite days are when she gets to do all three. Her extra-favorite days include cake.

Taylor Grothe in conversation with Ivelisse Housman and Andrew Joseph White: HOLLOW
Tuesday, October 7, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Horror fans! Join us for a discussion between authors Taylor Grothe, Ivelisse Housman, and Andrew Joseph White for the release of Grothe's YA horror debut Hollow. The event will take place at at Bards Alley Bookshop on October 7 at 6PM. Copies of all of the authors' books will be available for purchase at the event, and they will be signing their respective books after their discussion.

About HOLLOW: After a meltdown in her school cafeteria prompts an unwanted autism diagnosis, Cassie Davis moves back to her hometown in upstate New York, where her mom hopes the familiarity will allow Cassie to feel normal again. Cassie’s never truly felt normal anywhere, but she does crave the ease she used to have with her old friends.

Problem is that her friends aren’t so eager to welcome her back into the fold. They extend an olive branch by inviting her on their backpacking trip to Hollow Ridge, in the upper reaches of the Adirondacks. But when a fight breaks out their first night, Cassie wakes to a barren campsite—her friends all gone.

With severe weather approaching and nearing sensory overload, Cassie is saved by a boy named Kaleb, who whisks her away to a compound of artists and outcasts he calls the Roost. As Kaleb tends to her injuries, Cassie begins to feel—for the first time in her life—that she can truly be herself. But as the days pass, strange happenings around the Roost make Cassie question her instincts. Noises in the trees grow louder, begging the question: Are the dangers in the forest, on the trail, or in the Roost itself?

About the authors:
Taylor Grothe is a neurodivergent (ASD) NB horror writer with an MFA from Fairfield University. Their work has appeared in Haven Speculative, Shortwave Magazine, Coffin Bell, and more, and an anthology published by Bag of Bones Press. Taylor acted as a special editor for the Brevity special issue Trans Experience in 2022. Hollow is their debut novel.

Ivelisse Housman is a Puerto Rican-American author and illustrator. She was diagnosed with autism at 15, which made everything make a lot more sense. When she isn't writing, she can be found making soup or tending to her houseplants. Unseelie is her debut novel, with its sequel Unending releasing in September 2025.

Andrew Joseph White is the trans, autistic, and bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, and Compound Fracture. Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, he received his MFA in creative writing from George Mason University. His adult horror debut You Weren't Meant To Be Human is releasing in September 2025.