Booksmith is thrilled to host Eirinie Carson for the launch of her phenomenal debut, The Dead Are Gods. She'll be in conversation with Savala Nolan, author of Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender, and the Body. Please save the date and join us!

About the book

After an unexpected phone call on an early morning in 2018, writer and model Eirinie Carson learned of her best friend Larissa’s death. In the wake of her shock, Eirinie attempts to make sense of the events leading up to Larissa’s death and uncovers startling secrets about her life in the process. 

The Dead Are Gods is Eirinie’s striking, intimate, and profoundly moving depiction of life after a sudden loss. Amid navigating moments of intense grief, Eirinie is overwhelmed by her love for Larissa. She finds power in pulling moments of joy from the depths of her emotion. Eirinie’s portrayal of what love feels like after death bursts from the page alongside a timely, honest, and personal exploration of Black love and Black life.

Perhaps, Eirinie proposes, “The only way out is through.”

About the authors

Eirinie Carson is a Black British writer, born to a Jamaican father and Scottish mother and raised in South East London. Her work is published in the Sonora Review and she is a frequent contributor to Mother magazine. A member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto, Eirinie writes about motherhood, grief, and relationships. Eirinie lives in Northern California with her musician husband and their one dog and two daughters. The Dead are Gods is her first book. Author photo by Kirby Stenger.

Savala Nolan is the author of the critically acclaimed Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race Gender and the Body (Simon & Schuster).  Her writing has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times Book Review, NPR, Time, Harper’s Magazine, and more. She holds a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, where she lectures on identity and law and directs the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice. Her second essay collection, Good Woman, is forthcoming from HarperCollins. Author photo by Andria Lo.

Please note:

• Masks will be required throughout the duration of the event and capacity will be limited to allow indoor distancing. Protocols subject to change.
• Because we’re limiting capacity, we can't guarantee we'll have space for walk-ins. The best way to ensure you’ll get a seat is to order the Book + Seat ticket through this link; you can also RSVP for a free seat right here while supplies last.
• We are happy to offer *signed copies* of The Dead Are Gods: order a Book + Seat ticket bundle if you'd like to pick up a signed copy at the event, or order here if you just want a signed copy.
• Order copies of Don't Let It Get You Down by Savala Nolan here.
• If we feel it is not safe to gather, as the event gets closer, we will pivot to a virtual event and your registration will remain valid.
• Questions? Write [email protected].