An Evening with Ashton Lattimore
About this Event
An Evening with Ashton Lattimore: Celebrating RUNNER
Join Da Book Joint for a special evening with award-winning author Ashton Lattimore as we celebrate the release of her highly anticipated new novel, RUNNER. Ashton will be joined in conversation by literary content creator and book champion Helena James (@lenabythebook) for an engaging discussion about historical fiction, Black history, family legacy, ambition, and the stories that shape us.
Event Details
Saturday, August 1st 2026
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Da Book Joint
6900 S. Stony Island Avenue
Chicago, IL
Tickets include a signed copy of the book as well as light refreshments.
About RUNNER
Set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era Martha's Vineyard, RUNNER is a gripping and emotionally rich novel about family, survival, and the pursuit of freedom.
In 1923, Lena Jameson's world is shattered when her father, Earl — a fisherman turned successful rumrunner — and his crew perish in a mysterious shipwreck. With her family's financial future in jeopardy and her dreams of attending college slipping away, Lena makes a daring choice: she'll take over her father's rum-running operation herself.
Joined by her troubled brother Walter, her loyal boyfriend Sam, and the captivating Dee, a young woman from Boston with secrets of her own, Lena embarks on a journey that takes her from the shores of Martha's Vineyard to the gangland streets of Boston and the vibrant jazz clubs of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance.
As Lena searches for the truth behind her father's death, she finds herself drawn deeper into a glittering yet dangerous underworld where every choice carries a cost. With buried secrets surfacing and loyalties tested, Lena must decide how much she's willing to risk for the future she wants.
Perfect for readers who love richly researched historical fiction, unforgettable heroines, and stories that illuminate hidden corners of Black history.
About Ashton Lattimore
Ashton Lattimore is an award-winning author, journalist, and former lawyer. RUNNER is her second novel. Her debut novel, ALL WE WERE PROMISED, was a Book of the Month Club selection, a Washington Post and NPR Best Book of 2024, one of PEOPLE Magazine's Best New Books of April 2024, and winner of the First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
By day, Ashton serves as Executive Editor of The Preamble and Chair of the Board of Directors for the nonprofit news outlet Prism. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Slate, CNN, Essence, and numerous other publications. She is a native of New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and two sons.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of today's most exciting voices in historical fiction and celebrate the release of a novel already generating buzz among readers nationwide.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 38.79
