Book Reading with Q & A
Schedule
Mon, 30 Mar, 2026 at 06:30 pm
UTC-05:00Location
12321 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA, United States, Iowa 50323 | Urbandale, IA
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Dreams Are For The Dead is a raw, honest and deeply personal memoir by Author S. Elias W Sharp about surviving childhood abuse and finding a way out of addiction. Told with unflinching clarity and emotional truth, this book traces the author's journey through trauma, self-destruction, and ultimately, healing.This is a book about survival. With vivid scenes, painful memories, and moments of unexpected grace, Sharp invites readers into the silence he carried for years- and the words he finally found to break it. For anyone who's lived through darkness and wondered if change was possible, Dreams Are For The Dead is a powerful reminder: even the most damaged stories can still be told-and still be redeemed.
Born and raised in the American South, Sharp's story unfolds in a world where silence was survival, and shame was stitched into the seams of everyday life. Through the pain of abuse and the isolating weight in a place that demanded conformity, Sharp learned early to disappear. What followed was a long descent into self-destruction: addiction, broken relationships, and the quiet belief that his life simply didn't matter.
Through shattered moments and unexpected mercies, something began to shift. This memoir traces that transformation not as a clean arc, but as a series of raw, staggering steps. Sharp does not flinch. He does not sugarcoat. Instead, he brings the reader into every dark corner. What emerges is a story both harrowing and holy, filled with brutal truths and the radical act of choosing to speak them aloud.
Hosted at Walnut Hills United Methodist Church, and sponsored by the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus & Walnut Hills UMC, join us for an evening of storytelling, reflection, and conversation as Elias shares selections from his memoir, Dreams Are For The Dead.
Following the reading, guests are invited to participate in an open Q&A conversation; an opportunity to engage directly with the author about the writing process, lived experience, and the deeper themes behind the work.
Books will be available for purchase, and the author will be signing copies after the program.
RSVP for the event online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIc0jl2Y1Lv43yZAGEd5HPLP6o65BvNUDt7UAqVJZX1U-qlg/viewform?usp=publish-editor
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Where is it happening?
12321 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA, United States, Iowa 50323Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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