BookPeople Presents: Rachel Fikes - Keeper of Sorrows

Please welcome Rachel Fikes in conversation with Aparna Verma to celebrate Keeper of Sorrows!

This event is free and open to the public.

• Start time: 7:00 P.M.
• Run time: 45-60 minutes, followed by a signing line.
• Location: The second floor of BookPeople.

The author will be signing and personalizing copies of the book after the speaking portion of the event.

• To get a book signed, a copy of the event book or an item of equal value must be purchased from BookPeople.

Can't make the event or want to secure the exclusive pre-order swag? Pre-Order Keeper of Sorrows for a signed/personalized copy!

• Order Here
• Add your personalization request to the Order Comments (or pick it up at the event to get it signed yourself!)

Guidelines:

• Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

• If you have any other questions, please visit our Eventbrite FAQ. If your question isn't covered in the FAQ, feel free to email us at [email protected].
• All event guidelines are subject to change.
• BookPeople reserves the right to cancel or postpone this event if necessary.
• There will not be a live stream or recording available.

About the book:

On a planet stripped of wind, entire ecosystems lie in ashes, leaving humans to the mercy of the sole surviving bee species on a remote isle. Whoever wins the competition to rule the bees, rules the world.

When her sister Lenita wins the bid to become Keeper, Naokah’s jealousy razes their relationship. The induction ceremony is looming, and Naokah is faced with regret. Willing to atone at any cost, she arrives on the gloomy Isle of Bees. But Lenita is gone.

To find her, Naokah will not only have to compete against ruthless envoys, but face her debilitating fear of bees. As she braves the eerie fortress with sprawling wings of hives, malice stalks her in the darkness and visions untether her from reality. But when the envoys start disappearing and dying, it’s a race against her fraying sanity to confront the reigning Keeper - who's guarding the darkest secret of all.

About the author:

Growing up, Rachel wanted to be Sir William Wallace, James Horner, or Stephen King. Unfortunately, the U.S. Army doesn’t issue claymore swords, and she’s painfully tone deaf so that left writing – a campaign that would wage on for a quarter century, leaving Rachel bruised, bloody, and downright defeated. She’s been a soldier, maid, door-to-door bookseller, Fikes Family Farm field hand–thanks Pops!–leasing agent, baker, journalist, pageant queen/director, wiper of butt sweat (tanning salon), seller of overpriced lingerie at Victoria’s Secret, and dejected Wal-Mart cashier. Eventually, with skin thicker than chain mail, a shield of resolve, and the reckless, indefatigable hope of a warrior poet, Rachel finally fought her way into publishing. After quite the adventure, Rachel takes refuge in her hobbit hole in Austin, Texas, squirrelling away all the coffee, whisky, and plants she can get her paws on, and teaching ESL to the most amazing students in the world.

About the moderator:

Aparna Verma was born in Rajasthan, India, and grew up in the United States. She graduated from Stanford University with Honors in the Arts and a B.A. in English. In 2021, she self-published The Boy with Fire, which quickly went viral on TikTok, and was later republished by Orbit Books as The Phoenix King in 2023.
When she is not writing, Aparna likes to lift heavy (arm days are her favorite), dance to Bollywood music, and find cozy cafes to read myths from ancient worlds.

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Thank you for supporting Rachel Fikes, Aparna Verma, and your local independent bookstore!

Host or Publisher BookPeople