Laura Dickerman in conversation with Mara Davis | Hot Desk

Name: Laura Dickerman in conversation with Mara Davis | Hot Desk
Start: 2025-09-05T19:00:00-04:00
Location: A Cappella Books

Schedule

Fri, 05 Sep, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

A Cappella Books | Atlanta, GA

"Younger" meets "Writers & Lovers" in this rollicking, sparkling, and funny novel that spans decades and generations of a family in the publishing industry.
A Cappella Books is delighted to welcome Atlanta author Laura Dickerman to Manuel’s Tavern to celebrate her debut novel, “Hot Desk.” Dickerman will appear in conversation with local media personality Mara Davis.
This event is free and open to the public. Copies of “Hot Desk” will be available for purchase.
About the Book
In the post-pandemic publishing industry, two rival editors are forced to share a “hot desk” on different days of the week, much to their chagrin. Having never set eyes on each other, Rebecca Blume and Ben Heath begin leaving passive-aggressive Post-it notes on the pot of their shared cactus. But when revered literary legend Edward David Adams (known as “the Lion”) dies, leaving his estate up for grabs, their banter escalates as both work feverishly to land this career-making opportunity. Their fierce rivalry ultimately forces each to decide how far they’ll go to get ahead, what role they want to play in the Lion’s legacy, and what they mean to each other.
As their battle for the estate gets more heated, Rebecca learns of a connection between her mother, Jane, and the Lion. The story travels back four decades earlier to when Jane arrives in Manhattan and meets Rose, soon her best friend. Jane and Rose are two strong, talented young women trying to make their mark in the publishing world at a time when art, the written word, and creative expression were at their height. But one fateful day during the April blizzard of 1982 will change the course of Jane’s life, and of their friendship, forever…
About the Author
Laura Dickerman has an MA in fiction from NYU and an MA in English from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. She has taught high school English at the Hopkins School, the Collegiate School, and Germantown Friends. She was an intern at The Paris Review many, many years ago. At her lowest point, she spent a month temping for her youngest brother who was critical of her photocopying skills. She’s been a book club leader, tutor, and recipient of an NEH grant. She lives in Atlanta with her husband. They have two grown daughters. "Hot Desk" is her first novel.
About the Conversation Partner
Mara Davis is an Atlanta-based talent booker, producer, writer, and former radio and TV host whose career has spanned music, media, and live events. Known for her quick wit, deep network of connections, and instinct for great conversation, she’s spent decades engaging audiences on air and on stage—and now works behind the scenes to help others do the same.
Davis enjoyed a successful first act as a longtime Atlanta-based FM radio DJ, TV host, emcee and gal about town. With an overstuffed "contact list" and desire for a career recharge, Davis took a leap of faith… In 2016, a friend suggested she apply for the talent booker job at Adult Swim because "you know everyone", the trajectory of her career changed. The network was looking for someone to help secure guests for their live streaming shows. Davis was hired on the spot.
She knows talent because she was the talent. Mara is the perfect partner for producers, publicists and podcasters looking for entertainment and celebrity talent.
Her passion for music flows through her work with the National Recording Academy where she serves as Secretary on the board of the Grammy Chapter in Atlanta. She is a moderator and emcee for events locally and nationally. Her love of podcasts earned her a contributor spot at Paste Magazine where she writes a round up column of the best shows. Philanthropy is a passion as donates her time to organizations including the Atlanta Humane Society, Helping Mama's and The Homeless Period Project. She is an avid social media, news, and pop culture enthusiast. Staying in the loop is the best way to find the next big talent.