TJ Klune with Milo Michels — 'We Burned So Bright'
Schedule
Mon, 04 May, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA, United States, Washington 98155 | Lake Forest Park, WA
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Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?Third Place Books welcomes bestselling author TJ Klune back to the stage at our Lake Forest Park location for a conversation about his new standalone novel We Burned So Bright—a story following a long-married gay couple crossing the country on a last-hurrah road trip before a rogue black hole swallows the earth. Third Place Books assistant events manager Milo Michels joins in conversation.
What you need to know:
All tickets come with a copy of We Burned So Bright. Books will be distributed at the event and cannot be picked up in advance.
Tickets must be purchased through Eventbrite. Pre-ordering the book will NOT grant you access to the event.
If you purchase a ticket but are unable to attend the event, your book will be placed on hold at our Lake Forest Park store. You may request to have your book transferred to our Ravenna or Seward Park neighborhood stores.
Copies of We Burned So Bright and other books by TJ Klune will be available for purchase at the store. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book in advance!
About We Burned So Bright. . .
A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an elder gay couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.
The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.
Now, the world is ending for real. A rogue black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.
Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.
On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?
Praise for We Burned So Bright. . .
"Klune’s heart-wrenching plot and emotional prose are on full display in this wonderful queer apocalyptic story."
—Library Journal, starred review
"This is classic Klune, a warm and cozy story even in the face of overwhelming grief, with complex family dynamics at the heart of it...readers can't get enough of Klune's brand of emotionally satisfying storytelling."
—Booklist
TJ Klune is the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, the Green Creek series for adults, the Extraordinaries series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
Milo Michels is the Assistant Events Manager at Third Place Books. They like hot drinks and weird books. (Photo credit: Sydney Straschnov)
Want a signed edition of the featured book, but can't make it to the event? Order through our website or over the phone, and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout. Please call the hosting store if you're placing your order within 24 hours of the event.
For media or accessibility inquiries, please email [email protected] or call our Lake Forest Park store at (206) 366-3311.
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Where is it happening?
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA, United States, Washington 98155Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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