Marlon James, the Booker winner behind A Brief History of Seven Killings, brings The Disappearers, his Booker-shortlisted novel about eight gay men rehearsing a play in 1988 Kingston, to a free talk with Calabash Literary Festival co-founder Colin Channer. Books are on sale with a signing afterward, then Christopher Udemezue closes the night with a DJ set toasting queer Jamaica. If one literary event is on your list this weekend, make it this one.
What to expect
The talk runs as an onstage conversation between James and Channer, followed by a line for signed copies. Once the signing wraps, the room shifts into a celebration with a DJ set and musical performance by Christopher Udemezue, aka Neon Christina.
Good to know
- RSVP is free but an author of this profile can fill a room, so arrive early for a seat.
- Copies of the novel are sold on site for the signing.
- The talk sits inside Second Sundays, so you can explore open studios beforehand.
- Red Hook is off the subway grid; plan on the NYC Ferry, the B61 bus or a bike.
- The novel deals with homophobic violence, which may come up in conversation.
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Common questions
Do I need a ticket?
Pioneer Works lists the talk as free with RSVP.
Will Marlon James sign books?
Yes, a signing follows the conversation, and books are available for sale.
Who is Colin Channer?
A Jamaican-born writer, Brown University professor and co-founder of the Calabash Literary Festival.
