Author Talk: Emily Austin "Is This a Cry for Help?"

Join Tomorrow Bookstore for an author conversation with Emily Austin on her upcoming book, Is This a Cry for Help? with Tomorrow's own store manager, Bee Burris, moderating the conversation!

This event will be held at The Indianapolis Propylaeum and books will be available to purchase with a ticket ahead of time or at the event. There will be an opportunity to meet the author and for book signing at the end of the event.

About Is This a Cry for Help?

Emily Austin, the bestselling “queen of darkly quirky, endearingly flawed heroines” (Sarah Haywood, author of The Cactus), returns with a luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.

Darcy’s life turned out better than she could have ever imagined. She is a librarian at the local branch, while her wife Joy runs a book binding service. Between the two of them, there is no more room on their shelves with their ample book collections, various knickknacks and bobbles, and dried bouquets. Rounding out their ideal life is two cats and a sun-soaked house by the lake.

But when Darcy receives the news that her ex-boyfriend, Ben, has passed away, she spirals into a pit of guilt and regret, resulting in a mental breakdown and medical leave from the library. When she returns to work, she is met by unrest in her community, and protests surrounding intellectual freedom, resulting in a call for book bans and a second look at the branch’s upcoming DEI programs.

Through the support of her community, colleagues, and the personal growth that results from examining her previous relationships, Darcy comes into her own agency and the truest version of herself. Is This a Cry for Help? not only offers a moving portrait of queer life after coming of age but also powerfully explores questions about sexuality, community, and the importance of libraries.

About Emily Austin:

Emily Austin is the author of We Could Be Rats, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, Interesting Facts About Space, and the poetry collection Gay Girl Prayers. She was born in Ontario, Canada, and received two writing grants from the Canadian Council for the Arts. She studied English literature and library science at Western University. She currently lives in Ottawa, in the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.

About Bee Burris:

Bee Burris is the store manager at Tomorrow Bookstore by day and a photographer by golden hour, proving she can curate both a bookshelf and a vibe. Her favorite genre is any book that perfectly intersects the saddest thing you've ever read with joy and heart. She’s here for sharp writing, soft lighting, and all things unapologetically queer. Off the clock you can find her watching cooking shows with her wife, spoiling her dogs, and enjoying some high-quality gossip with her friends. She's always ready to hear a good story, both real and fictional.

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