Schneider K. Rancy: Beyond the Baths of Stars w/ Julia Kornberg
See Event Guidelines Below A dazzling literary debut that reimagines The Odyssey and asks what power do we have to control our own fate when destiny feels pre-determined and the systems of the world are broken? Eurick Ulysse is irrevocably trapped: by poverty, by class, and by his immigrant parents’ expectations.
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Disillusioned by dead-end jobs, unaffordable college aspirations, and the doldrums of his South Florida hood, he resolves to piss his life away getting drunk with his friends on the beach. But the night Eurick drags a delirious and half-drowned Ana María Cortez out of the sea, everything changes. Carefree, unconventional, and well-to-do, Ana comes from another world. She invites Eurick and his friends out on a wild joyride through the Miami streets, a night replete with casino runs, boat thefts, and strange surreal encounters. Soon, Eurick finds himself rebelling against every constraint that’s ever held him back. It isn’t long before he realizes just how trapped he is, growing more and more desperate to do whatever it takes to escape. Will one night of freedom allow Eurick to see another kind of life for himself? Or will it show him a future that remains forever out of reach? Schneider K. Rancy is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer born to Haitian immigrants in South Florida. He is a graduate of Columbia University, where he earned a BA in English and Comparative Literature and Biology. His poetry has been published in Apogee, The Adirondack Review, The Seventh Wave, Moko Magazine, and elsewhere. His debut full-length poetry collection, Dreams of Diaspora, received praise from National Book Award Finalist Desiree C. Bailey. He is also the author of a poetry chapbook, Self-Portrait in Hospital as Camus. In his spare time, he is a surgical resident in Manhattan. Visit his website www.skrancy.com. Julia Kornberg is a writer from Argentina based in New York City. She is the author of Berlin Atomized (2024) and The Parties (forthcoming). Event guidelines: Each ticket includes either a copy of the featured book or a $10 Books Are Magic gift card. Additional copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. A signing will follow the talk. The conversation will be livestreamed for free online here. As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event, even if you have a ticket; email us and we'll work it out. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request accessibility accommodations, please contact eventhelp@booksaremagic.net.