A sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people. Venture onto the high seas with the thrilling latest from the New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia.

Grace O’Malley was born to be a sea captain. But despite her natural skill on the water, Grace learns early that her dreams of a life at the helm are not compatible with the expectations of her noble family. As the only daughter of a powerful chieftain, her role is to secure a strong alliance and bear children. But when she’s sent to foster with a nearby clan, Grace falls for a clever and open-minded second son—a man she cannot have.

Married off against her will to a brutal warrior, Grace performs her duty, all the while gathering followers loyal to her, and consolidating her husband’s power, only to be ousted from his lands. But this betrayal offers Grace the opportunity to return to sea, finally leading clan O’Malley’s mighty fleet. Just as she finds true independence, Queen Elizabeth’s incursions into Ireland grow bolder and Grace must fight to defend her land, her ships, and the people she loves most against the cruel and power-hungry English deputies, who will stop at nothing to check her power.

Keenly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon’s new action-packed novel channels the untamed beauty and harsh realities of sixteenth-century Ireland, as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine who rightly became “the Pirate Queen of Ireland.”

ARIEL LAWHON is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have been Good Morning America, LibraryReads, and One Book One County selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

Event Details

Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music, and the conversation begins at 7 p.m. This event includes a Q&A session and an author signing immediately following in the lobby.

Please note: This event takes place at Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center, not the City Opera House. No additional venue transaction fees apply.

Tickets

Ticket + Book: $44
Admits one person to the live event and each ticket comes with one signed copy of Ariel Lawhon's The Pirate Queen (retail value $32). Please note: signed books are only available at the in-person event. Books will be available for pickup at the event, or at Horizon Books after September 8 (publication).

2 Ticket + Book Package: $61
Admits two people to the live event and each ticket comes with one signed copy of Ariel Lawhon's The Pirate Queen(retail value $32). Please note: signed books are only available at the in-person event. Books will be available for pickup at the event, or at Horizon Books after September 8 (publication). 

Student and Teacher Tickets: $12
No age restriction with a valid school ID, student and teacher tickets admit one person to the live event. Books are not included.

Pay What You Can

We believe great books and inspiring conversations should be available to everyone. Thanks to our generous donors, you can use the code BookChampion (one word) at checkout for a complimentary book, based on the honor system.

Group Tickets
For discounted rates on groups of 20 or more, please contact: operations@nwstc.org

Sponsors

Fall Season Sponsors: Green Brick Foundation
Livestreaming Underwriter: Nancy Davy