COME Celebrate local authors and creatives with a spooky twist this october!

Stories After Dark:

An Evening with Pennsylvania Authors

Join us for an evening celebrating Pennsylvania authors, books, and small businesses at Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts!Monday, October 12, 2026at the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts212 West Broad Street, Hazleton PA 18201 FREE admission (but donations welcome!) 6:30pm - Cocktail Hour, Basket Raffle, & Meet the Authors7:30pm - Author Q&A with the Bathtub Bookworm We’ll kick off the evening with a cocktail hour, where you can meet four Pennsylvania authors, browse and purchase their books, and enjoy themed cocktails inspired by their stories. (Additional beverages and light fare will also be available.) While you mingle you can purchase tickets for our basket raffle - featuring gift certificates, baskets, and other prizes donated by more than a dozen local businesses. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Pennsylvania Theatre of the Performing Arts. MEET THE AUTHORSOur featured authors write across a variety of genres, including mystery, crime, noir, romantic suspense, and comic book horror: Ryan Jay (Instagram/Facebook) Ryan Jay is a writer, performer, and wizard in Scranton, PA. He writes and illustrates "Modern Monsters" a series of comic books and poetry about drunk vampires in Scranton. Ryan is the founder and co-director of Battle of the Bards, a free community event showcasing local talent. He is currently organizing BARDSFEST 2026: a series of short plays premiering October 16, 17, 18th at Strange Birds in Scranton. Nicole Elizabeth Jones (Website/TikTok/Instagram) Nicole Elizabeth Jones lives in rural Pennsylvania with her four cats, twelve ducks, and two turkeys (all rescues). She has dedicated her life to trying to help rural area senior citizens and started a company called Little Red Riding Hood, Inc. for transportation just for them. Nicole has been an avid writer since she was twelve years old and hopes that her passion for writing will help with funding this company. This, and every novel she makes, goes towards her dreams of helping rural area seniors. Jess Mason (Instagram) Jess Mason is a short fiction writer and playwright based out of Factoryville, PA. Her first full-length play is currently in development with the inaugural group of the Scranton Fringe Festival Playwright Incubator program. Her one act plays have been produced in community theaters around NEPA. Her work appears in the September 2026 issue of The Anthracite Journal as well as “Friends, Family, and Fatalities: A Cozy Mystery Anthology” from And You Press and Nicole Frail books. She is a two time finalist for NYC Midnight’s Flash Fiction and Short Story contests. Jess is an elementary school teacher. She performs in Scranton’s community theaters as well as the murder mystery troupe Its Curtains For You. She enjoys reading, baking, and being near bodies of water. Jessica Schafer (Website/TikTok/Instagram/Facebook) Jessica Schafer is an author and high school music teacher from Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Her novel, The Quiet Over Ashcombe, is set in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region, with its fictional town inspired by communities throughout Carbon County and the surrounding area. Several real locations also appear throughout the story. In her free time, Jessica is active in local community theatre and has worked both behind the scenes and onstage in numerous productions, including shows with PTPA. Featured Vendor: CHARM & THREADCharm & Thread will also be joining us with their charm bar and fiber art - Stop by their table to create or purchase necklaces, bracelets, keychains, bookmarks, and more! Visit them on Instagram and Facebook, or email at shopcharmandthread@gmail.com
AUTHOR Q&A with THE BATHTUB BOOKWORMFollowing the cocktail hour, social media book influencer “The Bathtub Bookworm” Jess Ross-Steltz will take the stage as our emcee for a moderated conversation with the authors about their books. Follow Jess on TikTok and Instagram! After the discussion we will announce the basket raffle winners, and the authors will be available to sell and sign books. Come grab a cocktail, discover your next read, or win one of hundreds of dollars worth of prizes!