Sex, Fangs, and Rock and Roll: Philly Writer Holds Event For Debut Novel

Joanne McLaughlin’s debut novel, “Never Before Noon,” has just been published by Eternal Press, an imprint of independent publishing house Caliburn Press. This is the first of a trilogy by McLaughlin, a longtime editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

McLaughlin will be reading from “Never Before Noon” at 7 p.m. Saturday June 11 at Big Blue Marble Books, 551 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia.

Appearing with Joanne will be her son, Michael Patkus, performing some of his multi-instrumental compositions.

“Never Before Noon” is a romantic supernatural thriller about Chloe Hart, who is realizing that her estranged rock-star parents are not all they appear to be. The book is a page-turner, with characters racing through New York and London, Barcelona and Brussels, so Chloe can uncover her parents’ true nature in the hopes of finding her own.

Like a backstage pass to the underbelly of rock ‘n’ roll, “Never Before Noon” makes you think twice about what you know about vampire lore.

McLaughlin is an alumna of the Rittenhouse Writers Group, the prestigious Philadelphia-based organization that cultivated many published novelists (Diane McKinney-Whetstone, Gwen Florio, Samantha Gillison, and more). She is currently Deputy Business Editor at The Inquirer, where she has been immersed through her career in everything from high school sports to Pulitzer Prize-finalist architecture commentary.

“My novel should appeal to a broad audience, readers of romance, women’s fiction, fantasy, and mystery,” McLaughlin says. “I wanted to write the type of book I enjoy: a smart, edgy novel that honors the genre while stretching its boundaries.”

McLaughlin will be touring local bookstores in the spring and early summer. Digital review copies and photos are available upon request. Read the first chapter at joannemclaughlin.net.