An Afternoon with Crissa-Jean Chappell

Author Crissa-Jean Chappell visits to celebrate the release of her new novel, “Never Leave Me alone,” in a free public event open to all ages. Books will be available for purchase the night of the event. An RSVP secures general entry but does not guarantee seating, so early arrival is encouraged.

In “Never Leave Me Alone,” seventeen-year-old Birdie lives for the rush: rooftopping abandoned hotels, chasing the perfect shot for her Instagram alter ego, Bad Altitude. Her dying Florida beach town may be crumbling, but her follower count is climbing, and she’s one viral post away from escaping the Space Coast for good. Then she meets Micah, a daredevil TikTok star with a taste for high-stakes stunts, and everything shifts. When Micah falls to his death, Birdie is left with more questions than answers. Retracing his final stunts and getting dangerously close to his brother Jayce, she realizes someone is watching her, both online and off. In this game, there is only one rule: if you quit, you die.

Crissa-Jean Chappell was born in Miami and now lives in Brooklyn. She holds a PhD and MFA from the University of Miami and is a professor of creative writing at Lehman College. Her previous novels include “Total Constant Order,” “Snowbirds,” and “Sun Don’t Shine.”