Local readers will share their original stories of hidden histories, unsettling family dynamics, suspicious characters with unknown motives, and the unforeseen events that bring our past back to haunt us.
This reading celebrates new and unpublished work by writers in our community.
This event is free and open to the community.No RSVP necessary.
Third Lantern Lit Welcomes Our Southern Gothic Readers:
Danny Cherry, Jr.
By day, Danny Cherry Jr is an MBA-havin', caffeine-addicted corporate drone. But by night, he is a novelist, short story writer, essayist, and a sometimes-journalist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He's a frequent contributor to Antigravity Magazine and Gambit, and has written for: Buzzfeed News, Politico, Daily Beast, and more; and published fiction for Apex Magazine, Fiyah, Hexagon, amongst others.
His work has been acknowledged in Locus Magazine’s recommended reading list for 2022, as well as the Best American Sci-fi and Fantasy 2023 notable stories list. He was also selected for Gambit's New Orleans “40 under 40” class of 2025. His novel, The Pike Boys, can be purchased at books2read.com/thepikeboys.
Gant Laborde
Gant Laborde is an award-winning speaker, published author, and storyteller. He lives in Greater New Orleans, where he haunts his local writing group and hones the craft. His writing explores the fracture between identity and transformation. When he's not writing, he practices guitar and learns Spanish.
A.R. Martin
A.R. Martin is an elf from an adjacent dimension. As an amateur time traveler, she can appear in your realm. She tends to write weird and romantic stuff. You can find her giving away high level occult information and telling the “future” on her YouTube channel, Allison Rose.
Natalie Dudar
Natalie Dudar lives and writes in New Orleans.
Genevieve Rheams
Genevieve Rheams is the author of We Will Plant Birds of Paradise. She writes LGTBQ+ romance, comedy, literature, and personal essays. She received her MFA in Fiction from the University of New Orleans, teaches fiction writing workshops, and is an Academic Advisor at Loyola University. You can find her telling stories onstage at her local chapter of The Moth or Greetings, From Queer Mountain. She delights in having conversations with her three adult children and going for absurdly long walks. She lives with her wife in her hometown of New Orleans with their two cats and a dog. As you read this, she is most likely out of coffee and litter.
Shelby Goddard
Shelby is a librarian who collects books, hobbies, and graduate degrees. In her spare time, she knits socks, crochets hats, grows houseplants, pickles vegetables, and sometimes even writes. You can find her leading crafty programs and writing workshops at New Orleans Public Library.
Ash Wolfe
Ash Wolfe is a chief with the New Orleans Fire Department. He’s been writing his whole life and feels drawn to stories with Southern Gothic elements and eccentric characters. When he’s not writing, he enjoys playing guitar, reading and going to the coffee shop.
