Author Event: Rachel Kitch's The Forest Bleeds launch, in conversation with Grace Viall

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Old Town Books

October 2026 event grid posts - 10.13 Rachel Kitch

Rachel Kitch, author of The Forest Bleeds, will be in conversation with Grace Viall at Old Town Books on Tuesday, October 13th at 7 PM

Join local authors Rachel Kitch and Grace Viall in conversation at Old Town Books on Tuesday, October 13th at 7 PM! Rachel and Grace both write Appalachian inspired dark fantasy romances, and they will be talking about Rachel Kitch’s speculative horror-romance, The Forest Bleeds.

Every copy of The Forest Bleeds puchased (including Book-as-Ticket purchases!) will recieve exclusive pre-order swag! There is a sticker sheet, character art print, and designed bookmark!

About the Book:

A speculative horror-romance that combines the magical dark academia of The Atlas Six, the unsettling atmosphere of Mexican Gothic, and the psychosexual power dynamics of The Last Housewife.

Saige Chambers, Arcane Bioengineering student and blood witch, is constantly anxious and chronically over-prepared. When Saige and her fellow witch doctoral candidates depart for a conference, she plans and anticipates every last detail. Except she’s not prepared for the moment their bus turns off the highway and takes them to a remote mansion in the Appalachian Mountains, the gates sealing shut behind them.

The mansion’s owner, Arius Medea, issues a simple mandate: fix his injured, rotting leg or die. But it’s no ordinary injury—the flesh melts off the bone, emitting waves of foul magic that set Saige’s blood alight. Saige’s colleagues want to fight back and escape. Saige thinks their best chance is to fix him fast and get out.

As tensions rise, Saige finds herself growing closer to Vaishnavi Sri, a poison witch and Saige’s long-term crush. But first impressions can be misleading, and as Saige’s reluctant attraction to Arius grows, she begins to wonder if there’s a better life waiting for her in the walls of this mansion.

But, as one by one, Saige's colleagues start to disappear, Saige realizes that dying may not be the worst option—because there are far worse fates lurking in the woods.

About the Authors:

Rachel Kitch is a mixed-race Thai American speculative horror author with a love of writing unsettling, creepy books that still have a spark of light. Rachel has her master’s in design from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s from West Virginia University. As a generation 1.5 immigrant, Rachel loves to blend her heritage and incorporate Thai and Appalachian folklore into her projects. When not writing, she can be found designing author brands and websites, or reading books on her Kindle that would kill a Victorian child. Keep up with her at www.rachelkitch.com or follow her on Instagram @rachkitchwrites.

Grace Viall is an Appalachian-rooted fantasy author who loves cryptids, folklore, and idiots finding love. She can usually be found in a randomly selected state park or forest gathering inspiration for her monster-filled fantasy projects.