“It’s a witty, wholesome fantasy that’s likely to cause heart-swelling.”
~ The Washington Post
Three of Traverse City’s literary nonprofits have joined forces to bring TJ Klune to the City Opera House stage to talk about his #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today breakout, contemporary fantasy, The House in the Cerulean Sea.
In this heartwarming fantasy, Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
He soon meets Arthur Parnassus, the charming caretaker of the orphanage who would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn and his secrets come to light. A romance blossoms between Linus and Arthur, a non-issue within the safe community of the island, contrasting sharply with the societal fears of the mainland. This is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place–and realizing that family is yours.
T.J. Klune has a new book coming out on April 28, 2026, called We Burned So Bright. The story follows an older queer couple on a poignant end‑of‑the‑world road trip as they seek to finish unfinished business before a black hole destroys the planet. Born in Roseburg, Oregon, Travis John Klune was eight years old when he first began to write. His earliest published works included poetry and short stories.
He has now emerged as one of the country’s most popular fantasy authors. The House in the Cerulean Sea topped the country’s major bestseller lists and won the Lambda Literary Award. Klune’s novels also include Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. As a queer author himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with live music, and the conversation begins at 7:00 p.m. This event includes a Q&A session and a photo line immediately following in the lobby.
Ticket Information
Additional City Opera House transaction fees are applied at checkout. Some fees may be waived if tickets are purchased over the phone or in-person at the City Opera House. Books are not included with a ticket purchase. If you would like to purchase a book you can do so with The Folded Leaf.
Tier One Ticket: $27
Tier One indicates premium seating options with the best views, available on the main floor closest to the stage along with premium sections of the balcony.
Tier Two Ticket: $17
Tier Two indicates standard seating options, available on the main floor and most of the balcony.
Student and Teacher Tickets: $12
No age restriction with a valid school ID, student and teacher tickets admit one person to the live event. Books are not included.
Content Rating
Unless otherwise noted, NWS events are designed for adult audiences and may not be suitable for children.
Group Tickets
For discounted rates on groups of 20 or more, please contact: [email protected]
Brittany Cavallaro Ph.D. is the New York Times bestselling author of novels for young adults, including the Charlotte Holmes series (A Study in Charlotte, The Last of August, The Case for Jamie, A Question of Holmes), Hello Girls, and the historical fantasy duology Muse and Manifest. Her most recent novel is Sunrise Nights, co-written with Jeff Zentner. In addition to her fiction work, Cavallaro is also an accomplished poet; her debut collection, Girl-King (
