Jim Shepard — The Queen of Bad Influences: Stories - with Tania James
Jim Shepard presents *The Queen of Bad Influences: Stories*, a collection of twelve stories about lives transformed by heartbreak, war, environmental disaster, and other forms of catastrophe. Spanning different centuries and locations, the stories include the 1935 Labor Day hurricane in Florida, Civil War-era letters between separated lovers, and the title story’s account of Constance and her friend Minna aboard the doomed *Lusitania*.
Shepard will discuss the book with novelist and short-story writer Tania James. The conversation explores how human-made and natural catastrophes expose personal limitations while also revealing the sustaining power of love, friendship, sacrifice, and compassion.
When: Monday, September 21, 2026
Showtime: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Event: Jim Shepard in conversation with Tania James
Tickets: Free admission, with first-come, first-served seating.
Featured book: *The Queen of Bad Influences: Stories* by Jim Shepard, a new hardcover released September 15, 2026. The event page lists the book at $30.
Jim Shepard: Shepard is the author of eight novels, including *The Book of Aron*, which received the Sophie Brody Medal, the PEN/New England Award, the Ribalow Prize, and the Clark Fiction Prize. He has also published six story collections, including *Like You’d Understand, Anyway*, a National Book Award finalist and Story Prize winner. His work has been selected for *The Best American Short Stories*, the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, and Pushcart Prizes. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and lives in Williamstown with his wife, fiction writer Karen Shepard, and their two beagles.
Tania James: James is the author of four books of fiction. Her most recent novel, *Loot*, was longlisted for the 2023 National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize. She is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow and an associate professor of English at George Mason University.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests submitted up to the event time.
Run time: Not specified.