Lindsay Merbaum — Witches of the Wheel
Lindsay Merbaum presents *Witches of the Wheel*, a metaphysical mystery that combines mythology, bartending, supernatural intrigue, and queer belonging. The novel follows Gold, a young woman who can see ghosts and uncover her neighbors’ secrets while struggling with her mother’s hostility. After leaving home, Gold finds work at The Wheel, a lesbian bar hidden underground where a coven meets every Thursday and entry comes at the cost of a painful sacrifice.
At first, The Wheel seems like the first community where Gold has truly fit in. As she becomes more deeply involved with the bar, its patrons, and its troubled history, she discovers that the place is more dangerous and complicated than it appears. Her growing self-knowledge also draws the lethal attention of an ancient goddess.
Merbaum is a queer feminist author and high priestess of home mixology. Her fiction has received award recognition and has appeared in publications including PANK, The Collagist, Epiphany, Gargoyle, Day One, Harpur Palate, and Hobart. Her essays and interviews have been published by Electric Literature, Bustle, Bitch Media, The Huffington Post, and The Rumpus. Her books include the Foreword Indies finalist *The Gold Persimmon* and the horror-comedy novella *Vampires at Sea*, which was named a LibraryReads Bonus Pick.
When: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Showtime: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Politics and Prose at Union Market, 1324 4th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Genre: Fiction and poetry
Tickets: Free
Seating: First come, first served.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. Requests made up to the event may also be accommodated when possible.
Featured book: *Witches of the Wheel* by Lindsay Merbaum is available in paperback for $18.95. Its ISBN is 9781951971540, and its publication date is September 22, 2026.
Run time: Not specified.
Age guidance: Not specified.