May 05, 2026
From the bestselling author of "The Leftovers" and "Mrs. Fletcher", comes the haunting tale of "Ghost Town," hailed by Time magazine as "the Steinbeck of suburbia." "Ghost Town" offers a gripping and darkly nostalgic tale about a tumultuous summer in a racially segregated 1970s suburb. From the perspective of a middle-aged writer looking back on a series of events that changed his life—"Ghost Town" is the story he finally has the courage to tell about his hometown.
Jimmy Perrini lives in suburban New Jersey, a few miles from Manhattan but a world apart. At the end of eighth grade, after tragedy strikes, Jimmy finds himself lost in a fog of grief that alienates him from friends and family, drifting instead into troubling friendships with two older teenagers: one a notorious local burnout with a fast car, an endless supply of weed, and a shaky grasp of reality; the other a smart, eccentric girl, whom Jimmy finds himself drawn to as they become entranced by her Ouija board, which may just offer the only salve to their grief.
Tom Perrotta is the author of eleven works of fiction, including "Election" and "Little Children," both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films, and "The Leftovers" and "Mrs. Fletcher," which was adapted into an acclaimed HBO series.
Event Details
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 an author signing 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.
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 indicates standard seating options, available on the main floor and most of the balcony.
Individual Tickets
Tier One: $44.40
Tier Two: $34.40
Admits one person to the live event and each ticket comes with one signed copy of Tom Perrotta’s Ghost Town (retail value $28). Please note: signed books are only available at the in-person event.
Two-Ticket Package
Tier One: $71.40
Tier Two: $51.40
This two-ticket option admits two people to the in-person event and comes with one signed copy of Tom Perrotta’s Ghost Town (retail value $28). Please note: signed books are only available at the in-person event.
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.
Pay What You Can
We believe great books and inspiring conversations should be available to everyone. Thanks to our generous donors, you can use the code BookChampion (one word) at checkout for a complimentary book, based on the honor system.
About Our Book Sales
One of the most exciting parts of attending our events is getting a signed copy of the author’s latest book along with the chance to meet the writer and have them personalize it after the show.
Each sale benefits our local partner Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The bundled price of National Writers Series books is always 20 percent below retail, so you also get a great deal.
If you already own the featured book, the one you receive with your ticket makes a great gift for friends and family. Or you can donate it back to us at the National Writers Series, and we’ll distribute it to libraries and young writers in Northern Michigan. Email Hanna if you’d like to donate your book: [email protected]
We think a new book is one of the greatest joys of life, and we thank you for helping us make Traverse City one of the premiere destinations for authors through our book sales.
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]
Admission
Tickets are on sale January 8th to Friends of the National Writers Series and January 12th to the public.