“It’s a witty, wholesome fantasy that’s likely to cause heart-swelling.”
Feb 04, 2026
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 caseworker 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.
TJ 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.
BIOS
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.
Guest host Brittany Cavallaro, Ph.D., teaches creative writing at Interlochen Arts Academy. She is the New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Charlotte, Muse, Sunrise Nights with Jeffrey Zentner, and two poetry collections. She also co-authored Hello Girls with bestselling author Emily Henry. She lives in Traverse City with her husband, cats, and golden retriever.
Admission
Tier 1 $27; Tier 2 $17; Students and Educators just $12