Ames fantasy author Deborah Coates will read from her debut novel, Wide Open, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 15, in Prairie Lights Books and in a live stream on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to western South Dakota from Afghanistan on 10 days' compassionate leave, her sister Dell's ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her. The sheriff says that Dell's death was suicide, but Hallie doesn't believe it. Something happened or Dell's ghost wouldn't still be hanging around.

Coates, the author of short stories including Cowgirls in Space and What Makes a River, holds degrees in animal science and agronomy. Her stories have been included in Azimov’s, Strange Horizons, SCIFICTION, Best American Fantasy 2008, Year's Best Fantasy 6, and Best Paranormal Romance.

Read an interview with Coates about the novel at Bookyurt.

For accommodations at the live event, contact jan@prairielights.com.