Calling all historical fiction lovers! This is an event you won't want to miss!

Midtown Reader is excited to host Erika Robuck in conversation with Judy Pearson for Erika's novel, The Last Twelve Miles.

About the Book:

From Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of The Invisible Woman and Sisters of Night and Fog, comes THE LAST TWELVE MILES (June 4, Trade Paperback Original, $16.99), an atmospheric tale about two women locked in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse on opposite sides of the Prohibition Rum Wars, perfect for readers of When We Left Cuba with an itch for the Roaring Twenties.

1926: The infamous “Spanish Marie,” ruthless rumrunner royalty with a chip on her shoulder, imports countless tons of illegal alcohol to the U.S., humiliating the Coast Guard each time she practically dances through their Miami patrols upon her return from Cuba. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Elizebeth Smith Friedman assumes her role as the Coast Guard’s secret weapon: the lone codebreaker with the skills to infiltrate the smugglers.

Marie and Elizebeth lead their respective sides of the Prohibition Rum Wars as fierce adversaries, but they will both quickly realize it’s hard to outsmart a woman who is a warped reflection of yourself, a woman who—despite living on the opposite side of the law—somehow shares your hopes, fears, and motivations.

And, as with any rumrunning job, it will come down to the last twelve miles.

Erika Robuck masterfully portrays the darker side of the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties and vividly illuminates the true story of two masterminds whose lives remain shrouded in mystery. Bursting with incredible historical detail, THE LAST TWELVE MILES is an unforgettable story of ambition, prowess, and the measure of exactly how far one will go for love—or loyalty.

About Erika Robuck:

ERIKA ROBUCK is the national bestselling author of nine novels, including HEMINGWAY’S GIRL and THE INVISIBLE WOMAN. A former teacher, Robuck was named Annapolis’ 2014 Author of the Year, and she resides there with her husband and three sons. You can find her online at www.erikarobuck.com, @erobuckauthor on Instagram, and @ErickaRobuck on Facebook.

About Judy Pearson:

Judy Pearson is a best-selling author, an accomplished presenter, and a graduate of Michigan State University. But her favorite title is “story teller.” Judy’s first two biographies told the stories of ordinary Americans who had been extraordinarily courageous during World War II. Her second, The Wolves at the Door, is not only a best-seller, but has been purchased for a movie. Her most recent book, Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker, was selected the 2023 Florida Book Award Bronze Medal winner. The current work in progress, Radical Sisters, tells the history of the women’s health revolution through the breast cancer journeys of Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, and Evelyn Lauder. Judy was named one of Chicago’s Most Inspirational Women, was selected as a finalist for the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Awards and named a Phoenix Healthcare Hero the same year. She and her husband, David, live in Nokomis, FL.