For fans of historical fiction, true crime, and literary horror
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Inspiration
Moonlit Massacre, Cooper’s debut novel, draws inspiration from one of Oklahoma’s most notorious crimes as well as other unsolved murders in the same time frame to knit together a story of a community gripped with fear. Rather than focus on the assailants, Cooper explores a young city rocked by tragedy.
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Story
In the summer of 1978, six employees of a Sirloin Stockade buffet restaurant found themselves forced into a walk-in freezer during a robbery, then executed, leaving no witnesses. The shocking events and resulting nine-month, nationwide manhunt left a deep scar in the psyche of Oklahoma City residents and served as inspiration for a new novel coming this October by English Professor and Oklahoma City Councilmember James Cooper.
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Background
Moonlit Massacre presents a diverse Oklahoma landscape overlooked by national news, utilizing elements of true crime, literary horror, and historical fiction to focus on the inner lives of Oklahomans from marginalized backgrounds. To bring this story to life, Cooper dedicated years to researching Oklahoma history and the Stockade murders before completing a Creative Writing MFA at Oklahoma City University. Similar books include Berney’s November Road, Killers of the Flower Moon, Devil in the White City, the works of Stephen Graham Jones, and Jane Harper’s The Dry.
Reception
“Moonlit Massacre is a powerful, deeply-imagined meditation on violence, grief, race, and home. James Cooper has written a novel as engaging as it is thoughtful.”
Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of November Road
Design by David Woods
Cover art by Garrett Young
About the author
James Fennimore Cooper is Oklahoma City University’s English Artist in Residence, a former public school teacher, lifelong horror aficionado, and represents Oklahoma City’s Ward 2 on its City Council.
Upcoming events
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Available Now
Order Moonlit Massacre today!
The debut novel of Oklahoma City Universtiy's Artist in Resident, James Cooper.
Available October 17.
In store and online.
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Book Tour & Public Reading
Literati Press, Oklahoma City, October 17
Green Feather, Norman, Oklahoma, October 19
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Bookish Used Books and Art
1005 NW 36th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 6-7pm
Reading, Q&A. Pick up a signed copy.
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Second Story
718 Culbertson Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 5-7pm
Reading, Q&A. Pick up a signed copy.
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