For fans of historical fiction, true crime, and literary horror

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Book Tour & Public Reading

    Literati Press, Oklahoma City, October 17

    Green Feather, Norman, Oklahoma, October 19

    ***

    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.

    ***

    Second Story

    718 Culbertson Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73105

    Saturday, November 9, 2024, 5-7pm

    Reading, Q&A. Pick up a signed copy.

  • What's your favorite local bookstore? Invite me to your city!

    I'm planning a tour for Fall 2024. I'd love to know more about your favorite local shops.