Olufunke Grace Bankole reading and moderated Q&A

Olufunke Grace Bankole, winner of the 2026 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award for The Edge of Water, gives a reading and participates in a moderated Q&A session about the writing and publishing of her book on Nov. 12, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The Edge of Water is the winner of the Westport Prize for Literature as well as the Ploughshares John C. Zacharis First Book Award.

Mariah Rigg writes in Electric Literature, “Exploring the narrative powers of choice and betrayal, the complexity of identity and belonging, and the many revisions that take place across a family and a life, The Edge of Water asks the question of how much we owe our loved ones, how much we owe ourselves, how much we control our destiny, and when it’s okay to let ourselves off the hook.”

The event is free and open to all and will be held in person but will also be live streamed through Zoom. The in-person location will be James Branch Cabell Library, Room 303, 901 Park Ave., Richmond, Va. 23219. Parking is available for a fee in the West Broad Street, West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks.

Withfriends believes in building financial resilience for indie bookstores through community support.

Community event in Richmond, Richmond city County, VA 23219.