February 3, 2026 @ 6pm
Step inside the icy halls of elite figure skating with internationally bestselling author Wendy Walker, as she joins us for an electrifying evening of suspense, ambition, and unflinching truth at the Chicago Literary Salon—in conversation with acclaimed thriller author Layne Fargo.
In her razor-sharp new psychological thriller, Blade, Walker exposes the dark undercurrent running beneath the glittering world of competitive skating. Once an Olympic hopeful, Ana Robbins left the sport behind after a devastating tragedy—but when her former coach is found murdered, she’s pulled back to The Palace, the secluded Colorado training compound where her dreams—and childhood innocence—were shattered.
Now a fierce and sought-after defense attorney, Ana returns to defend the teenage skater accused of the crime. But as she races to uncover the truth, long-buried memories resurface, a blizzard closes in, and The Palace reveals itself as a place where ambition thrives, secrets fester, and fear is a constant companion.
Blade is a taut, atmospheric story about reclaimed power, dangerous loyalties, and the shadows we carry from the past—and what happens when someone forces them into the light.
Your evening includes:
A signed hardcover copy of Blade
A thoughtfully curated menu by Nic + Juniors, featuring:
A welcome cocktail
Heavy hors d’oeuvres
A riveting conversation with Wendy Walker & Layne Fargo exploring the imprint of early experiences, the pursuit of excellence, and the resilience we find in connection
Printed conversation prompts designed to foster meaningful dialogue—no prior reading required
Whether you’re drawn to propulsive psychological thrillers, nuanced explorations of power and trauma, or simply crave an unforgettable night out, this salon will keep you thinking long after the final page is turned.
Seating is extremely limited. Reserve your seat today.
About Blade:
From USA Today bestselling author―and former competitive skater―Wendy Walker comes a chilling psychological thriller set in the cutthroat world of elite figure skating.
Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making―until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. At the age of sixteen, she gave up her dream and never looked back. Fourteen years later, she’s a successful defense attorney, revered for her work with minors. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana lands right back where it all began, and abruptly ended: The Palace, a world-renowned skating facility nestled high in the mountains of Colorado.
Ana returns to The Palace to defend the young skater accused of the brutal crime―Grace Montgomery. Despite her claims of innocence, all evidence points squarely at Grace’s guilt, and she’s days away from facing charges of first-degree murder.
But Ana’s investigation dredges up childhood memories of her own, triggering the fear that permeates this place where she once lived and trained far from home as an “Orphan.” With a blizzard raging outside, and time running out for Grace, Ana is determined to uncover the truth―even if it means exposing her own secrets that she buried here long ago.
About Wendy Walker:
Wendy Walker is the bestselling author of All is Not Forgotten, Emma In the Night, The Night Before, Don’t Look for Me, What Remains and the Audible Original works Hold Your Breath, American Girl, Mad Love. And The Room Next Door. She has sold rights to her work in twenty-three languages as well as film and television options. Her work has been featured in the Reese Witherspoon Book Club, Emma Roberts’ Belletrist, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.
Wendy started writing while taking time off from her legal career to care for her young children. Living in suburban Connecticut for most of her life, she developed a fascination with the culture and social dynamics of this area, and explored these themes in her first two general fiction novels, Four Wives (St. Martin’s Press 2008) and Social Lives (St. Martin’s Press 2009). She also edited three compilations for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Stay-at-Home Moms, Thanks Mom and Thanks Dad. She began writing psychological suspense with her breakout bestseller, All Is Not Forgotten.
Prior to her writing career, Wendy practiced both corporate and family law, having earned her J. D. from Georgetown University Law Center (magna cum laude) and her undergraduate degree from Brown University (magna cum laude). She spent her junior year of college at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Wendy worked as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, and is a certified guardian ad litem for children in the State of Connecticut. In between her time as a corporate litigator and family attorney, Wendy volunteered as an attorney at the ACLU in New York and at Connecticut Legal Services.
As a young girl and teenager, Wendy trained for competitive figure skating, including three years with Olympic coach Carlo Fassi at the Broadmoor training facility in Colorado Springs. Wendy continued her involvement in the world of figure skating by serving on the Board of Directors of Figure Skating in Harlem for over twelve years, and was the organization’s founding Chairwoman.
Prior to writing full-time, Wendy pivoted among diverse career paths to pursue her dreams for both work and family life. Her writing draws from these diverse experiences, as well as her deep knowledge of suburban culture. Wendy’s novels examine the darker side of human nature and the psychological disorders that hide beneath the surface.
Wendy is the mother of three sons and lives in Fairfield County, CT.