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Samantha Josephs with Jamie Clayton, Carrying
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Featured Book
Carrying
Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
She’s serving.
She’s eating.
She’s . . . Carrying.
In this electrifying horror debut that’s equal parts funny and harrowing, a stealth trans woman desperate to maintain her picture-perfect life discovers that she’s seemingly—impossibly—pregnant.
Everything Martha’s wanted, she’s made for herself.
Meet Martha: perfect wife, perfect stepmother, perfect woman. She’s got an adoring husband who wants more kids with her, a loving stepdaughter who looks up to her, and a body to die for. She’s an absolute pro: Salon-quality blowouts at home? Done. Perfectly plated meals on the table every day? Effortless. Meticulously faked miscarriages so her husband won’t suspect the truth? Just hand over the Oscar now.
Martha is trans, so stealth even her family has no idea. She carved the woman she is out of the marble of a boy, and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect what she’s built. When a mysterious chronic illness and its debilitating symptoms threaten to upend her existence, she starts experimental treatments and gives in to her surprising, unsettling cravings. She’s even more shocked to discover that she’s undeniably, impossibly pregnant.
With her body changing rapidly outside of her control and her choices dwindling, Martha struggles to maintain the life she’s fought so hard to live while preparing for the motherhood she never thought she’d have.
This book will be available for purchase at the event.
About This Event
Samantha Josephs w/ Jamie Clayton, "Carrying"
Mon, 10/5/2026 - 7:00pm
Place:
Skylight Books
1818 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
RSVPto Samantha Josephs w/ Jamie Clayton, "Carrying"
In-Store
The alternative text
Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
She’s serving.
She’s eating.
She’s . . . Carrying.
In this electrifying horror debut that’s equal parts funny and harrowing, a stealth trans woman desperate to maintain her picture-perfect life discovers that she’s seemingly—impossibly—pregnant.
Everything Martha’s wanted, she’s made for herself.
Meet Martha: perfect wife, perfect stepmother, perfect woman. She’s got an adoring husband who wants more kids with her, a loving stepdaughter who looks up to her, and a body to die for. She’s an absolute pro: Salon-quality blowouts at home? Done. Perfectly plated meals on the table every day? Effortless. Meticulously faked miscarriages so her husband won’t suspect the truth? Just hand over the Oscar now.
Martha is trans, so stealth even her family has no idea. She carved the woman she is out of the marble of a boy, and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect what she’s built. When a mysterious chronic illness and its debilitating symptoms threaten to upend her existence, she starts experimental treatments and gives in to her surprising, unsettling cravings. She’s even more shocked to discover that she’s undeniably, impossibly pregnant.
With her body changing rapidly outside of her control and her choices dwindling, Martha struggles to maintain the life she’s fought so hard to live while preparing for the motherhood she never thought she’d have.
Featured Author
Samantha Josephs
Samantha Josephs is a trans woman writer and semi-retired drag queen from New York City, now living in Los Angeles. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s Writing for Screen and Television program, she’s written for podcasts, video games, apps, and erotica. Carrying is her debut novel.
In Conversation With
Jamie Clayton
Jamie Clayton starred as ‘Pinhead’ in David Bruckner’s reimagining of HELLRAISER, for Hulu. Prior to that, she played ‘Tess Van De Berg’ on all 3 seasons of Showtime’s THE L WORD: GENERATION Q, and starred as ‘Nomi Marks’ in the hit Netflix Original Series, SENSE8 which ran for 2 seasons and concluded with a feature-length series finale.
About the Venue
Skylight Books
Skylight Books is a general bookstore serving the historic Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz and its surrounding area. Located in the shadow of Griffith Park and its iconic Observatory, Los Feliz is host to many independently owned shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. Our curated selection features the best of literary fiction; children's books; graphic novels; California history and culture; political and social sciences; essays and nonfiction; and books on art, photography, film, and music. We also feature hand-picked magazines and zines, along with a selection of stationery and gifts. Our events program is nationally recognized, and features major touring authors, local favorites, and debuts. We are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. We sell new books only; we do not buy or sell used books.
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