In-Store: Samantha Josephs: Carrying w/ Tommy Dorfman

Event guidelines: * Each ticket will include either a copy of the featured book or a $10 Books Are Magic gift card. * Additional copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. * A signing will follow the talk. * Home address is collected for contact tracing purposes; it will not be used otherwise. * The event will also be livestreamed for free here: https://youtube.com/live/HHyuNoKXnmI * As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event, even if you have a ticket; email us and we'll work it out. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request accessibility accommodations, please contact eventhelp@booksaremagic.net. 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. Samantha Josephs is a trans woman writer and semi-retired drag artist 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. Tommy Dorfman is an accomplished actress, writer, director, and producer whose work spans film, television, and theater. Best known for her breakout role in the hit Netflix series 13 REASONS WHY, Dorfman has since gone on to build a dynamic career, while consistently shining a light on her experiences as a trans woman in Hollywood. Recently, Dorfman made her Broadway debut in Sam Gold’s adaptation of ROMEO + JULIET, starring alongside Kit Conner and Rachel Zegler. The production marked Dorfman’s return to the New York stage and her first acting role since publicly coming out as transgender. In this fresh take on the classic, Dorfman took on dual roles as the ‘Nurse’ and ‘Tybalt.’ Dorfman then went on to star as the titular character, ‘Chava,’ in BECOMING EVE, a New York Theatre Workshop production based on Abby Chava Stein's memoir. Tommy received rave reviews for her performance. Behind the camera, Dorfman wrote, directed, and produced her first feature film, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, starring Corey Fogelmanis, Alexandra Daddario, Cole Sprouse, and Lena Dunham. The debut feature premiered at SXSW in March 2024 to positive reviews and was released by Lionsgate later in 2025. Tommy just directed her second feature film, LAURA DEAN KEEPS BREAKING UP WITH ME, starring Sam Morelos and Ava Phillippe, which will premiere later this year. Tommy’s newest title is best-selling author. MAYBE THIS WILL SAVE ME, her debut memoir, was released by Harper Collins last year to great acclaim.