Red Emma’s

Erik Parshall’s debut novel, Black Cat on a White Porch, turns his grandmother’s true experience into a shocking tale of prejudice in 1966. Set in Petersburg, Virginia, Black Cat on a White Porch follows Muriel Porter and Bea Byrne, two military wives pursuing teaching degrees in a town divided by prejudice. Their lives take a turn one weekend when Muriel, Bea, and several other classmates meet in Muriel’s home for an assignment. This meeting, fueled by the women’s unfamiliarity with each other and with defying social norms, causes a violent backlash from several members of the community. Black Cat on a White Porch is a story of friendship, love, and the experience of prejudice and loss.  Join Erik Parshall as he shares a story that was kept secret for nearly fifty years. The event will include a reading of several passages from Black Cat on a White Porch, followed by a discussion of the novel’s themes.