A volcano erupting in an Alabama cattle pasture sounds like the stuff of local legend — but it’s actually the premise of The Volcano Keeper, the new novel from Huntsville author Bradley Sides.
When Charlie’s grandfather dies, he leaves behind a promise: that something extraordinary would come from their family’s land. Days later, a volcano breaks ground in their Alabama cattle pasture — and Charlie is left to reckon with that promise as he comes of age, caught between his family’s expectations and the strange, towering legacy he’s inherited.
Sides is a local Huntsvillian and host of The Southern Summer Book Club. His previous book, Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood, was a 2024 Book of the Year finalist at Southern Literary Review.
His next novel, The Volcano Keeper, will be released on Oct. 20, 2026. The book has already been selected as Southern Living’s 20 New Books for Fall 2026.
Local bookstore The Snail on the Wall is hosting Sides for his book launch on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. Those interested in attending can visit The Snail’s website to purchase a ticket. A ticket with a book is $19.95 and a ticket without a book is $5, which includes a $5 credit toward any book purchased at the event.
Whether attending the book launch or choosing a new fall read, support a Huntsville author and give The Volcano Keeper a try.
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