Bewitching Booklesque: A Launch Party Cabaret for "Queer Rites"
Think book launches need to be tedious and well-behaved? We’re about to redefine what it means to celebrate a book release!
Enfys J. Book (they/them), Pagan author of the forthcoming Queer Rites: A Magickal Grimoire to Honor Your Milestones with Pride from Llewellyn Worldwide, joins forces with DMV-based burlesque producer and performer Diva Darling (she/her, Smut Slam Baltimore & DC, The SpeakTeasy, Tiresias’ Tits) to throw a launch party cabaret that’s witchy, queer, magical, and sexy af.
A star-studded lineup of some of the region’s finest queer variety performers interpret the themes of the book through burlesque, sideshow, drag, and vocals. Before and after the show, mingle in your fabulous finery, enjoy cocktails and mocktails, and get your copy of Queer Rites signed. Take tons of pictures in our glamorous red-carpet-photo area. Meet Enfys, Diva, and your favorite performers!
Our VIP tickets offer a luxe experience for those who want to treat yourselves– you’ll get reserved table seating up front, a free copy of Queer Rites, free raffle tickets, an exclusive signed postcard from the cast, and a swag bag bursting with goodies.
About that raffle: Grab yourself a leg’s length of tickets, because you won’t want to miss out on our prize bundles full of queer magic books, copies of Diva’s books, tickets to some of the hottest events in town, and much more.
Our vendor partner Red Emma’s will be on hand selling copies of the book, and you’ll be able to browse other vendors as well.
Want to pre-order Queer Rites? Take your pick of booksellers!
Mobtown Ballroom is physically accessible, and the show will be ASL interpreted thanks to the sponsorship of White Rose Witching.
Doors/pre-show party: 5:30 p.m.
Show: 6 p.m.
Post-show reception until 9:30 p.m.
Only VIP tickets guarantee seating. Early Bird and General Admission are a first-come, first-served non-reserved mix of seating and standing room. You can indicate in your order whether you require a guaranteed seat for ADA reasons.
The bar will be open for the show, but unfortunately the kitchen will not. However, you may bring food into the venue if you wish, and our door person will have space to receive your food delivery.
Enfys J. Book (they/them) is the author of the Gold COVR award-winning Queer Qabala: Nonbinary, Genderfluid, Omnisexual Mysticism & Magick (Llewellyn, 2022), co-author (with Ivo Dominguez, Jr.) of Sagittarius Witch (Llewellyn, 2024), and author of the forthcoming Queer Rites: A Magickal Grimoire to Honor Your Milestones with Pride (Llewellyn, 2025). They are a nonbinary, bisexual clergy member within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, and the High Priest of the Fellowship of the Ancient White Stag coven near Washington, DC. Enfys has taught in-person and online classes on magickal practice since 2015, including presenting at the Sacred Space Conference in Baltimore; Paganicon in Minneapolis; the Goddess Conference in Glastonbury, England; ConVocation in Detroit; and several local events in the Washington, D.C. area.
They are also the creator of majorarqueerna.com, a website devoted to queer magickal practice, and host a podcast called “4 Quick Q’s: Book Talk with Enfys,” where they interview pagan authors using questions determined by a roll of the dice.
Diva Darling (she/her) is the producer and femme-cee of the standing-room-only sex-themed storytelling show Smut Slam DC, and now of Smut Slam Baltimore. She is proud to have helped Smut Slam International creator Cameryn Moore develop the very first franchise show with DC. She’s a sex educator, dating/relationship coach, and writer by day. She’s also a burlesque performer/producer and teacher, an actor, playwright/producer, and an author whose short story “Frenzy” was released last year in Best Women’s Erotica of the Year Vol. 8. She’s a popular presenter at Nerd Nite DC, leads a polyamory discussion group at the DC Center for the LGBTQ+ Community, and hosts The SpeakTeasy burlesque show. Follow her at divanations.com.
