Knox County native LJ Byers held a book signing for his debut novel Gristholme at Paragraphs Bookstore in Mount Vernon on Saturday, Jan. 4.
The event was well-attended, with all 30 copies of the book selling out.
“It was really awesome to see that many people show up and for a local author,” Byers told the Mount Vernon News. “It was really humbling to be able to talk to people about the book.”
Byers is an alum of East Knox High School and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Many of those who have been part of his journey were present at the book signing.
“It ended up being this really humbling–overwhelming in the best way–experience to come full circle and not only go to a place that shaped my reading journey to see these people that have encouraged me for years to just write and to pursue my hobbies and passions in storytelling,” he said. “Fingers crossed, [hopefully] the product reaches a lot of people and they enjoy it, even if it was just a good little bit of thrill.”
The book was originally released in October 2024 and quickly gained traction.
“In 2024, when the book was released on Halloween, we were making headway in the sci fi fantasy genre, and we were among the bestsellers of 2024 even in the couple of months that the book was on the shelf,” Byers said.
Gristholme combines elements of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.
The novel, the first of a three-part series Byers has planned, is set at Gristholme College, perched above the quiet town of Newton Falls. The story follows Lucia Frey, a young witch caught between two powerful factions—the secretive Artificers, led by campus safety officer Resin Kirkbride, and the sinister Gredalia Council, which seeks to use dark magic to manipulate the students.
As Lucia becomes entangled in both groups, she faces a difficult decision: align with the Council’s dangerous plans or protect her peers from the encroaching darkness.
“I think the one thing that always comes back to me with this story, at least in this book in particular, is that darkness has a way of feeling all imposing,” Byers said. “And there's always light if you can work through it. Now, reading this narrative, obviously, you're going to be like, where is that? But I think it comes through in the little moments throughout the book.”
Byers, who grew up on a farm in rural Knox County outside of Bladensburg, was working as a security guard at Kenyon College when he launched a podcast that would ultimately culminate in Gristholme.
“My boss at the time, heard my podcast that I was doing, and he was like, ‘why don't you turn it into a book?’” he said.
The effort took over five years and was shaped by several life experiences for Byers, including service in the military and earning a master’s degree from Akron University.
Now 28, Byers works for the Social Security Administration but is optimistic about the future for himself and Gristholme.
“I would love to write for one day maybe like a TV show,” he said. “The big dream would be to write for Doctor Who, because I feel like I've been sitting on some ideas for years and getting a book published was the first step,” he said. “This Paragraphs event was the second step.”
Byers said while he is remaining realistic, he is open to the possibility of a larger future for Gristholme.
“I think the sky is the limit and I’ll go where the book takes me,” he said.
Byers noted that reviews of the book would be a big help.
“If you want to help promote it, leave us a review on Amazon or Goodreads because we live in a game of algorithms now,” he said. “So picking up any kind of traction I could through those reviews helps.”
Gristholme is on Instagram @gristholme and is at @longstriderproductions on TikTok.
The book is available at Paragraphs Bookstore in Mount Vernon and can be ordered by most other bookstores. It is also available for purchase online at Amazon.com.
