Author John Milas will read from his new book "The Militia House," a gothic horror novel set in war-torn Afghanistan. A young corporal attempts to escape days of boredom and dread by exploring the supposedly haunted ruins of a Soviet-era barracks, only to find himself changed in terrible ways. Described as "Stephen King meets Tim O’Brien," "The Militia House" was recently longlisted for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize. John Milas joined the Marines and was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan at age nineteen. He later earned an MFA in creative writing, studying with writers like Marianne Boruch, Roxane Gay, and others. His library visit is free and open to the public, and copies of "The Militia House" from River Lights Bookstore will be available to purchase.