Join award-winning actor & author Tim Cummings (Alice the Cat) and Emmy-nominated actor Paul Sparks (House of Cards) as they crack open Tim’s new novel, The Lightning People Play, about a crew of brilliant teens who put up a play to raise money for a seizure-alert dog and their play opens an unexpected portal. Author Gayle Brandeis (The Art of Misdiagnosis) calls it “a breathtaking celebration of creativity and neurodivergence and connection” and Jeff Zenter (Morris-award winner for The Serpent King) says, “Cummings weaves vivid, gripping tales filled with heart and irreverent humor, and told in an electric, irresistible voice.”

To reserve a copy of The Lightning People (Black Rose Writing, June 26, 2025, paperback, $21.95), please write to us at contact@bgsqd.com with “please reserve The Lightning People for September 10 event” in the subject line.

Thank you for supporting the Bureau by purchasing books from us!

This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.

Tim Cummings: Tim’s debut novel, Alice the Cat (Fitzroy Books) was chosen as an American Book Awards ‘Best Book’ Finalist for 2023, received a Bronze Medal in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and is a Finalist in both the 2024 National Indies Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction and the Independent Author Network’s Book of the Year Awards. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. He has appeared in 200+ projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications  include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare’s Paw, Lit Angels, The Wax Paper, Excerpt,  and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins’ contest for his essay, “You Have Changed Me Forever.” Tim is an octopus and spider enthusiast. He goes wild for anything with eight legs. He possesses enviable collections of stickers, labradorite, night-sky projector lights, vintage vinyl, and rare first-edition hardcover copies of some of his favorite novels. No one has ever made a better vat of chili, and his lasagna is infallible. He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

Paul Sparks: Paul is currently shooting THE STALEMATE opposite Ben Foster. He recently completed production on THE MORTUARY’S ASSISTANT, based on the popular horror video game, as well as Sterlin Harjo’s new series, THE LOWDOWN, starring Ethan Hawke. Sparks appears in Michael Shannon’s directorial debut, ERIC LARUE and in the upcoming Amazon limited series, THE BETTER SISTER, opposite Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel. Recent theatre appearances include Samuel D. Hunter’s latest, GRANGEVILLE at Signature Theatre and WAITING FOR GODOT opposite Michael Shannon at Theatre for a New Audience. Paul starred in 3 seasons of the Apple+ series PHYSICAL opposite Rose Byrne. Additional series credits include JOE PICKETT and WACO for Paramount+, Stephen Kings’ CASTLEROCK for Hulu, HBO’s THE NIGHT OF and BOARDWALK EMPIRE, Netflix’s HOUSE OF CARDS, Starz’ THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE and SWEETBITTER. He has received SAG and Emmy Award nominations for his work in television. Among his many films are THOROUGHBREDS; THE GREATEST SHOWMAN; MIDNIGHT SPECIAL; MUD; SPARROWS DANCE; BLACKBIRD. Sparks’ distinguished work on stage has earned him seven Drama Desk Awards nominations as well as three Outer Critics Circle, two Lucille Lortel and a Drama League Award nomination.