Leah Jean Wilcox
Debut Author
New Release
Ruth
(2023)
A family in need. A handmade Ouija board. A dangerous affair.
​
It's 1920 in Newark, New Jersey and ten-year-old Ruth lives in fear. Her family is on the brink of starvation. Her brother and uncle are doing dangerous work, smuggling illegal alcohol for the mob. Her mother is gripped by madness and obsessed with contacting the dead.
​
As Ruth tries to hold her family together, things continue to get worse. Her brother Willie falls in love with the mob boss's girl. Her best friend falls ill with a strange malady. Their house is attacked by racist neighbors. Her mother begins to have violent premonitions. Soon, her family is in danger of losing everything.
Order Now
Based on the true events of her family in the 1920s, Leah Wilcox’s first novel is a rich tapestry of historical detail, fascinating characters, dramatic turns, and humorous insight. Using the backdrop of prohibition-era Newark, Wilcox is able to give readers a kaleidoscope of stories ranging from bathtub-gin bootlegging, and racially motivated violence, to star-crossed love and food insecurity, all while supernatural elements lurk within the walls of the Johnson household.
Clearly, much effort has been paid to recreating the time and place these events took place (including pictures of the real-life people depicted in the novel). Wilcox gives her readers “The Roaring 20’s” in all their whimsy and brutality, but at its heart “Ruth” tells a story relatable to many today: that of a struggling family grasping for resources, and a child grasping for meaning amongst the turmoil.
While media depictions of the era tend toward the glamorous, this is the story of a whole family’s collective struggle on the fringes of this “thriving” society. A book for all readers, this is the type of book you can’t put down, the type of book you keep with you forever, the type of book you tell your friends about.
Verified Amazon Purchaser
Praise & Reviews
Thought it was interesting, well written and suspenseful.
"Loved it" Verified Amazon Purchaser
Ruth deserved to have her story told. She was an incredible woman who lived a selfless life and loved without reservation despite all hardships.
Leah’s retelling of her grandmother’s life is a raw and real look into the hardships of the Great Depression and beyond. Beautifully written and extremely impactful.
See Upcoming Appearances
Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 7:00 pm
The Book Cellar
4736 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
​
About Leah Wilcox
Leah Wilcox grew up in Northern California with eight siblings. She was raised by her mother Georgia and her beloved grandmother Ruth.
She now lives in Chicago, where she works as a chef, operating Babycakes, her breakfast catering company and food truck.
She has always had a passion for writing, and is also working on a cookbook, as well as a horror novel.
​
There are too many writers to list that Leah is passionate about, but some of her favorite authors include John Irving, Charles Dickens, Stephen King, John Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury, Joseph Heller, Gabriel García Márquez and Douglas Adams. She loves both classic and contemporary fiction, particularly thrillers, science fiction and horror.
​
In her free time, Leah enjoys reading, dining out, painting abstract art, cooking, and throwing parties. She loves punk rock, her life partner Kyle and their fluffy Pomachon Rupert.
​
Leah dreams of someday moving to a big house that she can fill with rescue animals, with a window facing the sea, where she can drink slushy cocktails and type away while enjoying the view.