SLA Buff: Ciera Horton McElroy

The Saint Louis Author (SLA) Buff blog highlights the unique and surprising authors who live and write in Mound City.

Ciera Horton McElroy’s first novel, Atomic Family, published by Blair in 2023, came out in paperback on October 9. She wrote it during her MFA Program at the University of Central Florida, but experienced being a debut author in St. Louis after moving here in 2021. 

The story takes place during Halloween season in a small, South Carolina town in 1961. It delves into how a family handles the business of nuclear testing adjacent to the risk of nuclear conflict and the impact of the fallout. It also juxtaposes early 1960s family values with the blooming nuclear resistance movement.

“I felt warmly welcomed as a new author in St. Louis,” Ciera said. “It has a thriving subculture with a vibrant, deep bookstore community. I launched my book at Left Bank Books, and am also a huge fan of Main Street Books in St. Charles. In this community you have sellers promoting authors and providing them with the opportunity to meet readers and that helps you to promote your book.”

In addition to bookstores, the St. Louis Public Library is a huge system which leads to library sales that are very important. On top of that, you have so many interesting and literary cafes and coffee shops. St. Louis offers local authors a lot.”

Ciera moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota earlier this year, but will be back in town to speak and sign the new paperbacks at the Novel Neighbor on Thursday, October 16, doors open at 6:30. She will appear with another St. Louis author, Shana Youngdahl, featured earlier this year in the SLA Buff Blog.