A heartrending newspaper photo of a Chicago mother offering her four young children for sale in 1948 inspired the latest novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Kristina McMorris.

As a mother herself, McMorris wondered what could have possibly pushed a parent to that point. Her research of the photograph led her to an unexpected “what-if”: Specifically, what if a reporter’s seemingly harmless choice while photographing a family in need led to unintended consequences for everyone involved?

“Sold on a Monday” (Sourcebooks Landmark, 2018) was the result.

“Sold on a Monday” tells the fictional story of ambitious reporter Ellis Reed who, in 1931, photographs a pair of young siblings on a farmhouse porch next to a heartrending sign: “2 children for Sale.”

With the help of newspaper secretary Lillian Palmer, Ellis writes an article to accompany the photo. Capturing the hardships of American families during the Great Depression, the feature story generates national attention and Ellis’s career skyrockets. B

ut the piece also leads to consequences more devastating than he and Lily ever imagined—and it will take risking everything they value to unravel the mystery and set things right.

Author Kristina McMorris will sign books and speak on “The Great Depression and Shocking Scoops from the Newsroom” in relation to the historical background and plot of her novel, Sold on a Monday, at Peachtree City Library on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 11 a.m. The event is free (including refreshments) and open to the public. On site book sales will be provided by Book Miser.