S.A. Sizemore’s Salem-inspired debut novel lands Sept. 29

S.A. Sizemore will release Whispers of the Pale Witch, the first book in the Beckett Coven series, on Sept. 29 through Rowan Prose Publishing. The queer horror novel draws on Sizemore’s family ties to the Salem Witch Trials and has already picked up multiple 2026 awards.

Why it matters: - Whispers of the Pale Witch adds a Salem-rooted horror story to the market at a time when witch-trial history and queer genre fiction continue to draw strong reader interest. - The book’s early award recognition gives the debut series immediate credibility.

What happened: - S.A. Sizemore’s debut novel, Whispers of the Pale Witch, is set for release Sept. 29, 2026. - Rowan Prose Publishing will distribute the book on major U.S. bookselling platforms. - The novel is the first installment in the Beckett Coven series. - Sizemore says her family’s role in the Salem Witch Trials inspired the series. - Readers can find the author’s books at Beckett Coven.

The details: - The story follows forensic photographer Kylie Beckett as she returns to Salem, Massachusetts, to look for answers about her mother’s disappearance decades earlier. - A string of murders and the theft of a dangerous obsidian relic push Kylie toward her family’s hidden past. - Kylie must stop the vengeful Pale Witch of Salem before another killing takes someone she cannot afford to lose. - The book has earned a 2026 Firebird Book Award for LGBTQ Fiction. - American Bookfest’s American Fiction Awards named it best Horror Occult book of 2026. - The NYC Big Book Award listed it as a Distinguished Favorite in Horror and LGBTQ Fiction. - Back-cover praise came from Rob Costello, Dr. Jessica Drake-Thomas, and Bob Weis. - Sizemore is an author and playwright, a full member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and a former playwright and producer in Southern California. - Sizemore also published a monologue in More Monologues for Women by Women. - Sizemore now works in the themed entertainment industry and lives in Los Angeles with her wife and two dogs, Agatha and Harry.

Between the lines: - The marketing pitch blends historical research, family legacy and genre storytelling to position the book between occult thriller and family saga. - The award list suggests the publisher is leaning on early validation to build readership for the series launch. - The Salem setting gives the novel a built-in historical hook, while the queer horror framing broadens its audience beyond traditional witchcraft fiction.

What's next: - Whispers of the Pale Witch will become available on Sept. 29, 2026 across major U.S. bookselling platforms. - The Beckett Coven series will likely expand if the debut finds an audience.