Bel Canto Books & Kapwa Bookstores Collective are delighted to host a Virtual Book Launch with Elaine Castillo, author of MODERATION: A NOVEL.

This is a virtual event, hosted via Zoom. Please kindly RSVP to receive the meeting link.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A bold and inventive novel about real romance in the virtual workplace—​bringing Castillo’s trademark wit and sharp cultural criticism to an irresistible story about the possible future of love.Girlie Delmundo is the greatest content moderator in the world, and despite the setbacks of financial crises, climate catastrophe, and a global pandemic, she’s going places: she’s getting a promotion. Now thanks to her parent company Paragon’s purchase of Fairground—the world’s preeminent virtual reality content provider—she’s on the way to becoming an elite VR moderator, playing in the big leagues and, if her enthusiastic bosses are to be believed, moderating the next stage of human interaction.Despite the isolation that virtual reality requires from colleagues, friends, and family, the unbelievable perks of her new job mean she can solve a lot of her family’s problems with money and mobility. She doesn’t have to think about the childhood home they lost back in the Bay Area, or history at all—she can just pay any debts that come due. But when she meets William Cheung, Playground’s wry, reticent co-founder (now Chief Product Officer) and slowly unearths some of his secrets, and finds herself somehow falling in love, she’ll learn that history might be impossible to moderate and the future utterly impossible to control.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Named one of “30 of the planet’s most exciting young people” by the Financial Times, Elaine Castillo was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of the award-winning novel America is Not the Heart and the acclaimed book of literary criticism How to Read Now. Her upcoming novel Moderation will be out July 3, 2025 (UK/Commonwealth) and August 5, 2025 (USA).

ABOUT BEL CANTO BOOKS

Founded by Jhoanna Belfer, a Filipina-American poet and former hospitality executive, Bel Canto Books offers a curated selection of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books, organized around a theme of the month, in particular celebrating books by women and people of color. Learn more at belcantobooks.net.

ABOUT FEMME FIRE BOOKS

Femme Fire Books is a feminist bookstore based in Jacksonville, FL with a mission to celebrate diversity and encourage reading for all. We curate our collection of books written by women and underrepresented voices. Learn more at femmefiresbooks.com.

ABOUT WORD UP

Word Up is a collectively run, multilingual, general-interest, nonprofit bookshop and community space in Washington Heights NYC. Learn more at wordupbooks.com.