Debut novel explores the stories we leave behind—and the courage to begin again
Eleanor Hayes’s The Light Between the Pages follows a young bookseller’s unexpected journey through family secrets, loss, and belonging.
PORTLAND, Ore., October 6, 2026 — Independent author Eleanor Hayes announces the November 10, 2026 publication of her debut novel, The Light Between the Pages, a work of contemporary literary fiction about the power of stories to bring us home.
When twenty-nine-year-old Clara Bennett inherits her grandmother’s seaside bookshop, she plans to sell it and return to the city. But a collection of handwritten letters tucked inside its books reveals a family history she never knew—and a community she isn’t ready to leave.
Set on the Oregon coast, the novel brings together a small-town cast, an intergenerational mystery, and a quietly hopeful story about starting over. It will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven fiction about family and second chances.
“I wanted to write about the small places that hold our biggest stories,” says Hayes. “This book is a love letter to bookshops, chosen family, and the possibility of finding your way again.”
The Light Between the Pages will be available in paperback and ebook formats on November 10, 2026. Readers can find publication details at eleanorhayes.example.
About the author
Eleanor Hayes is a fictional independent author based in Portland, Oregon. A lifelong reader and former bookseller, she writes stories about place, connection, and the things we carry with us. The Light Between the Pages is her debut novel.
Media contact
Eleanor Hayes
Email: press@eleanorhayes.example
Website: eleanorhayes.example