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The Bay's intellectual scene is rich, varied, and hard to find.
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72 upcoming book talks and author readings in the North Bay. 16 are in the next seven days; the list is updated daily.
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More in the North Bay Lectures 58Workshops 32
Book talks elsewhere San Francisco 130Berkeley 42Oakland 30Santa Cruz 12East Bay 86Peninsula 12South Bay 19
Meet paranormal romance novelist Marilyn Vix at Copperfields Books Calistoga, celebrating the omnibus edition of Thankful in Vegas. A casual drop-by meet-and-greet with the author.
An eye-opening guide to understanding and appreciating poetry. John Timpane, author of *Poetry for Dummies*, 2nd Edition, explores how to read, analyze, and write poetry for anyone from curious beginners to practicing writers and devoted poetry lovers. Perfect for aspiring poets and anyone interested in deepening their engagement with the form.
A conversation about Harold Pinter's play Betrayal with Carey Perloff, artistic director of American Conservatory Theater, and Larry Eilenberg, contemporary theatre expert. The discussion explores the themes and dramatic structure of one of Pinter's most celebrated works.
Examining the rise and fall of the Voting Rights Act from its triumphant passage in 1965 to its recent evisceration by the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, Kevin T. Morris explores the ongoing struggle to protect voting rights in America. Morris contextualizes the landmark 1965 legislation within decades of civil rights history and analyzes the legal and political forces that have systematically dismantled its protections.
Comedian and Monty Python founder Eric Idle discusses his memoir *Idle in Provence: A Brief History of Thyme*, an equal-parts memoir and travelogue exploring his time in the French countryside. In conversation with author Dave Eggers, Idle reflects on a life of comedy, creativity, and misadventure. Hosted by Book Passage.
Blake J. Harris discusses his authorized biography of Larry David, the legendary comedian and co-creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The book draws on exclusive interviews with David himself and explores his career, creative process, and cultural impact. Harris is a bestselling author and cultural critic.
Emily Ogden discusses her biography *Darkness Becomes Bright: On the Brief Life and Immortal Art of Edgar Allan Poe* (Viking) in conversation with Point Reyes Books owner Stephen Sparks. Ogden explores Poe's life and enduring influence on American literature and culture.
Daniel Peña, Pushcart Prize-winning writer and Associate Professor at the University of North Texas, discusses his essay collection How to Look Away, which explores how fringe elements of his Texas childhood—AM radio, conspiracy theories, post-Cold War paranoia—came to dominate American political discourse and enabled tolerance for human rights abuses against Latin American migrants. Through journalism, cultural criticism, and memoir, Peña reflects on American citizenship, belonging, and complicity, asking: what compels us to look away from these abuses, and how do we wake ourselves into action?
Julie Orringer, bestselling author of *The Invisible Bridge*, discusses her new novel *Luna, Phoenix, Queen*—a work exploring infidelity, literary provenance, and storytelling's transformative power. Orringer's fiction is known for its intricate narratives spanning continents and eras, weaving together historical and contemporary themes. This is an opportunity to hear directly from the author about her creative process and the ideas animating her latest work.
Learn how to craft a powerful pitch to land an agent, secure a book deal, or succeed at self-publishing. Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, co-authors of *The Essential Pitch*, share strategies for one of publishing's most critical but underestimated tools. Ideal for aspiring and established writers seeking to navigate the publishing landscape.
Poet, author, filmmaker, and educator Amber Allen-Peirson reads from her poetry collection *The Unrooted Bloom*, exploring race, biracial identity, motherhood, family, grief, love, ancestry, and belonging. The intimate, lyrical poems move through the spaces between identities and expectations, asking where we belong, who we are when freed from others' needs, what we've inherited, and what we choose to carry or release. Throughout the reading, audience members are invited to turn these questions toward their own lives and identities.
Author Mary R. Thompson presents and reads from her work exploring the intersection of human language and natural world expression. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the reading at 6:00 p.m. at Readers Books.
Join poet and bookseller Haley Hutchinson for a reading and conversation about her debut collection *Her Womanhood of Mine*, a lyric chronicle of girlhood, embodiment, and becoming. Rich with sensory detail and emotional nuance, the poems explore domestic life, relationships, and the raw grittiness of self-discovery. Hutchinson is a graduate of Middlebury College, editor at Gal Pal Media, and bookseller at Russian Hill Bookstore.
Parini Shroff, bestselling author of *The Bandit Queens*, discusses her new novel *Some People*, a witty and poignant story about a man on the brink of divorce forced to care for his injured future-ex-mother-in-law. Over seven days of recuperation, Nathan Whitlock navigates complex family dynamics, cultural misunderstandings, and unresolved tension with Malti Patel while her daughter is away. Shroff explores themes of love, forgiveness, and the search for understanding and acceptance amid personal upheaval.
Paul Rogat Loeb discusses his anthology *The Impossible Will Take a Little While*, which collects powerful voices from around the world to inspire ordinary citizens to keep working for change in an age of despair. The collection celebrates hope, courage, and sustained activism, offering readers inspiration and practical wisdom for long-term social engagement.
Retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch returns in this thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly. Connelly will discuss The Hollow, which delves into the darkest chapter of his protagonist's past, with the author.
Jacob Weisberg, editor of Slate and author of *Profiles in Cowardice*, examines the people and institutions that failed to resist Trump's agenda. Drawing on the book's devastating reckoning with political and moral capitulation, Weisberg explores how leaders across government, media, and business abandoned democratic principles when it mattered most. A sharp inquiry into institutional failure and the cost of silence.
What if Earth came with a user manual? David Gottfried, founder of the Living Building Challenge and author of *Regen360*, argues that humanity's environmental crisis stems not from a lack of care but from a broken operating system. He introduces the Earth Code, a practical framework for regenerative living and systemic change. Gottfried explores how rethinking our relationship with planetary systems can address climate, biodiversity, and resource challenges.
Julianna Glasse, founder and CEO of This Is What Happens When Women Read, discusses her memoir about leaving a life as a Christian pop star and MLB wife to pursue education and autonomy. The book traces her transformation after discovering forbidden literature—works by de Beauvoir, Dickinson, Emerson, and others—that challenged her faith and marriage. Glasse holds a master's from Oxford and now runs a global organization providing scholarships to women leaving restrictive religious communities.
Richard Louv, author of the influential *Last Child in the Woods*, discusses his new book *Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World*. Louv explores how paying attention to nature restores focus, reduces stress, and deepens our connection to the living world—a counterpoint to the nature-deficit disorder he documented in his earlier work. Drawing on research and personal observation, he reflects on the power of noticing as a practice and a path to well-being.
Join Kristen Naiman, Chief Brand Officer at The RealReal and co-author of *Real Style*, for a discussion of her book. Rather than a traditional style guide, *Real Style* reimagines how we think about fashion and personal expression in the contemporary moment.
Mark Danner, one of America's foremost political thinkers and author of *Crossing the Rubicon*, discusses essays spanning fascism, the war on terror, Abu Ghraib, Dick Cheney, the Iraq War, and the Bush-Gore and Trump elections. A wide-ranging exploration of power, democracy, and the defining crises of the post-9/11 era from a leading voice in political journalism and analysis.
Meet graphic novelist Judd Winick, creator of the New York Times bestselling Hilo series, at a special event celebrating the first-ever Hilo Holiday Special. In this graphic novel, Hilo and friends must solve the mystery of a giant, grumpy snowman crashing their holiday celebration. Winick is also the author of the acclaimed graphic memoir Pedro and Me and the spinoff series The Mighty. Perfect for families and fans of action-packed, heartfelt storytelling.
Two poets explore how ordinary moments—conversations, gardens, kitchen tables—reveal extraordinary belonging. Prartho Sereno, Poet Laureate Emerita of Marin County and author of *Starfall in the Temple*, *Indian Rope Trick*, and *Causing a Stir*, draws on 4 years in an Indian ashram and her work as a counseling psychologist and poet-in-schools educator. Michelle Latvala brings her own lyric exploration of domestic rhythms and spiritual practice. Together they read and discuss how poetry transforms the familiar into invitations to wonder, finding wisdom in the everyday patterns that shape us.
Chad Harbach, bestselling author of *The Art of Fielding*, discusses his new novel *The Brightness*, an urgent story of friendship, art, love, and grief following two young women navigating transformative life moments.
Restaurateur, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author Danny Meyer discusses his leadership philosophy and the tools he uses to build energized, cohesive teams. Meyer, founder of Shake Shack and Union Square Hospitality Group, draws on decades of experience in the restaurant industry to explore how leaders can cultivate purpose-driven cultures and unlock human potential in their organizations.
A conversation celebrating Rosanne Annoni's debut memoir *Unfolding the Heart*, which explores spiritual practice and personal transformation through the lens of psychotherapy and contemplative practice. Annoni, a psychotherapist and spiritual teacher, discusses her journey with Sandra Maitri, bringing together insights from both the therapeutic and wisdom traditions. Hosted at Copperfield's Books in Petaluma.
A screening of Stacey Gordon's multigenerational novel *The Pearl Farmers*, which follows three sisters upholding their family's Tennessee pearl farm legacy. Gordon explores themes of family history, inheritance, and resilience through the symbolism of pearls—beauty born from struggle.
Kirk Lombard discusses his epic children's novel *The Shadow Stream*, a throwback to family reads of yesteryear following a troubled boy and a host of hilariously vexed animals who must save a river before it's dammed—and save themselves.
Three She Writes Press memoirists—Robin Rosenbluth, Rosanne Annoni, and Georgine Hodgkinson—discuss reckoning with the past and self-discovery through memoir writing. The panel explores how writers transform formative relationships with mothers and daughters into narrative, navigating memory, family dynamics, and personal truth.
New York Times bestselling author Lucy Foley returns to Sonoma County for the kickoff event of her first U.S. book tour, joined by author Amy Meyerson for conversation. Foley's appearance follows a sold-out 2024 event. Hosted by Copperfields Books at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center.
Artist and bestselling author Lea Redmond explores gift-giving as an act of relational care and human connection. Rather than reducing gifts to consumer products, Redmond proposes that thoughtful gift-giving honors the spaces between us and practices our best humanity. She shares her vision from *This Is for You*, her latest book, and leads an interactive workshop with practical gift ideas ahead of the holiday season. Redmond is author of *Knit the Sky*, *Wonder Hunt*, *Paint Chip Poetry*, and the bestselling *Letters to My…* keepsake journal series, and runs the World's Smallest Post Service.
Jennifer Liss discusses her middle-grade novel Wide Eye, a heartwarming adventure about a 10-year-old girl spending summer at her grandfather's quirky monster museum on Wide Eye Lake, where she uncovers a long-buried family secret while navigating friendship and the power of imagination. Liss is an educational publishing veteran and regional coordinator for the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Wide Eye was a London Times Children's Book of the Week.
A reading and conversation with graphic novelist Emil Wilson about his debut graphic novel *The Nightingales*, hosted by graphic novelist Sophie Yanow. The story follows Lou Miller in spring 1985 as her family takes in Jim, a recently evicted coworker, and his two dogs. As Jim's arrival disrupts their small-town Oregon household, Lou discovers an unlikely bond with him while her mother grows uneasy. A tender exploration of compassion, resilience, and how one person's life can alter another's.
Paul Wagner, author of the mystery novel *A Murderous Vintage*, discusses his latest book set in Napa Valley. When a winemaker is found dead in a tank of fermenting Pinot Noir, a local newspaper editor becomes entangled in a dangerous investigation that threatens both his life and livelihood. Wagner, who taught viticulture and enology at Napa Valley College for over thirty years, brings authentic wine-country expertise to this page-turner filled with quirky characters and intriguing riddles.
Andy Richter presents his oral history of the beloved holiday film Elf, drawing on his firsthand experience on set. Richter shares behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes from the making of the movie, offering fans an intimate look at the film's production and the on-set dynamics that shaped this cultural touchstone.
Kate Doerge presents her guide Reimagining Grief, which reframes the traditional stages of grief into five actionable healing practices. Drawing on personal experience, Doerge offers a compassionate roadmap for navigating loss and finding meaning in the aftermath of darkness.
A monthly romance book club for readers of all subgenres—historical, paranormal, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and more. This month discusses *The Isle in the Silver Sea* by Tasha Suri. The club meets the second Thursday of each month in person at Mill Valley Library. Audiobook and Large Print editions available upon request.
Devon Halliday discusses *To Stay, To Stay, To Stay*, exploring love's central contradiction—how it generates both bewilderment and clarity simultaneously. The book examines how love ultimately transcends this paradox through hard-earned understanding.
An exploration of the craft of children's picture book writing with Monica Wesolowska. The session examines the structural and stylistic conventions that govern picture books and how creative constraint can actually fuel imaginative storytelling. Learn both the established rules and the strategies for breaking them effectively.
Spurred by Christopher Nolan's film *Oppenheimer*, Phil Cousineau explores Homer's *Odyssey* as a timeless meditation on heroism, journey, and homecoming. Drawing on classical scholarship, film, and contemporary resonance, Cousineau illuminates how ancient epic speaks to modern questions of purpose and transformation. A talk for anyone drawn to literature, mythology, and the enduring power of storytelling.
Isabel Allende, New York Times-bestselling author, discusses her children's book *Perla and the Princess*, the third in her series about Perla the mighty dog. The story follows Perla as she saves her human brother Nico Rico and his friend from danger.
A workshop and book signing with Alejandra Siroka on using language intentionally to deepen relationships and cultivate authenticity. Siroka explores how the words we choose shape our emotional connections and communication patterns, offering practical tools for more peaceful and genuine interactions. Book signing and refreshments provided.
Copperfield's Books welcomes local author Teri Roche Drobnick to discuss her memoir *Our Long Goodbye: A Daughter, a Father, a Best Friend*, a deeply moving exploration of family and loss.
At its heart, The Wild Scribe invites us to open a dialogue with the more-than-human world. Blending the beauty of nature writing with the immediacy of guided practice, this book speaks to anyone w...
A reading by LeeAnn Pickrell from her novel Tsunami, exploring the natural disaster through narrative. Organized by the Left Coast Writers and hosted by Book Passage.
A conversation with Sarah Cavanaugh, author of *Peaceful Exit*, exploring how we communicate about illness, caregiving, grief, loss, and aging. Cavanaugh, a writer, award-winning film producer, and founder of the Peaceful Exit movement, draws on her podcast interviews with figures like Anne Lamott and Alua Arthur to offer practical insights on planning, care, and navigating life's transitions. In conversation with Grace Kraaijvanger, founder of The Hivery.
Actor and director Edward Burns discusses his novel *The Marlboro Road Gang*, which follows a teenager's idyllic summer shadowed by growing responsibility and recognition of adult fallibility. Burns brings his filmmaking sensibility to literary storytelling.
Legal scholar and Strict Scrutiny podcast host Melissa Murray discusses her New York Times bestselling guide to understanding the U.S. Constitution for contemporary readers. Murray, Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at NYU Law School and coauthor of *The Trump Indictments*, explains how to read the Constitution as a document that places sovereignty in the people, with each amendment annotated with historical context and modern applications. The talk explores how citizens can engage with constitutional interpretation as courts shape its meaning and the nation's future.
Acclaimed author Charles Finch discusses his latest novel, *Midnight in the House of Commons*, in which amateur sleuth Charles Lenox investigates the murder of a Parliament member amid the glamorous high society of Victorian London.
Nicole Nelson discusses her debut novel *Family Language*, which follows an ambitious academic navigating motherhood and the structural misogyny embedded in the question of whether women can 'have it all.' Nelson explores the tensions between intellectual ambition and caregiving in contemporary life.
Mona Chalabi, Pulitzer Prize–winning data journalist and artist, discusses her visually striking exploration of money and poverty in America through the lives of ten individuals. The book combines data visualization with narrative to examine economic inequality and lived experience across the country.
Rebecca Handler presents her new novel *In the Round*, a metafictional work that nests a play within a novel within a larger narrative structure. Handler is the award-winning author of *Edie Richter is Not Alone*. She appears in conversation with Daniel Handler.
Author and podcast host Keltie Knight discusses her memoir *The F*ck Them Theory*, a guide to building confidence and living authentically on your own terms.
Willow Older discusses her illustrated gift book *Get Off That Screen!*, a humorous and candid guide for adults raising and educating children in the digital age. With delightful illustrations and wit, the book addresses the challenges of screen time and parenting in the modern world. Older appears in conversation with Erin Gordon at Book Passage.
New York Times bestselling author Cara Black discusses her novel *Huguette* and the research process behind it. Black will share images and stories from her Paris research, including locations like Boulogne-Billancourt and family-run cafés that inspired the novel. Attendees will learn how to incorporate setting detail into their writing, conduct on-site research, and create believable narratives across time. Black is author of the Aimée Leduc series and WWII thrillers *Three Hours in Paris* and *Night Flight to Paris*, and has won the Médaille de la Ville de Paris and multiple award nominations.
A joyful, mischievous, heartfelt picture book for children ages 6–10 and the adults in their lives. Jennifer Levi discusses her illustrated work with the Live Like Braun Foundation.
Matt O'Hara, in conversation with Rebecca Herman, discusses *The Flying Death*, a narrative history of how a modern pharmaceutical was born from Amazonian sources. The book traces the intersection of natural history, medicine, and indigenous knowledge, combining compelling storytelling with historical research.
A discussion of *Bogland*, a book exploring peatlands, climate change, and ecological science. Merritt R. Turetsky, a leading researcher on permafrost and peatland ecology, discusses her work with science journalist Ed Yong, author of *An Immense World*. The event combines environmental science expertise with accessible science communication.
A recurring romance book club for readers of all preferences—enemies to lovers, fake dating, forbidden love, historical, paranormal, and everything in between. This month the group discusses *An Offer From a Gentleman* by Julia Quinn. Meets the second Thursday of each month in person. Alternate formats (audiobook, Large Print) available upon request.
Multi-award-winning mystery author Rhys Bowen presents her latest work in the acclaimed Royal Spyness series, To Crown It All, featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch in a new adventure.
Zen teacher, poet, and author Norman Fischer discusses his new essay collection *The Great Road*, exploring what it means to engage fully in spiritual practice and embody our deepest aspirations. Fischer brings decades of experience in Zen Buddhism and contemplative writing to a meditation on practice, meaning, and transformation.
A memoir of resilience, love, and self-discovery by Sarita Sarvate. Named after a freedom fighter, protagonist Aruna must fight for her own liberation in this moving exploration of identity and personal transformation.
Greg Orfalea discusses his memoir *Wonder and Shame*, which follows Frank's quixotic mission to teach baseball to traumatized orphans in a refugee camp of half a million people. The book explores how to hold onto fair play, honesty, and respect in the face of overwhelming human suffering and displacement.
Veteran China expert and journalist Orville Schell discusses his investigation into China's prison labor network, the personal costs of reporting on state repression, and the enduring implications for human rights and press freedom. Schell brings decades of reporting experience and deep expertise in Chinese politics and society to bear on one of the most pressing geopolitical and humanitarian issues of our time.
Dr. Giulietta Octavio reads from and discusses her book Code Calm: How to Stand Your Ground Without Losing Yourself, exploring how cultivating greater awareness and self-understanding can help readers maintain boundaries and authenticity in challenging situations.
A memoir exploring spiritual longing and the search for an end to suffering through the author's experience as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. Paldrom Catharine Collins recounts both transcendent experiences and moments of disillusionment in her journey toward enlightenment.
A celebration of Phoebe Thompson's debut novel *Girls Our Age*, which follows three women navigating their late twenties together. Thompson discusses her literary exploration of friendship, ambition, and growing up in contemporary life.
Wilderness guide Hannah Hindley discusses her luminous debut essay collection, which weaves together natural history and personal stories across eighteen lyrical pieces. The work explores encounters with aquatic life and the human connection to wilderness, blending scientific observation with lyrical reflection on nature, love, and belonging.
Christy Scott Cashman discusses her debut novel *What Happened in Beulah*, a coming-of-age mystery in which a teenage girl uncovers dark secrets of her Smoky Mountain town while searching for a missing classmate. Perfect for fans of *Where the Crawdads Sing*.
Award-winning nature writer Marina Richie discusses her book *Feathered Forest*, which entwines the lives of birds with a hidden vertical world of wild trees. The work blends narrative, perception change, and memoir to explore the interconnected ecosystems of the forest canopy.
An exploration of creative potential and reinvention for women and non-binary people in midlife and beyond, examining how to challenge societal narratives of invisibility and creative limitation. Two authors discuss their own journeys of artistic growth and the possibilities for deepening creative practice at any life stage.
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