Local writers and well-known out-of-towners are making in-person appearances across the Bay Area this month. And San Francisco’s huge literary festival Litquake, with dozens of mostly free events (culminating in the Oct. 21 Mission District Lit Crawl) begins Oct. 5. Here are some other notable happenings. (To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.)
Oct. 3
Katya Cengel: The freelance reporter from Oakland, who was institutionalized as a youngster, discusses her memoir “Straitjackets and Lunch Money: A 10-Year-Old in a Psychosomatic Ward” with Berkeley writer Frances Dinkelspiel. [7 p.m., Books Inc., Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Oct. 3
Diana Helmuth: The award-winning Northern California nonfiction writer discusses her new book, “The Witching Year: A Memoir of Earnest Fumbling Through Modern Witchcraft,” described by one critic as “a witty crash course in witchcraft.” [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco; also at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at A Great Good Place for Books, 6120 La Salle Ave., Oakland]
Oct. 5
Kevin Fisher-Paulson: The San Francisco Chronicle columnist and sheriff’s deputy speaks about his second compilation of stories, “Secrets of the Blue Bungalow: More True Tales of Family Life in the Outer, Outer, Outer, Outer Excelsior.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View; also at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Oct. 6
Geri Halliwell-Horner: Also known as Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls, the author is promoting her new children’s book, “Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen” at the standing room event, which includes a photo-opportunity with Geri and requires purchase of the $18.99 book. [6 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Oct. 7
Keegan Michael Key and Elle Key: City Arts & Lectures and SF Sketchfest host a ticketed ($59) talk with the pair about “The History of Sketch Comedy,” described as “part master class and part memoir.” [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]
Oct. 8
Danna Staaf: The San Jose science communicator, marine biologist and author of “Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods,” celebrates her new volume, “The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives: A Natural History of Cephalopods.” [3 p.m., Books Inc., 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell]
Oct. 10
Justin Torres: The Southern California author of the best-selling “We Are the Animals” discusses his new novel “Blackouts,” an inventive erotic tale inspired by “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” with award-winning short story writer Jonathan Escoffery. [6 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus Ave., S.F.]
Oct. 11
Katherine Spillar, Camille Hahn, Martha Mendoza, Carol Seajay: The new anthology “50 Years of Ms.: The Best of the Pathfinding Magazine That Ignited a Revolution” is celebrated in a talk with Ms. executive editor Spillar, managing editor Hahn and contributors Mendoza and Seajay. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 11
Minna Dubin: The Bay Area writer speaks about her book “Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood” with Jenny True, author of “You Look Tired: An Excruciatingly Honest Guide to New Parenthood.” [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., S.F.]
Oct. 11
Walter Isaacson: The author of the definitive Steve Jobs biography appears to promote his new book “Elon Musk” at a ticketed ($25-$90) event presented by Kepler’s Books. [7 p.m., SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St., S.F.]
Oct. 11
George Saunders: City Arts & Lectures presents the prize-winning novelist in discussion with writer Ingrid Rojas Contreras about his newest short story collection “Liberation Day” at a ticketed ($49) talk that includes a copy of the book. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]
Oct. 12
Georgeanne Brennan and Robert Holmes: The James Beard award-winning cookbook author and travel-food photographer discuss “Pistachio: Savory & Sweet Recipes Inspired by World Cuisines.” part of a series of nut cookbooks. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Oct. 13
Barbara Kingsolver: The Pulitzer Prize winner speaks about her acclaimed novel “Demon Copperhead” in a ticketed talk ($42) that includes a copy of the book. [7 p.m., Angelico Hall, Dominican University, 20 Olive Ave., San Rafael]
Oct. 14
Kim Cross: The journalist-historian speaks about “In Light of All Darkness: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America’s Child” in a ticketed ($15-$45) discussion with guests including Cross’ father-in-law, Eddie Freyer, an FBI agent on the famous case that, although ending tragically, inspired life-saving changes in investigative procedures. [6:30 p.m., Petaluma Community Center, 320 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma]
Oct. 14
Henry Winkler, Lin Oliver and Dan Santat: The best-selling children’s authors and illustrators are promoting their new chapter book “Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash” at a ticketed event requiring purchase of the $14.99 book. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Oct. 18
Neil deGrasse Tyson: The astrophysicist, cosmologist and co-author of 2021’s “Cosmic Queries: StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We are Going,” speaks on “The Search for Life in the Universe” in the ticketed ($60-$250) talk. [7:30 p.m., Luther Burbank Center, 950 Mark West Springs Road Santa Rosa]
Oct. 19
mimi tempestt: The Berkeley poet, whose work has been described as “incendiary, lyrical poems of liberation from the phantasm of Black womanhood,” celebrates the publication of “the delicacy of embracing spirals” in conversation with Truong Tran. [6 p.m. City Lights, 261 Columbus Ave., S.F.]
Oct. 19
Molly Shannon: The delightful comedic actress best known for her “Saturday Night Live” characters is promoting “Hello Molly!: A Memoir” in conversation with moderator Karin Demarest in a ticketed ($55-$99) event. [7:30 p.m., Luther Burbank Center, 950 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa]
Oct. 20
Jann Eyrich: The Sonoma County author’s new eco-mystery “The Rotting Whale,” the first in the Hugo Sandoval series, details the exploits of a San Francisco building inspector; Eyrich appears in conversation with Bay Area publisher Vicki DeArmon. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol]
Oct. 21
Alec Scott: The travel writer and former lawyer, author of “Oldest San Francisco,” speaks with retired Books Inc. owner Michael Tucker about the history of Books Inc., the bookselling industry and the history of San Francisco. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 3515 California St., San Francisco; Scott also appears at 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, S.F.]
Oct. 22
Latanya Mapp Frett: The Global Fund for Women chief executive officer shares insights from her book “The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact–Driving Movements We Need Now.” [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, S.F.]
Oct. 25
John J. Berger: The El Cerrito environmental science and policy specialist, journalist and prize-winning author shares insights from “Solving the Climate Crisis: Frontline Reports from the Race to Save the Earth.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Oct. 26
Mary Camarillo: The Southern California novelist discusses her new book, “Those People Behind Us,” an empathetic story about politics among the community in a diverse beach town, with Bay Area writer Linda Ulleseit. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1875 S. Bascom Ave., #600, Campbell]
Oct. 26
Jill K. Robinson: The Bay Area native and co-author of “100 Things to Do in San Francisco Before You Die” is promoting her new book, “San Francisco Scavenger,” which offers readers the opportunity to solve 360 rhyming clues on a hunt through 19 neighborhoods across the city. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 2251 Chestnut St., S.F.]
Oct. 28
Minna Dubin: The Bay Area writer and commentator shares information from “Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood” in conversation with Yael Goldstein-Love, author of “The Possibilities.” [4 p.m., North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley]
Oct. 29
Curtis Chin: The “gay ABC, or American-born Chinese” man, cofounder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, speaks about his new release, “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir.” [6 p.m., Books Inc., Town and Country Village, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto]