California writers of national repute such as Tommy Orange share the spotlight with heavyweights Fran Lebowitz, Calvin Trillin and Alex Michaelides who come to town to promote their work. Also, esteemed writers Ishmael Reed, Joseph Cassara, Charlie Jane Anders and Dave Eggers participate in a local launch for “Fourteen Days,” a collaborative novel set in a New York tenement at the beginning of the pandemic written by dozens of Authors Guild members—many who are famous.
To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
Feb. 1
Joan Gelfand: The San Francisco poet-writer is promoting “Outside Voices,” her memoir set in 1970s Berkeley and a tale of how the power of community brought about innovation, social change and self-discovery. [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Feb. 1
Heather White: The environmentalist, author and creator of “One Green Thing” (a nonprofit organization and book) heads up a Silicon Valley Reads discussion about how individuals can make a difference fighting effects of climate change by adopting a daily practice of sustainability. [5:30 p.m., East San José Carnegie Branch Library, 1102 E Santa Clara St., San Jose]
Feb. 1
Richie Unterberger: The teacher and author of numerous rock history books appears to promote two new volumes, “Bob Marley and The Wailers: The Ultimate Illustrated History” and “In the Groove: The Vinyl Record and Turntable Revolution.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
Feb. 4
Paul Madonna: The 20th anniversary of the author-illustrator’s San Francisco-centric comic series “All Over Coffee” is celebrated at a free reception. [4 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco]
Feb. 4
Jill Fordyce: The writer and attorney, born and raised in Bakersfield, launches her debut novel “Belonging,” a decades-spanning, California set, coming-of-age story detailing the life and loves of a young woman overcoming a traumatic childhood. [4 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, #74, Palo Alto]
Feb. 6
Andrew Alden: Inspired the by Loma Prieta earthquake, the geologist-science writer discusses “Deep Oakland: How Geology Shaped a City,” in which he reveals how Oakland’s “silt, soil and subterranean sinews” connect to its history and future; the talk is presented by A Great Good Place for Books. [6:30 p.m., Oakland Public Library, Montclair Branch, 1687 Mountain Blvd., Oakland]
Feb. 6
Roger Rapoport: The veteran reporter who covered an infamous kidnapping in 1974 introduces his new historical fiction title based on the huge news story, “Searching for Patty Hearst: A True Crime Novel” in one of numerous local events, for details visit pattyhearst.com. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Feb. 7
Mosab Abu Toha & Friends: In a benefit for the Middle East Children’s Alliance, a group of poets, including the author via Zoom from Cairo, read in its entirety, “Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear,” the award-winning debut volume by the Palestinian poet and founder of the Edward Said Library in Gaza. [7 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco]
Feb. 8
Fran Lebowitz: Copperfield’s Books presents the acclaimed New York humorist and essayist in conversation with Karin Demarist in a ticketed ($39 or $55) event. [7:30 p.m., Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa]
Feb. 11
The Authors Guild: Ishmael Reed, Joseph Cassara, Charlie Jane Anders and Dave Eggers, contributors to “Fourteen Days,” an “amazing” collaborative novel set in a New York tenement at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, discuss the book, which features writing by dozens of famed authors, from Margaret Atwood to John Grisham to Celeste Ng and Scott Turow. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Feb. 12
Kate Quinn and Janie Chang: The best-selling historical fiction writers discuss “The Phoenix Crown” about the fortunes of two women in 1906 San Francisco—a soprano with a floundering career and Chinatown embroideress determined to escape an arranged marriage —at a ticketed ($24 includes book) event. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Feb. 13
Anne Belden, Paul Gullixson: The award-winning local journalists discuss “Inflamed: Abandonment, Heroism, and Outrage in Wine Country’s Deadliest Firestorm,” which details stories of the senior citizens devastated by the deadly wildfires in Northern California in October 2017. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Feb. 13
Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond: The California editor speaks about “Relations: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices,” a collection of poems, stories and essays offering a “striking vision of a meeting place of perspectives” and exemplifying the diversity of Black people’s experiences. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
Feb. 13
Yangsze Choo: The California writer, a Malaysian of Chinese descent who authored the best-selling “The Ghost Bride” (which was adapted into a TV series) and “The Night Tiger,” speaks about her new novel “The Fox Wife,” which is set in 1908 Manchuria and described as “equal parts detective story, folk tale and family saga.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, #74, Palo Alto]
Feb. 16
Alex Michaelides: The author of “The Silent Patient” and “The Maidens” promotes his latest, “The Fury, described as “a masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex-movie star and her famous friends whose trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder” in a ticketed ($34 includes book) event. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco]
Feb. 17
Clare Frank: Silicon Valley Reads presents the author of “Burnt: A Memoir of Fighting Fire,” in which California’s female chief of fire protection looks back at her pioneering path in a male-dominated field, taking readers inside station houses, on daily calls, and wildfire campaigns. [10 a.m., San Jose Clubhouse, 15480 Union Ave., San Jose]
Feb. 17
Anna Wong: The San Francisco graphic designer and author of “Doubly Happy: ABCs for ABCs” and “Doubly Lucky: The Auspicious Life” shares her fun, educational books for kids of all ages, which unite elements of Chinese and American cultures. [11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur]
Feb. 20
Sarah Ruiz-Grossman: The former HuffPost reporter speaks about her debut novel “A Fire So Wild,” which details the varying effects of a threatening wildfire on Berkeley residents of different socioeconomic backgrounds. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Feb. 21
Calvin Trillin: The longtime New Yorker writer and best-selling author discusses his new volume “The Lede: Dispatches from a Life in the Press” at a ticketed ($10) event. [7 p.m., Rakestraw Books, 3 Railroad Ave., Danville]
Feb. 22
Ada Limón: The 24th poet laureate of The United States and award-winning author of “The Carrying” and “The Hurting Kind” appears in conversation with Alexis Madrigal in a ticketed ($39) City Arts & Lectures presentation. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Feb. 24
Calvin Trillin: The longtime New Yorker writer and best-selling author discusses his new volume “The Lede: Dispatches from a Life in the Press” with Michael Krasny, former host of KQED “Forum” in a ticketed ($35 includes book) event. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Feb. 24
Tariq Trotter: Also known as Black Thought, the platinum-selling co-founder of The Roots and acclaimed rapper speaks about his memoir “The Upcycled Self” with Jelani Cobb in a City Arts & Lectures ticketed ($49 includes book) event. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Feb. 25
Keith Scott Ferris and Lia Smith: Illustrator Ferris and writer Smith speak about “Muni Is My Ride: Portraits of Muni in Words & Images,” a collection of drawings of San Francisco public transit passengers, portraits of operators and line drawings of bus stops accompanied by interviews of workers who describe the day-to-day realities of being on the job. [2 p.m., Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Feb. 25
John Sargent: The former chief executive of Macmillan is promoting his memoir “Turning Pages: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher,” his behind-the-scenes look at huge moments in publishing, including encounters with VIPS from Barack Obama to Monica Lewinsky to Jeff Bezos. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Feb. 27
Tommy Orange: The multi-award-winning author of “There There” speaks about his new novel “Wandering Stars” in a City Arts & Lectures ticketed talk ($49) with writer Dave Eggers. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Feb. 27
Margaret Wilkerson Sexton: The San Francisco Public Library presents the Oakland novelist speaking about “On the Rooftop,” her 1950s San Francisco-set story of a mother whose dream of musical stardom for her daughters collides with the daughters’ own ambitions with Bay Area historian and librarian Dorothy Lazard. [6:30 p.m., African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St., San Francisco]
Feb. 29
Ron Gonzales: The former mayor of San Jose appears with his writing partner and wife, Guisselle Nunez to discuss “Life in the FishBowl: Lessons to Help you Survive and Thrive in Elected Office,” described as a “deep dive into the personal side of politics that no one talks about.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1875 S. Bascom Ave., #600, Campbell]
Feb. 29
Manjula Martin: The West Sonoma County writer, in conversation with Obi Kaufmann, launches “The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History”; the book is a memoir, natural history and literary inquiry describing her experience in Northern California during 2020’s ferocious fire season. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
Feb. 29
Tommy Orange: Bookshop Santa Cruz and The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz present the popular Oakland writer speaking about his new novel “Wandering Stars” with bestselling “Nightcrawling” author Leila Mottley in a ticketed ($38 includes book) event. [7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz]