Local fiction and nonfiction authors take the spotlight, joined by a few visiting celebrities on tour promoting new titles.
To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
Nov. 3
Anne Belden and Paul Gullixson: The local writers, both veteran journalists, discuss “Inflamed: Abandonment, Heroism, and Outrage in Wine Country’s Deadliest Firestorm,” which tells the story of senior citizens left in the path of the 2017 tragedy and how attempts to attain accountability reveal increasing risks to the vulnerable older population. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, Montgomery Village, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
Nov. 4
Parini Shroff: The Bay Area writer discusses her acclaimed humorous debut novel “The Bandit Queens” — about a young Indian woman who finds false rumors that she killed her husband surprisingly useful until other women ask her to help get rid of their husbands — at four author talks presented by Contra Costa libraries. [2 p.m. Nov. 4 at 109 Civic Drive, Hercules; 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at 2 Monticello Ave., Pleasant Hill; 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at 100 Montgomery St., San Ramon; and 11 a.m. Nov. 18 at 35 Oak St., Brentwood]
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz: The San Francisco writer speaks about the 10th anniversary edition of “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States,” her American Book Award-winning title about Native American struggle and resistance that reframes more than 400 years of U.S. history. [3 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Alicia Smith: The Bay Area teacher and author of the children’s book “The Mess” signs copies of her new picture book, “A Father’s Love,” a heartwarming story featuring all Black characters about a loving father-daughter relationship. [3 p.m., Barnes & Noble, The Veranda, 2025 Diamond Blvd., Suite 125, Concord; Smith also appears at noon Nov. 18 at Books Inc. Pruneyard, 1875 S. Bascom Ave., #600, Campbell]
Dave Iverson: The author of “Winter Stars: An Elderly Mother, an Aging Son and Life’s Final Journey,” a documentary film producer-director and retired KQED broadcast journalist, speaks about caregiving in an event presented by AARP California at the Oakland Library; registration required at events.aarp.org/DaveIverson. [10:30 a.m., Main Library, 125 14th St., Oakland]
Susan Kiyo Ito: The Bay Area actor, editor and writer launches her book “I Would Meet You Anywhere,” her memoir about her search for her birth parents, in conversation with Lisa Marie Rollins and a taiko performance. [7 p.m., Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, to register for the free event, go to eventbrite.com/e/susan-itos-book-launch-party-tickets.
Nov. 6
Tim O’Brien: The author of the acclaimed short story collection “The Things They Carried” is promoting his new satirical novel “America Fantastica,” his first new fiction in two decades. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 7
Richard Rothstein and Leah Rothstein: Berkeley Public Library presents the Bay Area father and daughter speaking about “Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law,” their book offering programs that people can undertake in their own communities to address historical inequities. [6:30 p.m., Black Repertory Group Theater, 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley]
Nov. 9
Writers and Musicians in Painterland: City Lights and the Mid-Century Art and Music Explosion: The free online 70th anniversary event exploring the San Francisco bookstore and publisher’s “role as a cultural hub where literature meets art and music” is moderated by Peter Maravelis and features Anastasia Aukman, John Bugg, John Mathias, Lewis Watts, Laura Whitcomb and Paul Yamazaki. [6 p.m., registration required at citylights.com.]
Daniel Gumbiner: The Oakland novelist, nominated for a National Book Award for “The Boatbuilder,” speaks with Alta Journal editor Blaise Zerega about his new California-set book, “Fire in the Canyon.” [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 W. Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Viet Thanh Nguyen: City Arts & Lectures presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist (“The Sympathizer”) in a discussion with journalist Shereen Marisol Meraji about his memoir “A Man of Two Faces” at a ticketed ($49) talk. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Kevin F. Adler: The founder of Miracle Messages, a nonprofit helping people experiencing homelessness rebuild their social support systems, speaks about “When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., Town and Country Village, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; also at 6 p.m. Nov. 17 at Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Nov. 10
Tracy K. Smith: The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet discusses “To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul,” which combines memoir and history, with scholar john a. powell in a City Arts & Lectures ticketed event ($49) that includes a copy of the book. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Nov. 12
Pam Peirce: The San Francisco gardener and columnist speaks about her fully revised 30th anniversary edition of the ultimate food gardening bible, “Golden Gate Gardening: The Complete Guide to Year-Round Food Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area & Coastal California.” [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, S.F.]
Christopher Paolini: The best-selling author of “Eragon” signs copies of “Murtagh” and answers questions in a ticketed ($5-$35) event presented by Bookshop West Portal. [2 p.m., United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Ave., San Francisco]
Nov. 13
Michael Lewis: The “Moneyball” author speaks with neuroscientist Indre Viskontas about “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon,” his profile of cryptocurrency exchange founder Sam Bankman-Fried, in a ticketed ($49) City Arts & Lectures event. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]
Nov. 14
John King: The San Francisco Chronicle writer and critic, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, discusses “Portal: San Francisco’s Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities.” [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, S.F.]
Andrea Lankford: The former park ranger and author speaks about her new true-crime book, “Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail” which she wrote with assistance from intrepid amateurs she encountered online. [7 p.m., Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library, 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette]
Nov. 15
Susan Kiyo Ito: The Bay Area writer appears in conversation with Faith Adiele, an Oakland writer of Nordic-American and Nigerian descent, on the launch of her memoir “I Would Meet You Anywhere,” in which she details her search for her Japanese American and Caucasian birth parents. [7 p.m., The Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
Nov. 17
Angela Hume: The writer, critic and instructor releases “Deep Care: The Radical Activists Who Provided Abortions, Defied the Law, and Fought to Keep Clinics Open,” which details the 1970s activities of feminists who learned how to safely end pregnancies in non-medical settings. A portion of proceeds from book sales will benefit Keep Our Clinics, a nonprofit supporting independent abortion clinics. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
Nov. 18
David Brooks: The writer-commentator appears with critic Steven Winn to discuss “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen,” which draws from science, philosophy, history and theater, in a ticketed ($49) City Arts & Lectures program. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]
Nov. 19
Jill K. Robinson: The Bay Area native and co-author of “100 Things to Do in San Francisco Before You Die” discusses her latest book, “San Francisco Scavenger,” which offers readers the opportunity to solve 360 rhyming clues on a hunt through 19 neighborhoods. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, S.F.]
Nov. 27
Henry Winkler: The Emmy-winning actor, author, comedian, producer and director is on tour promoting his memoir “Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond” at a ticketed ($55-$85) talk that includes a copy of the book. [7 p.m., Curran, 445 Geary St., San Francisco]
Nov. 28
Gail Tsukiyama: The Bay Area historical novelist speaks about her newest book, “The Brightest Star,” which is based on the life actress Anna May Wong, the first Asian American woman to gain fame in Hollywood’s early days. [6:30 p.m., Montclair Library, 1687 Mountain Blvd., Oakland]
The post Bay Area book calendar: Author, literary events for November 2023 appeared first on Local News Matters.