July 2024 author events: Jude Berman, Olivia Gatwood, Marjan Kamali, Janie Kim, Penny Lane, Elizabeth Stix, and more

Best-selling natural history writer Amy Stewart is making several local appearances to promote her latest title "The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession." (Courtesy Scott Brown)

Debut novels, short stories and memoirs by locals are up for discussion and sale. And Amy Stewart, popular author of the “The Drunken Botanist,” has several events in the region to promote her new title, The Tree Collections: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.

July 2 

(Courtesy Many Names Press) 

Dena Taylor and Wilma Chandler: The editors speak about “When a Woman Tells the Truth: Writings and Creative Work by Women Over 80,” an anthology of stories, poems, essays and memories about resting, reflecting, doing new things and experience sadness, grief, adventure, romance. [6 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]

July 5 

(Courtesy Spark Press)

Jude Berman: Meet and greet the Berkeley writer and editor, whose debut novel “The Die” is a techno-thriller about a tech writer and game developer who uncovers an international conspiracy. [Noon to 2 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 1300 First St., Suite 398, Napa]

(Courtesy The Dial Press) 

July 9 

Olivia Gatwood: In conversation with Oakland poet Hieu Minh Nguyen, the writer launches her dark, California-set debut novel, “Whoever You Are, Honey,” which “explores how women shape themselves beneath the gaze of love, friendship and the algorithm.” [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]

(Courtesy Gallery Books)

July 9 

Marjan Kamali: The Boston author of the best-selling “The Stationery Shop” is touring to promote “The Lion Women of Tehran,” a coming-of-age novel about two friends that is set during three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]

(Courtesy Alcove Press) 

July 9 

Janie Kim: The writer, a Stanford University student, launches her debut novel “We Carry the Sea in Our Hands,” about the journey of biologist, a Korean orphan and former foster child, to discover her roots. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, #74, Palo Alto]

(Courtesy The New Press) 

July 10

Rebecca Kormos: The Berkeley wildlife biologist speaks with activist Liza Keānuenueokalani Williams about “Intertwined: Women, Nature, and Climate Justice,” which argues that greater inclusion of women in conservation and climate science is key to the future of the planet. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]

(Courtesy Harper Alley) 

July 10  

Maggie Tokuda-Hall: The Oakland graphic novelist is promoting “The Worst Ronin,” about a pair of female samurai on a quest that gets complicated, in an appearance with fellow graphic novelist Thien Pham. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]

July 11  

(Courtesy Simon & Schuster) 

Safiya Sinclair: The Jamaican author of the award-winning memoir “How to Say Babylon” speaks about the book on its paperback release with Jonathan Escoffery; registration required at eventbrite.  [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]

(Courtesy Black Odyssey Media)

July 13 

Brian Copeland: The performer and author of “Not a Genuine Black Man,” the long-running solo play, signs copies of his debut crime thriller “Outraged,” in which a TV reporter and his sister, a homicide detective, investigate the slayings of Bay Area cops who shot unarmed African Americans. [1 p.m., Barnes & Noble, Hacienda Crossings, 4972 Dublin Blvd., Dublin]

(Courtesy She Writes Press) 

July 13 

Penny Lane: The Mill Valley writer discusses “Redeemed: A Memoir of a Stolen Childhood,” which describes how she was taken as a 4-year-old by her Hungarian father she didn’t know, had to live in a foreign household with an abusive stepmother, then later was imprisoned by fundamentalist Christianity. [3 p.m., Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco]

July 14 

Courtesy Black Lawrence Press) 

Elizabeth Stix: The Berkeley writer launches her debut short story collection “Things I Want Back From You,” with 20 linked stories featuring “hopelessly flawed characters,” in conversation with versatile Bay Area writer Tom Barbash. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]

(Courtesy The Open Field) 

July 14 

Banning Lyon: The Martinez backpacking guide and instructor’s new book “The Chair and the Valley: A Memoir of Trauma, Healing, and the Outdoors” details the dramatic turn his life took when a school guidance counselor falsely believed he was suicidal. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]

(Courtesy Trio House Press) 

July 16 

Christian Gullette: The San Francisco poet reads from “Coachella Elegy,” his award-winning collection exploring “the queer promised lands and poolside utopias of the American West even as they are threatened by environmental destruction.” [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]

(Courtesy Wtaw Press) 

July 18  

Molly Giles: The award-winning, San Francisco-born short-story writer speaks with short story writer Jane Ciabattari about her first non-fiction work, “Life Span: Impressions of a Lifetime Spent Crossing and Recrossing the Golden Gate Bridge,” described as a “memoir in flash form.” [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]

July 19  

(Courtesy The Minimalists) 

The Minimalists’ Everything Tour 2024: Book Passage presents Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus in an appearance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Everything That Remains,” the bestselling book that started a movement about living with less stuff. [6 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco, RSVP requested]

(Courtesy Algonquin Books) 

July 23 

Tomas Moniz: Appearing with writer Kate Schatz, the acclaimed Oakland author discusses his debut novel “All Friends Are Necessary,” about a man facing challenges in Seattle who returns to the Bay Area, where he builds community; it has been called an “anthem to both queer and platonic love.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]

(Courtesy OR Books)

July 24 

Robert Edwards: The blogger, filmmaker and former infantry and intelligence officer in the U.S. Army speaks about “Resisting the Right: How to Survive the Gathering Storm,” described as a handbook for living under a “right-wing autocracy in the U.S.”  [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]

(Courtesy Hogarth) 

July 24 

Sarah Manguso: The author of “Very Cold People” and “300 Arguments” speaks about her latest book, “Liars,” the story of a marriage as it burns to the ground, and of a woman “rising from its ashes,” with journalist Moira Donegan. [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]

(Courtesy Public Affairs) 

July 24 

Dr. Dean-David Schillinger: The University of California, San Francisco primary care physician’s “Telltale Hearts: A Public Health Doctor, His Patients, and the Power of Story” argues that extensive tests and medications alone don’t save lives and that healing comes when patients are able candidly share their stories. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]

(Courtesy Random House) 

July 23 

Amy Stewart: The best-selling nature writer, author of “The Drunken Botanist,” is promoting “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession,” a collection of vignettes about people who are dedicated to learning about rare trees in three Northern California appearances: 7 p.m. July 23 at Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley; 7 p.m. July 24 at Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz; and 7 p.m. July 25 at Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma; pre-registration required]

Sandwich (Courtesy Harper) 

July 25 

Catherine Newman: The author of “We All Want Impossible Things” is promoting her new novel “Sandwich,” described as a “moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go.” [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 W. Portal Ave., San Francisco]

(Courtesy Mulholland Books) 

July 27 

Heather Chavez: The Santa Rosa novelist speaks with Samantha Downing and reads from her latest book “What We’ll Burn Last,” in which two entangled families in a California neighborhood race to find answers about a missing teenage girl as a wildfire erupts nearby. [3 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 700 Fourth St., Santa Rosa]

(Courtesy The Unnamed Press) 

July 28 

Michael Castleman: The San Francisco writer, a longtime journalist, speaks about his 20th book, “The Untold Story of Books: A Writer’s History of Publishing,” described as “first and only history of publishing told from a veteran author’s point of view,” on its paperback release. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]

(Courtesy Harper) 

July 31 

Willy Vlautin: The novelist and founding member of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines speaks about his latest book, “Horse,” about a journeyman musician who cannot escape the tragedies in his past. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]

The post July 2024 author events: Jude Berman, Olivia Gatwood, Marjan Kamali, Janie Kim, Penny Lane, Elizabeth Stix, Heather Chavez, Tomas Moniz, Amy Stewart, The Minimalists appeared first on Local News Matters.

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