Local authors and out-of-towners, including debut and prolific mystery writers, are making in-person appearances across the Bay Area this month. Also in October: San Francisco’s huge literary festival Litquake, which turns 25 this year. Opening on Oct. 10, Litquake, as always, offers dozens of mostly free events and culminates on Oct. 26 with Lit Crawl, billed as the world’s largest literary pop-up event. Here are some other notable happenings. (To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.)
Oct. 4
Sheri T. Joseph: The Bay Area writer won 2024 American Fiction Awards for best new fiction, political thriller and science fiction for her debut novel “Edge of the Known World,” described by one reader as a “chilling portrait of genetic surveillance.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Oct. 5
The Forever Wave: The radio play listening party is presented by writer-director Nicole Gluckstern, whose tale is set in a drowned Bay Area, circa 2070, in which survivors occupy hilltops; the story reconceptualizes Dylan Thomas’ classic radio drama “Under Milk Wood” for a climate ravaged near-future, and the program is recommended for ages 13 and older. [2 to 4 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Oct. 8
Mary Burk: The local writer and stair walker speaks about the updated edition of the beloved “Stairway Walks in San Francisco: The Joy of Urban Exploring,” the book she co-authored with Adah Bakalinsky; it compiles 39 walks covering both well-known routes and hidden corridors. [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Oct. 8
Lynn Stegner: The award-winning novelist’s layered new book “The Half-Life Guilt” mixes environmental and family themes telling the story of a couple whose principles and emotions are tested as they fight to save the California gray whale from extinction. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, #74, Palo Alto]
Oct. 9
Mirabai Starr: The internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher speaks about her new book “Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground,” with best-selling Bay Area writer Anne Lamott. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Road, Corte Madera]
Oct. 10
Chuck Palahniuk: The “Fight Club” author speaks about his latest volume “Shock Induction,” in which promising high school students must choose between following their dreams or the security of money combined with a lifetime of servitude to the world’s wealthy elite. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 10
Christina Holloway: The Bay Area writer spent a decade researching and writing her debut novel “Whispers Across A Sea,” which traces three generations of an Anglo-Irish family navigating life in their adopted country of Ireland. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, #74, Palo Alto]
Oct. 10
Malcolm Gladwell: “The Tipping Point” author speaks with Michael Krasny to promote “Revenge of The Tipping Point,” which revisits the phenomenon of social epidemics and examines ways people have learned to shape the spread of ideas, viruses and trends; the ticketed ($45) event includes a copy of the book. [7 p.m., Angelico Hall, Dominican University, 20 Olive Ave., San Rafael]
Oct. 12
Santa Clara Library Comic Con: The seventh annual free event brings together Bay Area artists, comic book shops, cosplayers, makers and authors. RSVP requested. [10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Santa Clara City Library, Central Park, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara]
Oct. 12
Evan Rail: The “Free Pour” blogger, author of “The Absinthe Forger: A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Dangerous Spirit”—described as “astonishing” tale of “an eccentric grifter who blew up the lucrative black market for vintage bottles”—appears in conversation with San Francisco spirits writer Camper English. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Oct. 14
Ariel Goldstein: The tour leader, who heads up and organizes explorations of Jewish communities across the globe, speaks about his new book “From Moses to Moisesville,” a memoir that also profiles Jewish life and history; RSVP requested. [6 p.m., Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., San Francisco]
Oct. 14
Renee Bracey Sherman: The Washington D.C. reproductive justice activist and abortion storyteller shares information about the title she co-authored, “Liberating Abortion: Claiming Our History, Sharing Our Stories, and Building the Reproductive Future We Deserve.” [5:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Oct. 16
Carson Ellis: Appearing with fellow best-selling children’s book author Mac Barnett, Ellis releases her first adult title, the unique illustrated memoir “One Week in January,” which excerpts a detailed journal she wrote after moving into an artists’ warehouse in Portland whose residents included her future husband Colin Meloy, frontman of The Decemberists. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Oct. 19
Jude Berman: The local author, editor and publisher’s new book of feminist historical fiction “The Vow” imagines the life of Angelica Kauffman, a successful 18th century Swiss Neoclassical painter and one of two women founders of London’s Royal Academy. [3 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View]
Oct. 19
Terry Winckler: The Alameda writer launches his second book “Voice Came Down the Mountain,” his account of meeting a bold leader of guerrilla forces on a volcano during Guatemala’s revolution. A key theme is how U.S. policies have led to today’s immigration crisis. [3 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
Oct. 20
John Stamos: The actor appears in a non-seated meet-and-greet to promote “If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir”; the ticketed ($24) event includes a copy of the book. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Oct. 22
Diana R. Chambers: The novelist, a part-time Californian, speaks with Rhys Bowen to launch “The Secret War of Julia Child,” a thriller inspired by Child’s real-life work in the Office of Strategic Services in Asia during World War II, before she became a famous foodie. [6 p.m., Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 22
Ritu Mukerji: The Bay Area writer launches “Murder by Degrees,” a 19th century Philadelphia-set novel about a pioneering woman doctor investigating the disappearance of a young patient, in conversation with Cara Black, author of the Aimee Leduc mystery series. [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Oct. 25
Diana R. Chambers: The novelist, who splits her time between California and France, hosts a second launch of The Secret War of Julia Child,” inspired by Child’s work in the Office of Strategic Services in Asia during World War II, before she became a groundbreaking cookbook author. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol]
Oct. 25
Ross Gay: Speaking with Aracelis Girmay, the poet and essayist known for focusing on joy, and whose latest collection is 2023’s “The Book of (More) Delights,” appears in a ticketed ($54) event presented by City Arts & Lectures. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 333 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Oct. 26
Michael Connelly: The veteran best-selling crime writer is promoting “The Waiting: A Ballard and Bosch Novel” in a ticketed ($34) event that includes a copy of the book. [4 p.m., Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 27
Michael Connelly: Appearing with Michael Krasny, the popular crime writer discusses “The Waiting: A Ballard and Bosch Novel” in a ticketed ($40-$150 VIP) event presented by Copperfield’s Books. [5 p.m., Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol]
Oct. 28
Diana R. Chambers: The historical fiction writer continues her tour to promote “The Secret War of Julia Child,” a novel inspired by the famed chef’s secret espionage service in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II; RSVP requested. [6 p.m., Napa Bookmine, 1625 Second St., Napa]
Oct. 30
Murder at the Monument: Retired Burlingame Police Chief Jack Van Etten retells the story of a March 1986 murder at the Burlingame train station he worked on as a young detective sergeant in a free event presented by the Burlingame Historical Society. [7 p.m., Public Library, Lane Room, 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame]
Oct. 30
Diana R. Chambers: The historical fiction writer is promoting “The Secret War of Julia Child,” based on Child’s real-life work in a government spy station during World War II and before she turned to cookbook authorship. [6 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto]
The post October 2024 author events: Diana R. Chambers, Sheri T. Joseph, Chuck Palahniuk, Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Connelly, John Stamos, Ritu Mukerji, Ross Gay, Litquake, Lit Crawl appeared first on Local News Matters.