Historical fiction, debut novels, memoirs, fantasy and non-fiction by California writers and visiting authors are in this summer’s lineup. To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
June 1
Brian Copeland: The Bay Area actor, comedian, author, playwright and talk show host (best known for his long-running solo show “Not a Genuine Black Man”) discusses “Shadows of Justice,” his second thriller featuring San Francisco investigative reporter Topher Davis. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 4
Ilana DeBare: Appearing in conversation with San Francisco writer Audrey Ferber, the Oakland author, a former San Francisco Chronicle reporter, launches “Shaken Free,” the sequel to her speculative fiction debut “Shaken Loose”; the new book finds her 30-year-old heroine returning to Earth (moving in with her parents in Mill Valley!) after escaping Hell. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
June 5
Ilana DeBare: A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland hosts Berkeley writer Monica Wesolowska speaking with the author of “Shaken Free,” her new sequel to “Shaken Loose.” The novels cover the adventures of Annie Maple, who comes back to Earth after dying and spending time in Hell. [7 p.m., Faction Brewing Company, 2501 Monarch St., Alameda]
June 6
Dylan Park-Pettiford: The Southern California writer and director for TV, who grew up in the South Bay, speaks about his memoir “Roadside: My Journey to Iraq and the Long Road Home,” about which one critic said, it “captures the gritty reality of combat and its aftermath, laying bare the raw essence of war.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1875 S. Bascom Ave #600, Campbell]
June 6
Janelle Brown: The New York Times bestselling author is promoting her new novel “What Kind of Paradise,” described by one reader as a “twisty, sharp coming-of-age story for our strange techno-utopian times.” [6:30 p.m., A Great Good Place for Books, 6120 La Salle Ave., Oakland]
June 7
Janelle Brown: The New York Times bestselling author of the novels “I’ll Be You,” “Pretty Things,” “Watch Me Disappear,” “All We Ever Wanted Was Everything” and “This Is Where We Live,” discusses her latest title, “What Kind of Paradise,” in which a teen who breaks free from her father’s world of isolation to discover that her whole life has been a lie; registration required here. [3 p.m., Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton]
June 7
Joanne Howard: In a meet-and-greet session, the Santa Rosa writer shares her historical fiction novel, “Sleeping in the Sun,” set in 1930s India during final years of colonial rule; it’s a coming-of-age story of an American boy and his missionary family facing new tensions with household servants when a friend moves in. [1 p.m., Copperfield’s, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
June 7
Jesse Q. Sutanto: Appearing with local author Jasmine Guillory, the bestselling author of “Dial A for Aunties” and “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” (and a University of California, Berkeley graduate) shares her new title in Disney’s Meant to Be collection, “Worth Fighting For,” which reimagines “Mulan” as a contemporary romance; admission to the ticketed ($19.31) includes a copy of the book.[6 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View]
June 7
Danielle Teller: The former doctor and Palo Alto author of “All the Ever Afters,” a twist on the Cinderella story, is promoting her new second novel “Forged”; set in the Gilded Age, it’s about an impoverished rural woman who flees to the city, chasing the American Dream and becoming a successful con artist. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 8
Blaine Corren: The Bay Area public affairs analyst with state government, a closet novelist, discusses “Club Tahoe,” his debut about a recent law school graduate and a fateful weekend of frivolity at his parents’ condo in Lake Tahoe. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 8
Debbie Hartung: The San Francisco artist, appearing in conversation with transformational coach and meditation teacher Julia Jane Bruno, speaks about her literary debut, “The Factory of Maladies: Seven Days on a San Francisco Psych Ward, A Memoir,” in which she chronicles her healing crisis. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 8
Susan Pick: The San Rafael resident, a former corporate communications professional, discusses her debut “The House on Harding Street”; the saga details what happens when a woman, who fled her family, returns home upon her father’s death. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 9
Jacinda Ardern: City Arts and Lectures hosts the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world’s youngest female head of government, who speaks about her memoir “A Different Kind of Power,” in which she chronicles her rise and inspires new leaders; tickets ($69-$79) to the event include a copy of the book. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
June 10
Karen E. Bender: Appearing in conversation with Berkeley writer Elizabeth Rosner, the novelist and short fiction writer, a National Book Award finalist, discusses “The Words of Dr. L: & Other Stories,” her new collection of speculative stories in which people survive in near-future dystopias that seem all-too-possible. [5 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 10
Hana Lee: The science fiction writer (and software builder) speaks about her newest novel “Flight of the Fallen,” a gritty, queer Mad Max-inspired fantasy”—and the second in a series that started with “Road to Ruin” —with bestselling fantasy author Andrea Stewart. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View]
June 10
Christopher Newman: The author of multiple Joe Dante detective novels speaks about “Found at Sea,” his latest book based on the true story of a 19-year-old whose world journey was interrupted by his arrest on drug charges in Bangkok, followed by incarceration, deportation, and finally, in 1972, a year aboard American merchant vessel. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto]
June 11
Andrew Lam: The award-winning local journalist and NPR commentator shares tales from “Stories from the Edge of the Sea,” his new collection of 14 tales with themes of love and loss, lust and grief, and longing and heartbreaks in the lives of Vietnamese immigrants and their children in California. [6 p.m., Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
June 11
Rob Franklin: Appearing with Oakland writer Leila Mottley, the author is promoting his debut novel “Great Black Hope,” about a queer Black Stanford graduate who comes of age on a journey with friends through the nightlife circuit, anonymous recovery rooms, Atlanta’s Black society, police investigations and courtroom dramas. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
June 12
Ashwin Gulati: The Marin resident, a longtime entrepreneur, executive and start-up consultant, shares “Soul Venture: A True Life and Death Journey Into the Startup”; in his 2025 hybrid memoir/guidebook he examines “unspoken truths” behind most startup failures, and rare successes. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 14
Isaac Fellman: San Mateo County Library and the San Mateo County Pride Celebration present the award-winning San Francisco writer and archivist, whose latest book is “Notes From a Regicide,” a story of trans self-discovery with a rich relatability and a science-fictional twist. [1:30 p.m., Central Park Recreation Center, 50 East Fifth Ave., San Mateo]
June 14
Gerald Henig: In “America’s Presidents: All Too Human,” the professor emeritus of history at California State University and author of “America’s Presidents: What Your History Teacher Never Told You” shares little-known accounts, outlandish stories and fun facts about U.S. presidents. [2 p.m., Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda]
June 18
Ashanti Branch: The teacher and youth mentor with cowriters discuss “Leading with Compassion: Cultivating Connection from the Inside Out,” in which they share how embracing compassion transformed their relationships to people, the world and the way they lead. [5:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
June 18
Penn Jillette: The performer, part of the famed magic duo Penn & Teller, speaks about his novel “Felony Juggler,” which draws on his own experience while telling a 1970s-set story of a street performer who becomes involved in a crime and must outwit his fellow conspirators. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 19
Kelly Ramsey: The author launches her memoir “Wildfire Days: A Woman, a Hotshot Crew, and the Burning American West,” in which she details her challenges working as a wildland firefighter on an elite, male-dominated crew, speaking with Manjula Martin, author of “The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History.” [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
June 20
James Crews and Brad Peacock: The Vermont couple, poets and editors, share their new anthology, “Love Is for All of Us: Poems of Tenderness and Belonging from the LGBTQ+ Community and Friends”; registration required here. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
June 23
Robert P. Baird: Appearing in conversation with “The Language of Flowers” author Vanessa Diffenbaugh, the writer shares his debut satirical novel “The Nimbus,” about what happens after toddler son of an ambitious divinity school professor mysteriously starts to glow. [7 p.m., 2251 Books Inc., Chestnut St., San Francisco]
June 24
Greg Le Sage: The scientist from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford discusses her debut novel “Quantum Eschaton,” an “it could happen someday” thriller about a tech giant worker, who upon discovering a codebreaking method is lured by promises of immense wealth. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto]
June 21
B. Dylan Hollis: The social media star and author of “Baking Yesteryear” is promoting a new volume “Baking Across America,” which recounts his road trip sampling treats from coffee-crazed creations in the Pacific Northwest to larger-than-life sheet cakes in Texas; the ticketed ($43 includes book) meet-and-greet is presented by Book Passage. [2 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco]
June 21
Mindy Uhrlaub: The local writer/activist shares her book “Last Nerve: A Memoir of Illness and the Endurance of Family,” in which she describes challenges including: learning that she carries the gene for the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); caring for her husband who has stage-four lymphoma; raising a child with behavioral issues, and watching her own mother die of ALS. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 26
Alice Murphy: The famous author, writing under a pseudonym, speaks about “A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love,” described as “‘Moulin Rouge’ meets ‘The Greatest Showman’ in a romance between a vaudeville star and a showbiz tycoon who find love at the turn of the 20th century, framed by mischievous commentary of a contemporary young historian”; registration requested here. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 104 Matheson St., Healdsburg]
June 26
Karla Brundage, Audrey T. Williams and Jackie Graves: The Bay Area poets, writers and teachers share their work in The Book of Light Poetry Series. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
June 28
Alan M. Butler and Katherine J. Rinehart: Butler, a Santa Rosa architect and artist, and Rinehart, a historian and archivist, share details from “The Petaluma River” their illustrated account of historical Petaluma buildings and landmarks. [10 a.m., Central Santa Rosa Library, 211 E. St., Santa Rosa]
June 29
Jon Hickey: The first-time novelist, a San Francisco resident of Native American descent, speaks about “Big Chief,” a nuanced story about power and politics on a reservation in Wisconsin. [1 p.m., San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos]
June 30
Abraham Verghese: The best-selling author, appearing with novelist Tom Barbash, discusses “The Covenant of Water,” his latest volume that follows the fortunes of a family in 20th-century India, in a ticketed talk ($26 includes book) that also live streams. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
The post June 2025 author events: Jacinda Ardern, Janelle Brown, Ilana DeBare, B. Dylan Hollis, Andrew Lam, Penn Jillette, Jesse Q. Sutanto appeared first on Local News Matters.