Established and new novelists, memoir writers, a few local chefs, and authors of timely volumes about technology are sharing their work in talks around the region this month. To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
Nov. 2
Jude Berman, Griffin Dix, Heidi Yewman: The authors discuss their books, all dealing with gun violence, in a conversation moderated by local physician John Maa. Berman’s short story collection is “Shot”‘; Dix’s nonfiction book is “Who Killed Kenzo?: The Loss of a Son and the Ongoing Battle for Gun Safety”; Yewman’s is “Dumb Girl: A Journey from Childhood Abuse to Gun Control Advocacy.” [5 p.m., Books Inc., Laurel Village, 3515 California St., San Francisco]
Nov. 4
Wajahat Ali: The Fremont-bred writer and podcaster, and author of “Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American,” appears a ticketed ($25) conversation with reporter Gil Duran in “How to Fight Fascism with Humor, Heart … and Hummus,” a presentation of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation Civic Conversation Series in partnership with Commonwealth Club World Affairs. [7 p.m., Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library, 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette]
Nov. 4
Vanessa Chang: The San Francisco artist, Stanford University scholar and educator speaks about her new book “The Body Digital: A Brief History of Humans and Machines from Cuckoo Clocks to ChatGPT” with NPR’s Kara Platoni, author or “We Have the Technology.” [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s Books, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
Nov. 5
Rebecca Kelliher, Carole Jaffe: The authors discuss their timely new nonfiction titles: Kelliher shares details about “Just Pills: The Extraordinary Story of a Revolution in Abortion Care” and Jaffe speaks on “After Dobbs: How the Supreme Court Ended Roe But Not Abortion.” [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s Books, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
Nov. 5
Nicole Wong: The founder of The Mahjong Project and author of “Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora” hosts a discussion about the book, a step-by-step guide for new and seasoned players alike, along with a Q&A session and hour of casual Mahjong gameplay. [5:30 p.m., Millbrae Library, 1 Library Ave., Millbrae]
Nov. 6
Hayley Kiyoko: The singer-songwriter, actress and writer discusses “Where There’s Room for Us,” a young adult novel set in a reimagined 1880s Victorian England where everyone is free to love whoever they choose, in a ticketed ($32.50 includes book) event. [7 p.m., International House at UC Berkeley, 2299 Piedmont Ave., Berkeley]
Nov. 6
Liam O’Brien: The local entomologist speaks about “Butterflies of the Bay Area and (Slightly) Beyond,” in which he describes 135 varieties of butterflies, accompanied by hand-painted illustrations,with Nature in the City Executive Director Amber Hasselbring. [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Nov. 6
Valerie Stoller: The Oakland writer shares her debut novel “Shipyard Gals,” a World War II-era exploration of women from different backgrounds who work in East Bay shipyards, in conversation with novelist Lori Ostlund. [5:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
Nov. 7
Amy Bowers Cordalis: The writer — a mother, fisherwoman, attorney, member and former General Counsel of the Yurok Tribe, the largest tribe in California–shares details from her memoir “The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life,” in conversation with artist Erica Tom, an ethnic literature specialist at Santa Rosa Junior College. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
Nov. 8
Barry Bergman: The author discusses “Proles,” his debut novel about a young man’s coming of age during the Watergate era. California magazine calls it a “vivid debut … a tough-minded meditation on politics, delusion and survival in Nixon’s America.” [2 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 8
Lili Weigert: The Marin County writer, editor and brand strategist speaks about “Making Space: ADUs for Modern Living”— a “practical and aesthetic” design book showcasing unique accessory dwelling units from around the world —with designer-architects Loring Sagan and Carrie Shores Diller. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 10
Simi Monheit: The winner of the 2024 Women’s Fiction Award discusses the inspiration behind her debut novel “The Goldie Standard,” an “unapologetically Jewish story” about a creative grandmother trying to find her scholarly granddaughter a husband who is a doctor. [2:30 p.m., San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos]
Nov. 11
Lillian Zhang: The Bay Area content creator, Google employee and Gen Z money educator speaks about “The New Money Rules: The Gen Z Guide to Personal Finance” —a beginner consumer guide for young people with instructions on how to create and manage budgets, decrease debt and increase savings — in conversation with Silicon Valley techie Kyla Zhao, author of “May the Best Player Win,” “The Fraud Squad” and “Valley Verified.” [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Nov. 11
Bruce Henderson: The Menlo Park journalist and bestselling nonfiction author speaks about his new title, “Midnight Flyboys,” the previously untold history of a top-secret operation just before D-Day, in which American flyers and Allied spies carried out some of World War II’s most daring cloak-and-dagger operations, in a ticketed ($12-$45) conversation with author-adventurer Gregory Crouch. [4 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Nov. 12
Jon Hickey: In a presentation of St. Mary’s College’s Creative Writing Visiting Writers Series, the Bay Area author reads from and discusses “Big Chief,” his acclaimed novel that imagines a cutthroat campaign for control of a Native American reservation. [2:30 p.m., Hagerty Lounge, De La Salle Hall, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga]
Nov. 12
Philippe Sands: The British-French lawyer and commentator discusses his new book, “38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England, and a Nazi in Patagonia”—a unique blend of memoir, courtroom drama and travelogue in which he connects Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Nazi Commander Walter Rauff, accused of murdering thousands of people — in conversation with Adam Hochschild, author of “American Midnight.” [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Nov. 12
De Kai: The pioneering computer scientist and educator who built the web’s first global language translator and invented groundbreaking language models, speaks about his book “Raising AI: An Essential Guide to Parenting Our Future” with Ina Fried, chief technology correspondent at Axios. [6:30 p.m., Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Nov. 12
Elyse Myers: City Arts & Lectures presents the comedian and internet storyteller who is promoting her new book “That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You” in a ticketed ($59-$115) event that includes a copy of the book. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Nov. 13
Karin K. Jensen: The Alameda Post writer launches “The Strength of Water: An Asian American Coming of Age Memoir,” a record of her mother’s “transpacific quest for identity, survival and new world dreams.” [5:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]]
Nov. 14
Making History Fun Again: Bill Baker, last living ex-con from Alcatraz (Alcatraz #1259)’ Ruth Carlson, author of “Secret San Francisco”; Maria Lenhart, author of “Lost Treasures of San Francisco”; and Alec Scott, author of “Oldest San Francisco” appear in the augural session of a speaker series celebrating San Francisco’s city’s colorful past through storytelling; registration for the free program, which repeats at 5 p.m. Nov. 15, is requested at eventbrite. [6 p.m., Redwood Room, Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, 495 Geary St., San Francisco]
Nov. 15
Edward Espe Brown: The beloved Zen chef, vegetarian cooking and meditation expert shares his latest release, “The Tassajara Bread Book: 55th Anniversary Edition.” [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 15
Charles Bush: The San Francisco writer shares his new novel, “The Boy with the Jade,” a story set in 18th century China about a boy growing up amid the extravagance, tumult and cruelty of an aristocratic family inspired by the Chinese classic “Dream of the Red Chamber.” [2 p.m. Chinese Center Exhibit Space, third floor, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Nov. 16
Richard Wolinsky: The Bay Area science fiction expert and editor launches “Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods!: Interviews with Science Fiction Legends,” a collection in which luminaries from Margaret Atwood and Ray Bradbury to Frank Herbert and Fritz Leiber trade anecdotes about the Golden Age of the genre. [3 p.m., James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, third floor, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Nov. 16
Martha Olney: The retired University of California, Berkeley economics professor speaks about “Inflation,” her new book in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series in which she explains what inflation is, its patterns over time, its underlying causes and more. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 18
Nina Schuyler: The author of “Afterword”—a novel about an artificial intelligence engineer who must come to terms with her life and work after she discovers her that her AI creation has provided incriminating information about civilians to the Chinese government—discusses the book with Bay Area author-journalist Frances Dinkelspiel. [6 p.m., Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Nov. 18
Ann Packer: The former Bay Area resident, bestselling author of “The Dive from Clausen’s Pier,” is promoting her first novel in over a decade, “Some Bright Nowhere,” a look at a long marriage and the ways in which a startling request changes a couple’s understanding of each other, in conversation with author Ellen Sussman; the event is ticketed: $16.75 admission, $45 includes book. [7 p.m., Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Nov. 19
Alison van Diggelen: The former journalist for the BBC speaks about “The Love Project: A Journey of Intimate Conversations,” her book detailing discoveries she made while interviewing people about the ways they find love, at a ticketed ($33) talk presented by The Gigis. [5:30 p.m., San Jose Clubhouse, 15480 Union Ave., San Jose]
Nov. 19
Gabi Moskowitz: The Marin County cookbook author and founder of BrokeAssGourmet.com shares “Dead in the Kitchen: The Official Grateful Dead Cookbook,” an authorized collection of vegetarian and vegan recipes inspired by the iconic band’s music and community; RSVP requested. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 19
Ann Packer: The author of “The Dive from Clausen’s Pier” speaks about her new novel, “Some Bright Nowhere,” about a spouse’s surprising dying wish, in conversation with novelist Sylvia Brownrigg; call (925) 837-7337 to reserve. [7 p.m., Rakestraw Books, 3 Railroad Ave., Danville]
Nov. 20
Roddy Bottum: The New York musician, writer, creator and actor who started the band Faith No More in San Francisco in the early 1980s, celebrates the publication of his memoir “The Royal We” in conversation with Oakland writer-author-dancer Brontez Purnell. [7 p.m., City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco]
Nov. 20
SE Quinn: The Silicon Valley innovator who built the first live text streaming platform on the internet in the 1990s, then lost nearly everything, discusses her memoir “Digital Odyssey: Tech Whiz Girl Bursts Own Bubble,” which describes her journey from single mother working nights to tech visionary blazing a trail for women. [5 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Nov. 20
Ann Packer: The best-selling novelist discusses her new book “Some Bright Nowhere,” an exploration of the unexpected costs of truly loving someone, at a ticketed ($35 for book and light meal) literary luncheon. [Noon, Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda]
Nov. 20
James Wang: The technologist, investor and writer shares details about “What You Need to Know About AI: A Primer on Being Human in an Artificially Intelligent World,” a book offering a crash course on AI’s powers and limits, and how it actually affects people’s lives. [6:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
Nov. 21
Julia Park Tracey: The Northern California historical fiction writer launches her new romantic comedy, “Whoa, Nelly!: A Love Story with Footnotes,” about a “Little House on the Prairie”-obsessed woman who goes on a journey following in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s footsteps and discovers that the prairie isn’t as romantic as she imagined. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Nov. 21
Richard H. Thaler & Alex O. Imas: The award-winning scholars discuss “The Winner’s Curse,” their examination of behavioral economics then and now, with Michael Lewis in a ticketed event ($49-$54) presented by City Arts & Lectures. [7:30 p.m., Syndey Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Nov. 22
Rhys Bowen: The beloved author is promoting “From Cradle to Grave,” the 19th Royal Spyness Mystery in which new mother Lady Georgiana “Georgie” Rannoch balances the responsibilities of being 34th in line for the British throne and solving the shocking deaths of several young men. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Nov. 22
Nicholas Thompson: The CEO of the long-running magazine The Atlantic speaks about his memoir “The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports,” described as a “profound meditation on what running can teach us about our limits and our lives,” with bestselling author Daniel J. Levitin in a ticketed ($12-$45) event. [4 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Nov. 23
Alyson Stoner: The former child star—a multidisciplinary entertainer, founder of the mental health company Movement Genius and host of the Dear Hollywood podcast —appears in a ticketed ($34 includes book) meet-and-greet event to promote their memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything.” [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Nov. 23
Steven Zipperstein: The author of the biography “Philip Roth: Stung by Life,” which explores the range of the Pulitzer Prize winning author’s work, from “Goodbye, Columbus” and “Portnoy’s Complaint” to “American Pastoral” and “The Plot Against America,” appears in conversation with writer-editor Sue Fishkoff. [3 p.m., Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., San Francisco]
The post November 2025 author events: Barry Bergman, Vanessa Chang, Amy Bowers Cordalis, De Kai, Bruce Henderson, Ann Packer, SE Quinn, Lillian Zhang appeared first on Local News Matters.