Essays, historical fiction, memoirs, translations, thrillers and deep investigations by out-of-town and California writers are in the lineup this month. Also in October: The huge literary festival Litquake, happening in San Francisco and the East Bay. Opening Oct. 9, Litquake, as always, offers dozens of author talks and gatherings (many are free!) and culminates on Oct. 25 with Lit Crawl in San Francisco’s Mission, billed as the world’s largest literary pop-up event.
To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
Oct. 2
Liz Flynt: The widow of Larry Flynt appears in a meet-and-greet to promote the new coffee table book “Hustler 50: 50 Years of Freedom,” a retrospective covering decades of “publishing, satire and First Amendment battles through rarely seen archives and insider stories.” [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Oct. 4
Isabel Allende: The superstar local novelist shares her new title, her second book for children called “Perla and the Pirate,” about a dog who saves her human who gets lost, in Spanish and English editions; the ticketed ($25) event includes a copy of the book. [10 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 4
Diane Button: The end-of-life doula, a professional who supports people nearing death and their families, speaks about “What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living,” in which she shares poignant stories and things she learned from her clients, with local end-of-life doula Sarah Hill and hospice nurse Gabby Jimenez. RSVP requested for the in-person and online event. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 4
Samin Nosrat: Copperfield’s Books presents the “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” author sharing stories around the inspiration for, and development of, her new volume “Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook” in a ticketed ($46-$120) event. [8 p.m., Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa]
Oct. 5
Dewey Livingston: The longtime West Marin resident, a retired National Park Service historian and mapmaker, launches “Point Reyes and Tomales Bay: A History of the Land and Its People,” a book filled with maps and photos described as the first comprehensive volume on the region. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 5
Caro De Robertis: The Oakland resident, a San Francisco State University writing professor and native of Uruguay, speaks about “Cantoras,” a historical novel that follows five queer women in Uruguay during the military dictatorship of the late 1970s and beyond, with “Rad Women” writer/series creator Kate Schatz. [3 p.m., Main Library, sixth floor, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Oct. 5
Tim Walker: The Marin resident, a lifelong Californian and a landscape and nature photographer whose credits include National Geographic contributions, shares his straightforward guidebook called “Picture Marin: Tips, Maps and Inspiration for the Aspiring Photographer.” [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 5
Kamala Harris: The former U.S. Vice President is on tour promoting “107 Days,” her new account of her unique and wild presidential campaign, in a ticketed ($39-$267) event presented by Live Nation and Book Passage. [6 p.m., Masonic, 1111 California St., San Francisco]
Oct. 7
Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin: The veteran organizer, former Black Panther Party member and co-founder of the Black Autonomy Federation shares details about “Driven by the Movement: Reports from the Black Power Era” by JoNina Abron-Ervin, touching on its relevancy to communities like Oakland and the importance of maintaining narratives from the Black Liberation struggle. [5:30 p.m., West Oakland Branch, Oakland Public Library, 1801 Adeline St., Oakland]
Oct. 7
Mary Roach: The funny East Bay author (of “Stiff,” “Fuzz” and more) discusses “Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy,” in which she covers regenerative medicine, a new field encompassing everything from cataract surgery to hip replacements to gene-edited pig organs; she appears in conversation with Angie Coro at a ticketed ($22-$45) event. [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Oct. 8
Daniel Handler: City Arts & Lectures presents the best-selling novelist, aka Lemony Snicket, launching his memoir “And Then? And Then? What Else?” in which he recalls his childhood in San Francisco, authors who shaped his voice, and traumatic early-life experiences; he appears in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winner Andrew Sean Greer in a ticketed ($49) event. [7 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Oct. 8
Zack Rogow: The Berkeley editor and writer discusses “The Water Drinkers: and Other Sketches of Paris in the Romantic Era,” his translation of work by Henry Murger, author of “Scènes de la vie de bohème” on which the opera “La Bohème” is based; “The Water Drinkers,” in print in France since its publication in 1854, tells the story of a group of real artists and writers who rejected commercialism. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Oct. 11
Linda Ambrus Broenniman: The author shares “The Politzer Saga,” her account of many generations of her highly accomplished Hungarian-Jewish family, which she wrote upon learning (as an adult) that her father wasn’t Catholic as he claimed, and unraveling secrets held in a box of provocative historical photos and letters she discovered. [2:30 p.m., Orly Museum of Hungarian Culture, 1720 Arch St., Berkeley]
Oct. 12
Erin Van Rheenen: The San Francisco writer appears in conversation with travel writer Jeff Greenwald to promote her debut novel “You Could Be Happy Here,” about the adventures of a California woman who journeys to Costa Rica after learning that her biological father may be from the country. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 14
Myles Dungan: The Irish writer, in town from Dublin, speaks about his historical thriller “The Red Branch,” detailing the adventures of a determined undercover police sergeant on a mission in the underworld of late 19th century San Francisco, “one of the most Irish of American cities.” [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 W. Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Oct. 15
Dr. Daria Mochly-Rosen, Emanuel Rosen: The Menlo Park scientist from the Stanford University School of Medicine and her husband, a bestselling author, share details about “The Life Machines: How Taking Care of Your Mitochondria Can Transform Your Health,” the first comprehensive yet easy-to-understand volume on the organelles, in a ticketed ($22-$46) event. [6 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Oct. 15
Shoshana Walter: ThePulitzer Prize finalist, an Oakland journalist who has covered the criminal justice system and probed the health care system with the Center for Investigative Reporting, speaks about “Rehab: An American Scandal,” in which she exposes failures in responding to the opioid crisis in the U.S. and the corruption, negligence and profiteering characterizing the drug rehabilitation industry. [6:30 p.m., Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave., Oakland]
Oct. 16
Amy Shea, Loren Rhoads, Beth Winegarner: Green Apple Books presents an offsite program with authors Shea (“Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins”), Rhoads (“Still Wish You Were Here: More Adventures in Cemetery Travel”) and Winegarner (“San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries: A Buried History”) conversing about cemeteries, death, remembrance and memorialization. [6 p.m., San Francisco Columbarium, 1 Loraine Court. San Francisco]
Oct. 16
Kitty Stryker: The Berkeley writer and activist launches “Love Rebels: How I Learned to Burn It Down Without Burning Out” an exploration of how to balance activism and relationships, in conversation with East Bay pop culture writer Sezin Devi Koehler. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
Oct. 17
John Freeman: The poet, editor and host of Alta’s California Book Club shares “California Rewritten: A Journey Through the Golden State’s New Literature,” an essay collection illuminating the voices of dozens of writers, including poets Ada Limón, Claudia Rankine and Gary Snyder, novelists Percival Everett, Rachel Khong and Viet Thanh Nguyen; and memoirists Deborah Miranda, Javier Zamora, Maxine Hong Kingston and more. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Oct. 17
Adam Johnson: The San Francisco author of the National Book Award-winning “Fortune Smiles” and Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Orphan Master’s Son” launches “The Wayfarer,” which tells the story of a girl from a remote Tongan island who becomes her people’s queen, at a ticketed ($33 entry for one, $50 entry for two, including copy of the book) event. [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
Oct. 18
Indie Author Fest: The third annual event offers the opportunity for local self-published writers to share their work, meet new readers and connect with fellow authors. [10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Belmont Library, 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont]
Oct. 18
Gerald S. Henig: The professor emeritus of history at California State University, East Bay speaks about “America’s Presidents: What Your History Teacher Never Told You,”a colorful volume with little-known accounts, outlandish stories and “all-too-human” fun facts about presidents. [1 p.m., Dougherty Station Branch, Contra Costa County Library, 17017 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon]
Oct. 19
Sabina Baral: The author shares her emotional and probing memoir “Notes from Exile,” which details how her family fled Poland after a 1968 state-sponsored antisemitic campaign and how what began as a forced departure turned into a global journey. [2:30 p.m., Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., San Francisco]
Oct. 21
John Freeman: Appearing in conversation with Elaine Castillo and Tommy Orange at a ticketed ($27-$46) event, the poet, editor and host of Alta’s California Book Club shares “California Rewritten: A Journey Through the Golden State’s New Literature,” an essay collection illuminating voices of writers including poets Ada Limón, Claudia Rankine and Gary Snyder, novelists Percival Everett, Rachel Khong and Viet Thanh Nguyen and memoirists Deborah Miranda, Javier Zamora, Maxine Hong Kingston and more. [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Oct. 21
Mary Roach: The best-selling science writer, author of “Stiff,””Gulp” and “Fuzz,” speaks about her new book “Replaceable You” in which she explores remarkable advances in medicine and difficult questions prompted by the human body’s failings; the ticketed ($20-$50) event is presented by Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation’s Distinguished Speaker Series. [7 p.m., Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library, 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette]
Oct. 21
Jeff VanderMeer: The New York Times bestselling author of “Hummingbird Salamander,” the Borne novels, the Southern Reach series, the Ambergris trilogy and “Veniss Underground,” appears in conversation with Colin Winnette in a ticketed ($23 includes copy of the book) event to promote his latest, “Absolution.” [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
Oct. 22
S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour: Appearing with attorney-political strategist Christina Pelosi at a ticketed ($21-$42) Italian community literary celebration, the San Francisco attorney launches her San Francisco-set historical novel “The Covert Pioneer,” which tells the stories of a pioneering miner, suffragist and architect who infiltrates men-only spaces in disguise; and her modern great-great-granddaughter, a struggling special needs mother and climate migrant attorney. [6:15 p.m., SF Italian Club, 1630 Stockton St., San Francisco]
Oct. 22
Stephanie Reents: Appearing in conversation with Stanford University writers Martha Conway and Keith Ekiss, the award-winning short fiction writer speaks about her 1990s-set debut novel “We Loved to Run,” about a cross-country team at a small women’s liberal arts college whose members push themselves hard in efforts to control their bodies, friendships and futures. [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
Oct. 22
John Freeman: Alta Journal, City Lights Books and Litquake present the author of “California Rewritten: A Journey Through the Golden State’s New Literature” appearing in conversation with Rebecca Solnit and Paul Yamazaki in a ticketed ($20) event. [7:30 p.m., Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa St., San Francisco]
Oct. 23
Alvin Lu: The San Francisco author, speaking with Shawna Yang Ryan, shares his novel “Daydreamers,” about a man who unravels a haunting mystery and murder in California’s Chinese literary underground as he translates an unfinished manuscript left by his late father. [6:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
Oct. 23
Bridget A. Lyons: The Santa Cruz writer, editor, explorer and artist speaks about “Entwined: Dispatches from the Intersection of Species,” her collection of essays and stories set in locations ranging from Alaska and California to Mexico and Honduras aimed at fostering connections between people and their nonhuman neighbors. [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 W. Portal Ave., San Francisco]
Oct. 23
Richard Misrach: Appearing with writer-activist Rebecca Solnit at a City Arts & Lectures ticketed ($49) event, the photographer addresses the profound impact of global trade on the environment; it’s the subject of his new book “Cargo,” featuring images of cargo ships in Port of Oakland taken between 2021-25. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Oct. 24
Elizabeth Kemp: The Silicon Valley author launches her debut novel, the domestic thriller “Tread Lightly,” about a stay-at-home mom with a past who navigates a murder in Silicon Valley, in conversation with Jordan Rosenfeld, author of “Women in Red.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., The Pruneyard, 1875 S. Bascom Ave., #600, Campbell]
Oct. 24
Something Unpredictable-Relive the 1990s with Bay Area Cartoonists: Litquake presents cartoonists works recall being 1990s teens in the Bay Area: Briana Loewinsohn (Raised by Ghosts), Julia Wertz (Impossible People), Thien Pham (Family Style) and Janelle Hessig (Tales of Blarg) appear in conversation with California College of Art’s Justin Hall. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
Oct. 25
Samantha Stein: The Bay Area forensic psychologist who specialized in sex offender and addiction treatment, court-ordered evaluations and court testimony for decades, shares insights from “Evil at Our Table: Inside the Minds of the Monsters Who Live Among Us,” described as a “real-life Mindhunter’s provocative true crime memoir that takes readers inside the prison interview room and minds of serious sex offenders.” [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 25
Julian Brave NoiseCat: Appearing in conversation with historian Rebecca Solnit, the Oakland-raised, award-winning documentary filmmaker who was born to a Secwepemc father and Jewish-Irish mother discusses his new memoir “We Survived the Night,” which combines details about a childhood filled with contradictions, investigative journalism and folklore. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Oct. 26
Valerie Stoller: The Oakland writer shares her debut novel “Shipyard Galls,” a World War II-era exploration of women from different backgrounds who work in East Bay shipyards, in conversation with novelist Julia Park Tracey. [2 p.m., Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Font National Historical Park, 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond]
Oct. 26
Julian Brave NoiseCat: Copperfield’s Books presents the Oakland-raised son of a First Nations father and Jewish-Irish mother sharing his unique personal and journalistic memoir “We Survived the Night” in an event including a reading, cultural dance inspired by moments from the book, and Q&A session. [5 p.m., Bertolini Student Center, Santa Rosa Junior College, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa]
Oct. 27
Will Potter: The award-winning investigative journalist launches “Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth, from Farm to Fable,” his expose about the powerful forces at work that hide how industrial agriculture is harmful; he also addresses industrial agriculture’s outsize role in the climate crisis and its connections with the global rise of fascism. [7 p.m., City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco]
Oct. 27
Joyce Vance: The former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama during the Obama administration and legal analyst for MSNBC discusses “Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy” with veteran San Francisco litigator Melinda Haag, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California at a ticketed ($37 includes book) event sponsored by Book Passage. [7 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco]
Oct. 28
Rabih Alameddine: The National Book Award finalist and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction shares his new novel, “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother),” described as a “tragicomic love story set in Lebanon, a modern saga of family, memory and the unbreakable attachment of a son and his mother,” in conversation with San Francisco novelist Daniel Gumbiner. [7 p.m., City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco]
The post October 2025 author events: Rabih Alameddine, John Freeman, Daniel Handler, Kamala Harris, Adam Johnson, Julian Brave NoiseCat, Mary Roach, Joyce Vance appeared first on Local News Matters.