Historical novelists, musicians, award-winners and writers with national notoriety are among the authors making public appearances across the region this month. To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
Sept. 4
Rachel Kushner: The National Book Award and Booker Prize finalist speaks about her witty new noir novel “Creation Lake,” describing the exploits of a ruthless, bold, beautiful American secret agent doing dirty work in France; registration requested at the free talk, but a $35 ticket includes a seat and copy of the book. [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
Sept. 5
Jesmyn Ward: The best-selling, award-winning novelist of “Salvage the Bones” speaks about her new book “Let Us Descend” with educator Kai Harris in a ticketed event ($42) that includes a copy of the book. [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Sept. 6
Freeman Ng: The former software engineer, appearing with poet Jeffrey Leong, discusses “Bridge Across the Sky,” his debut historical novel-in-verse about a teen’s immigration experience through Angel Island. [3:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1244 Park St., Alameda]
Sept. 7
Northern California Book Awards: Honorees are slated to appear at the 43rd annual free event presented by Northern California Book Reviewers, Poetry Flash, the San Francisco Public Library, Mechanics’ Institute Library and Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter. Winners are local authors of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, general nonfiction, translation and children’s literature released in 2023. [2 p.m., Koret Auditorium, S.F. Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Peter Himmelman: The Emmy and Grammy-nominated musician performs and reads from “Suspended by No String: A Songwriter’s Reflections on Faith, Aliveness, and Wonder.” [11 a.m., Copperfield’s, 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur]
Sept. 8
Eddie Ahn: The Bay Area Korean-American environmental justice lawyer speaks about “Advocate: A Graphic Memoir of Family, Community, and the Fight for Environmental Justice,” in which he describes how is career path diverged from his parents’ expectations. [1 p.m., Books Inc., 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell]
Sept. 9
Liane Moriarty: The best-selling author of “Big Little Lies” speaks about her new book “Here One Moment” with Santa Cruz novelist Karen Joy Fowler in a ticketed event ($47) that includes a copy of the book. [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Paul Pierson and Eric Schickler: The University of California, Berkeley scholars explore how today’s political polarization came about, and how it’s different from previous eras, in “Partisan Nation: The Dangerous New Logic of American Politics in a Nationalized Era.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Sept. 12
Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús: The Princeton University social scientist speaks with UC Berkeley professor Tianna Paschel about “Excited Delirium: Race, Police Violence, and the Invention of a Disease,” which examines how a fabricated medical diagnosis is used to justify and erase police violence against Black and Brown communities. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Sept. 12
Del Seymour, Alison Owings: In one of numerous public book launch events, the subject and author of “Mayor of the Tenderloin: Del Seymour’s Journey from Living on the Streets to Fighting Homelessness in San Francisco” discuss the portrait of the local hero. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Sept. 14
Tess Taylor: The El Cerrito poet laureate for 2024-24 whose newest collection is 2023’s “Leaning Toward Light: Poems for Gardens and the Hands that Tend Them,” appears in the El Cerrito Author Series as the public library observes its 75th anniversary at its location. [10:30 a.m., El Cerrito Public Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito]
Sept. 14
Janna Barkin: The California blogger and workshop facilitator for parents of trans kids and the professionals supporting them shares details from “A Grand Love: Stories for Grandparents of Transgender Grandchildren.” [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Sept. 14
Ruth Reichl: The revered food critic, magazine editor, memoirist and TV judge appears in a ticketed ($65) talk to promote her new fiction title, “The Paris Novel.” “[7 p.m., Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto]
Sept. 17
Nemonte Nenquimo, Mitch Anderson: The Waorani leader born in Ecuador’s Amazon, and her husband, both leaders in climate change activism, speak about “We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People”; the book describes Nenquimo’s indigenous childhood, a clash of cultures, and “the fight to save the Amazon rainforest.” [7 p.m., Copperfield’s, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Sept. 17
Regina Porter: Appearing in conversation with R.O. Kwon, the playwright discusses her debut novel “The Rich People Have Gone Away,” which is about a diverse group of New Yorkers who gather to search for a missing woman. [7:30 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
Sept. 19
Del Seymour, Alison Owings: The subject and author of “Mayor of the Tenderloin: Del Seymour’s Journey from Living on the Streets to Fighting Homelessness in San Francisco” appear in conversation with Leah Garchik to promote the new portrait of the local hero. [5:30 p.m., Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy St., San Francisco]
Sept. 19
Heather Cox Richardson: The popular historian, whose “Letters from an American” newsletter has millions of online subscribers, speaks with Steven Winn about “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America” in a ticketed ($75) City Arts & Lectures event. [7:30 p.m., Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco]
Sept. 20
Arlie Russell Hochschild: The Berkeley author of the acclaimed “Strangers in Their Own Land” speaks about her new volume “Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame and the Rise of the Right,” the result of her research and discussions with Appalachian residents of Pikeville, Kentucky, the whitest and second-poorest congressional district in the U.S. [6 p.m., Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley]
Sept. 21
Nina Schuyler: The award-winning Northern California fiction writer’s new collection “In This Ravishing World” offers nine connected short stories featuring a “cast of dreamers, escapists, activists, and artists, creating a kaleidoscopic view of the climate crisis. [1 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 1232 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame]
Sept. 24
Terry Szuplat: One of Barack Obama’s longest-serving speechwriters is on tour promoting “Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience,” which offers instruction on public speaking and insights about it from the former U.S. president. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
Sept. 26
Evette Davis: The fantasy author of “48 States” launches her new book “The Others,” the first book in The Council Trilogy offering a “dystopian San Francisco filled with empaths and vampires embroiled in political unrest.” [6 p.m., Main Library, sixth floor, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco]
Sept. 26
Connie Chung: The pioneering journalist covers her storied career as the first Asian woman to break into the white, male-dominated TV news industry in “Connie: A Memoir”; she speaks about it with Angie Coiro in a ticketed event ($53) that includes a copy of the book. [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Sept. 27
Obi Kaufmann: The East Bay author of the best-selling “California Field Atlas” speaks about his new volume “The State of Fire: Why California Burns,” which addresses the reasons fire is essential to a healthy, biodiverse Golden State. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
Sept. 27
Julia Park Tracey: The award-winning California journalist, editor, poet laureate and author launches her new work of historical fiction, “‘Silence,” set in colonial Massachusetts, about a woman called to witness at a witchcraft trial — or be accused herself. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma]
Sept. 28
Eugene Rodriguez: In an event also featuring a musical performance, the founder and director of Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy shares what inspired him to write his new book “Bird of Four Hundred Voices: A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging,” which celebrates Mexican American music, art and culture. [2 p.m., San Pablo Public Library, 13751 San Pablo Ave., San Pablo]
Sept. 29
Matthew Zapruder: The award-winning Bay Area poet and editor appears with poet-essayist Jane Hirshfield to discuss his new poetry collection “I Love Hearing Your Dreams.” [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Sept. 30
Joe Boyd: The record producer of Nick Drake, R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals and Pink Floyd and, author the memoir “White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s.” now offers “And the Roots of Rhythm Remain,” his account of artists, histories, controversies and collaborations that shaped global music. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
Sept. 30
Ian Brennan: Appearing in conversation with San Francisco musician Peter Case, the Grammy-winning record producer and activist shares details from “Missing Music: Voices from Where the Dirt Roads End,” in which he documents his pursuit providing musical platforms for underrepresented nations and people around the world. [7 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco]
The post September 2024 author events: Rachel Kushner, Jesmyn Ward, Peter Himmelman, Liane Moriarty, Ruth Reichl, Heather Cox Richardson, Nina Schuyler, Connie Chung, Joe Boyd, Ian Brennan appeared first on Local News Matters.