Debut novels, anticipated novels, memoirs, essays and other timely non-fiction titles by California writers and visiting authors are in this month’s lineup. To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
July 1
Meg Waite Clayton: The “Postmistress of Paris” and “The Last Train to London” novelist appears in conversation with USA Today correspondent Marco della Cava to promote her new, 1950s-set title “Typewriter Beach” about the unlikely friendship between an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and an actress hoping to be Alfred Hitchcock’s new star.[6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 1
Christine Henneberg: The Bay Area physician, author of the acclaimed 2022 memoir “Boundless: An Abortion Doctor Becomes a Mother,” shares her new debut novel “I Trust Her Completely,” about a complex friendship between two women in San Francisco. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
July 1
Felipe Torres Medina: The Emmy Award–nominated “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” writer, a native of Colombia, speaks about “America, Let Me In: A Choose Your Immigration Story,” his satire of U.S. policies, with journalist and immigration rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 2251 Chestnut St., San Francisco]
July 2
Joanna Sokol: The Bay Area paramedic launches “A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance,” her book of essays describing the everyday realities of her work in Nevada desert, San Francisco’s Tenderloin and Santa Cruz, appearing in conversation with former San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
July 8
Joanna Sokol: The award-winning author and longtime paramedic speaks about” A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance,” her essay compilation that describes the everyday reality of 911 first responders. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
July 8
Maris Kreizman: The editor, cultural critic and podcaster speaks about “I Want to Burn This Place Down: Essays,” a collection describing how, as a former “good Democrat,” she has moved further to the left, in conversation withColin Winnette. [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
July 8
Kathy Wang: The Bay Area author of “Family Trust” and “Imposter Syndrome” speaks about “The Satisfaction Café,” her anticipated new novel about a woman who moves from Taiwan to California and builds an unexpected life, with California writer Danielle Teller. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View]
July 9
Steve Grove: The former Silicon Valley executive, now the publisher of Minnesota Star Tribune, speaks about “How I Found Myself in the Midwest: A Memoir of Reinvention” with Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Chronicle [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
July 12
Miranda Spivack: The investigative journalist and part-time Oakland resident speaks about her new book “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back” with retired Bay Area news reporter and editor Stephen Cook. [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 12
Kerry Lonsdale: The Northern California novelist signs copies of her newest title, a “read-it-in-one-sitting marriage of convenience adventure” called “Falling for You Again,” about how fate reunites a furniture artisan with her ex-husband. [Noon to 3 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 2475 Sand Creek Road, Suite 100, Brentwood]
July 13
Joanna Sokol: The Santa Cruz resident, a paramedic, speaks about” A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance,” her essay compilation detailing everyday aspects of her work in three places: the Nevada desert, San Francisco’s Tenderloin and the beach town where she lives. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 13
Stefanie Leder: The Southern California TV writer, in conversation with CNBC journalist Christina Passariello, shares her debut coming-of-age novel “Love, Coffee, and Revolution,” about an American woman who, after moving to Costa Rica to lead eco-tours of coffee farms, must choose between two different men: a charmer from a wealthy family and a dynamic change-maker. [2 p.m. Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
July 15
William Archila: The 2023 Philip Levine Prize for Poetry winner for his collection “S Is For” appears with Pulitzer Prize finalist Dorianne Laux; Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry winner Lory Bedikian; and San Francisco activist and educator Leticia Hernández-Linares. [7 p.m., Booksmith, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco]
July 15
Jackie Thomas-Kennedy: The award-winning Bay Area fiction writer and Stegner Fellow discusses her debut novel “The Other Wife,” about a middle-aged woman who has a stable life, but is haunted by choices she made, with author Carol Edgaria; registration for the free talk is requested. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
July 15
Miranda Spivack: In a ticketed ($18-$37) event titled “Secrets, Lies, and Democracy: Why It’s Time to Take a Stand,” the independent journalist discusses her award-winning book “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back” with Bay City News/Local News Matters Publisher Kat Rowlands. [7 p.m., Manny’s, 3002 16th St., San Francisco]
July 15
Julia Vee: Appearing in conversation with Bri of @Bri’sBookish, the co-author (with Ken Bebelle) launches “Pearl City: The Phoenix Hoard,” the “no-holds-barred conclusion” to her acclaimed, San Francisco-set contemporary fantasy trilogy detailing the adventures of retired assassin Emiko Soong. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View]
July 16
Crystal Haryanto: The San Francisco economic consultant and lifelong Taylor Swift fan launches “The Glory of Giving Everything: The Taylor Swift Business Model,” her interdisciplinary analysis (from economic, political and psychological perspectives) of the pop superstar’s impact. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
July 17
Miranda Spivack: The veteran reporter discusses “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back” with Victoria Baranetsky, general counsel at The Center for Investigative Reporting, which publishes Mother Jones. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
July 17
Story Is The Thing: Writers read from recent works: Kyle Edwards’ coming-of-age story “Small Ceremonies; former Stegner Fellow Kate Folk’s debut novel “Sky Daddy”; Beena Kamlani’s debut novel, “The English Problem”; Kirsten Menger-Anderson’s historical fiction “The Expert of Subtle Revisions” and J. E. Weiner’s Southern Gothic ghost story, “The Wretched and Undone.” [6:30 p.m., Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
July 18
Michael Connelly: The veteran best-selling crime writer is promoting “Nightshade” in a ticketed ($15) online and in-person event featuring a conversation with Tim Maleeny, Mystery Writers Conference co-chair, covering all aspects of his career. [7 p.m., Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 19
Aisha Rivera: Napa County’s poet laureate leads a workshop for teen and adult writers of all levels; Rivera will guide participants through poetry basics and offer an exercise to get poetry writers started. [3 p.m., Calistoga Library, 1108 Myrtle St., Calistoga]
July 19
Jude Berman: Meet and greet the Berkeley writer and editor, whose new book “Shot: A Dictionary of the Lost” is a collection of short stories about gun violence organized as a dictionary, with a story for each letter of the alphabet. [3 to 5 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 1300 First St., Suite 398, Napa]
July 20
Alex Pavlovic: The reporter covering the San Francisco Giants for NBC Sports Bay Area and hosts the Giants Talk podcast launches “The Franchise: San Francisco Giants: A Curated History of the Orange and Black.” [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
July 22
Miranda Spivack: The veteran investigative reporter and local news expert discusses her years-in-the-making book “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back” with journalist Jeanne Carstensen in a ticketed ($22, or $50 including book) talk presented by the Commonwealth Club. [5:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco]
July 22
Bridget A. Lyons: The Santa Cruz writer and explorer launches “Entwined: Dispatches from the Intersection of Species” with artist, writer and seaweed expert Josie Iselin, in a discussion on how humans can build empathy for wild creatures through writing, art and science; the event is co-sponsored by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks; RSVP requested. [7 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz]
July 23
Bridget A. Lyons: The Santa Cruz writer, editor, explorer and artist speaks about “Entwined: Dispatches from the Intersection of Species”—her essay collection focusing on the Anthropocene, when humans first affected Earth while highlighting the necessity to protect the planet’s diminishing diversity—in conversation with Leigh Marz, co-author of “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.” [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
July 23
Nicholas Triolo and Josh Jackson: The writers celebrate the release of their new non-fiction titles about physical and spiritual journeys—Triolo’s “The Way Around” and Jackson’s “The Enduring Wild: A Journey nto California’s Public Lands.” Portions of sales proceeds benefit the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
July 24
Nicholas Triolo: The writer, filmmaker, photographer, activist and long-distance trail runner speaks about “The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere,” his memoir about doing a spiritual practice called kora– walking around or circumambulating a sacred place or object–on three extended journeys. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 25
Nicholas Triolo: The writer discusses his unique memoir “The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere,” in which he details his experiences with a spiritual practice called kora– walking around a sacred place or object–on three extended journeys. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol]
July 26
Domenic Stansberry: The award-winning crime novelist, author of the North Beach Mystery series and Corte Madera resident, speaks about “The Lizard,” his new book about a political ghostwriter who becomes involved in a conspiracy investigation after an illicit romance turns deadly; Stansberry appears in conversation with Owen Hill, co-annotator and editor of a new edition of “The Big Sleep.” [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 26
Bob Rebuschatis: The longtime Sonoma resident, a novelist who also has been a financial advisor, restaurant owner, wine industry executive, grape grower and realtor, appears in a meet and greet to promote his most recent title, 2024’s “Harvest and the Crush,” which he calls a “tale of the rise and fall of an independently owned winery, restaurant and vineyard in Sonoma County.” [Noon to 3 p.m., Copperfield’s Books, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
July 27
Ron Rubin: The entrepreneur and business leader who built The Republic of Tea and River Road Family Vineyards and Winery speaks about “Gold In Your Back Yard: Lessons in Life, Leadership and the Power of a Dream” in which he shares insights about growing an idea into a prosperous company and creating an innovative work culture with inspired employees; the ticketed ($40) event includes admission for two and a copy of the book. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
July 30
Jackie Thomas-Kennedy: The Bay Area fiction writer and Stegner Fellow discusses her debut novel “The Other Wife,” about a middle-aged woman who has a stable life, but is haunted by choices she made, with writer Mark Labowskie, host and curator of the Stanford Storytelling Project. [7 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., San Francisco]
July 31
Greg Anton: The Sonoma County drummer, co-founder of the rock band Zero and practicing attorney launches his rock ‘n’ roll novel “It’s About Time,” about a talented but troubled singer-songwriter facing myriad personal and career challenges in conversation with music critic Joel Selvin. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
The post July 2025 author events: Greg Anton, Bridget A. Lyons, Jackie Thomas-Kennedy, Alex Pavlovic, Joanna Sokol, Miranda Spivack, Nicholas Triolo appeared first on Local News Matters.