Tuesday, May 5, 6:00 PM
Don Herron – The Dashiell Hammett Tour: 30th Anniversary Guidebook – Members free, public $12 – at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco
Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 PM
Shawna Yang Ryan – Water Ghosts, A Novel, at Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 PM
Mary Roach – Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science & Sex – Free for members, $18 for non-members – at The Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market Street, 2nd Fl., San Francisco
Wednesday, May 6, 7:30 PM
Shawna Yang Ryan – Water Ghosts, A Novel at Books Inc. in Alameda, 1344 Park Street, Alameda
Thursday, May 7, 7:00 PM
Shawna Yang Ryan – Water Ghosts, A Novel at Rakestraw Books, 522 Hartz Avenue, Danville
Wednesday May 6, 4:00 PM
Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy / Frostbite / Shadow Kiss – The New York Times Bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series for teens will be holding a meet & greet booksigning at Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.
Wednesday, May 6, 7:00 PM
Sarah Waters – The Little Stranger (a stunning haunted house tale!!) at Books Inc. in Opera Plaza, 601 Van Ness, San Francisco.
Friday, May 8, 7:00 PM
Cindy Pon – Silver Phoenix – Come to the Northern California Launch Party for Cindy Pon, who will read from her debut teen fantasy book, Silver Phoenix, at Books Inc. in Laurel Village. With a sweeping quest and Chinese-inspired mythology, this book introduces a heroine who sheds the constrictions of her sheltered life, discovers the well of power within herself, and vanquishes an age-old evil. At Books Inc. in Laurel Village, 3515 California Street, San Francisco.
Friday, May 8, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Hot Zombie Chicks Love BrAiNs Comic Book Tour 2009! Horrific Laughs Galore! Come check out these cooky & crazy comic book creators on their west coast tour: Paul Allen / Anthony Leano / Mike Hampton / Emonic / Stephen R. Buell at Comic Relief – THE Comic Book Store, 2026 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley.
Saturday, May 9, 11:00 AM
Rick Riordan – The Last Olympian ( Percy Jackson series). The You Say Read, We Say Party Book Club & Books Inc. present a ticketed event at Capuchino High School, 1501 Magnolia Avenue, San Bruno. Tickets are available at your Neighborhood Books Inc..
Saturday, May 9, 5:00 PM
Rick Riordan – The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson series) at Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.
Saturday, May 9, 1:30 PM
Lewis Buzbee – The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, a History – Buzbee’s The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, celebrates the unique experience of the bookstore. A veteran of the booktrade, Buzbee shares his passion for books, and weaves together a fascinating historical account of the bookseller trade. At Copperfield’s, 138 N. Main Street, Sebastopol.
Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 PM
Glen David Gold – Sunnyside at Books Inc.in Opera Plaza, 601 Van Ness, San Francisco.
Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 PM
Shawna Yang Ryan – Water Ghosts, A Novel at Clayton Books, 5433 D Clayton Road, Clayton.
Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 PM
Lee Konstantiou – Pop Apocalypse: A Possible Satire at Books Inc. in Palo Alto, 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto.
Thursday, May 14, 9:00 PM
An Evening with Barry Gifford, Sailor & Lula. A Pegasus Books/Cerrito Speakeasy Theater Event – Admission: $8.00 – To celebrate the publication of Barry Gifford’s The Imagination of the Heart – book seven of the story of Sailor and Lula, we present a screening of David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a discussion with Barry Gifford, and a performance by actor Anne Darragh as Lula. At the Cerrito Speakeasy Theater, 10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito.
Saturday, May 16, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Jeff Prucher – Brave New Words: The first historical dictionary devoted to science fiction. Join us for a discussion with local freelance lexicographer and editor Jeff Prucher, who has assembled the first historical dictionary devoted to science fiction. Brave New Words won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book last year. “It’s a window on a whole genre of literature through the words invented and passed along by the genre’s most talented writers. In addition, it shows how many words we consider everyday vocabulary — words like “space shuttle,” “blast off,” and “robot” — had their roots in imaginative literature, and not in hard science.” This is a fascinating book to browse — each entry you read reminds you of more that you’d like to read. You’ll find yourself captivated for hours! At Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco.