Sonoma County Literary Update

December 2025 Calendar of Literary Events

The monthly calendar reflects announcements that literary folk from the area have sent to us. To get a more complete list of author-events and workshop schedules, addresses and directions to the event locations, as well as bios of the presenters, you can use the links below.   Please send your calendar announcements, text only (no attachments or PDFs please), no later than noon on the last day of each month. Calendar entries are easier to include if they follow the format you see here (Day, date, time: event, cost, location, contact). Events should be within an hour’s drive of Sonoma County. Send your announcements to editor@socolitupdate.com. NOTE: Lengthy announcements will be edited. Where possible, please provide a link to a web page with complete details.

Book Passage www.bookpassage.com*
Copperfield’s Books www.copperfieldsbooks.com*
Petaluma Writers’ Forum and Jumpstart Writing Workshops: www.thewritespot.us
Readers’ Books www.readersbooks.com
Redwood Writers www.redwoodwriters.org
Sebastopol Center for the Arts www.sebarts.org
Sitting Room Library www.sittingroomlibrary.org

*NOTE: Book Passage and Copperfield’s Books have archived their virtual events. For Book Passages Conversations With Authors, go to: https://bookpassage.extendedsession.com/archive/ Copperfield’s Books’ Virtual Event Library may be found on YouTube.

Monday, December 1, 6:00 p.m. Rivertown Poets reading live at the Aqus Cafe, 189 H Street. 6:00 p.m. Our features are our own Rivertown host Monica Volker and Kurt Schweigman (Luke Warm Water). Come early for dinner and to sign up for open mic.

Monday, December 1, 6:00 p.m. Book Passage celebrates Megha Majumdar’s new book A Guardian and a Thief. In conversation with Luisa Smith, at the Corte Madera store. Megha Majumdar’s electrifying new novel, following her acclaimed New York Times bestseller A Burning—longlisted for the National Book Award—is set in a near-future Kolkata, India, ravaged by climate change and food scarcity, in which two families seeking to protect their children must battle each other. More details: bookpassage.com/event/megha-majumdar-guardian-and-thief-corte-madera-store

Wednesday, December 3, 7:00 p.m. Dave Pokorny presents West Side Stories: Our 2024 GrandSlam Winner and 11 of our favorite storytellers from this year’s monthly StorySlams return to the stage for one final showdown — all sharing true, personal stories on the theme “Good Riddance.” One final vote to crown the 2025 GrandSlam champion. At the Mystic Theater, 23 Petaluma Blvd. Doors open 6:00 p.m. Come early, grab a drink, and settle in for a night you won’t forget. Details and ticket ($30) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

Saturday, December 6, 12:00-4:00 p.m. Book It! Book fair at the Sea Ranch Lodge. Free event. For more details: thesearanchlodge.com/programming 

Saturday, December 6, 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. The Sitting Room Library celebrates Jane Austen with Raye Lynn Thomas. It will be an afternoon to share with the group noteworthy articles, exhibits, videos you’ve discovered, as well as share favorite characters, scenes, and/or quotes memorable from your own Austen reading. More details: sittingroomlibrary.org/round-tables

Saturday, December 6, 4:00 p.m. Book Passage in Corte Madera presents a She Writes Press Panel Event, featuring: Wendy B. Correa, Jacquelyn L. Jackson, and Andrea Leeb. Join three fearless memoirists for an engaging conversation about their deep dives to understand, uncover and live the truth and agency buried in their lives, and bodies, beneath silence and inherited trauma. Moderated by Brooke Warner of She Writes Press. Details: bookpassage.com/event/she-writes-press-winter-event-panel-corte-madera-store

Sunday, December 7, 1:00 p.m. Book Passage celebrates of Corey Rosen’s new book, A Story for Everything: Mastering Diverse Storytelling for Any Occasion! In this standalone companion to Your Story, Well Told, author and The Moth StorySlams host Corey Rosen provides a practical, go-to guide on crafting and delivering impactful narratives for professional, academic, and personal success. At the Corte Madera Store. Details: bookpassage.com/event/corey-rosen-story-everything-mastering-diverse-storytelling-any-occasion-corte-madera-store

Sunday, December 7, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Karen Pierce Gonzalez performs “Moon kissed, Earth wrought, Vision Drunk” on the Saturday Afternoon Poetry Zoom channel. Zoom link: us02web.zoom.us/j/75993673202. Password: poetry.

Tuesday, December 9, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Poetic Medicine with Judith Redwing Keyssar at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Redwing Keyssar has been leading “poetic medicine” sessions through her work in Palliative Care at UCSF for the past 5 years. Her work has created an international community of people who, by listening to and writing poetry together, have healed wounds of grief and loss” and provided resiliency to move forward on our life paths. $15.00. Max 18 attendees, pre-registration required. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classeslectures/p/poetic-medicine-dec-session

Tuesday, December 9, 5:00 p.m. A Child’s Christmas in Wales, produced by Sonoma County poet and musician Timothy Williams and presented by Timothy, Anika Snyder, Chappell Holt, and Dave Seter. At Barrel Proof Lounge, 501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. Free. Details: eventbrite.com/e/dylan-thomas-a-childs-christmas-in-wales-presented-by-timothy-williams

Saturday, December 13, 4:00 p.m. Book Passage presents an author event in celebration of Valerie Andrews’ new book Our Story of Home: Tales of Longing and Belonging. Valerie will be joined in conversation with Phil Cousineau. POSTPONED. NEW DATE TBD. bookpassage.com/event/valerie-andrews-phil-cousineau-our-story-home-tales-longing-and-belonging-corte-madera-store

Saturday, December 13, 7:00 p.m. Books & Letters (14045 Armstrong Woods Rd.) presents Guerneville authors Jim and Kathy Ocean, whose The World & Music of John Lennon’s Glasses is a genre-defying novel fusing rock ‘n’ roll mythology with speculative fiction and social satire. A one-of-a-kind, live music-infused-reader’s performance. Details: booksletters.com/events/the-world-music-of-john-lennons-glasses

Wednesday, December 17, 6:00 p.m. Santa Rosa Poetry Slam. (Signups at 5:30 p.m.). At Brew Coffee and Beerhouse (555 Healdsburg Ave., Santa Rosa). Contact Santarosapoetryslam@gmail.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571774108946

Friday, December 19, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Online Literary Open Mic. Share a short story or poetry. Email johnnybodega1@gmail.com for Zoom link. Hosted by John Christian, http://flyingchairproductions.weebly.com.

Saturday, December 20, 11:00 a.m. Redwood Writers Club presents Audrey Kalman: Your Story Unleashed: A One-Hour Creative Catalyst. Come experience a concentrated burst of inspiration and practical techniques to kickstart your short fiction or nonfiction. You’ll unlock secrets to captivating readers and generating compelling ideas through engaging exercises. Discover the power of short-form writing and leave eager to create! At the general meeting, nonmembers welcome. At the Finley Center, Santa Rosa. Details: redwoodwriters.org/audrey-kalman-your-story-unleashed/

Sunday, December 28, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fourth Sunday Meditation Gathering with Clara Rosemarda. Free on Zoom. Details on Workshops page. Contact: 707-567-7117 or rosen@sonic.net

Mark Your Calendar for January 2026

Sunday, January 4. Session 3 of Short Story Project begins (write 8 Stories in 8 weeks, online and free). All the authors in the project write a story based on the same one-sentence prompt, and these are all posted on storyauthors.com. For details see Workshops page.

Monday, January 5, 6:00 p.m. Rivertown Poets Zoom meeting with featured readers Rebecca Faust and Jeanne Wagner. Followed by open mic. We ask that you bring one poem of less than three minutes to share so that we can include everyone who would like to read. If you’d like to join the reading list, please send an email to rivertownpoet@gmail.com. Zoom link forthcoming.

Thursday, January 8, 4:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera presents a multi-author panel discussing how historical fiction inspires and educates readers. Francine Falk-Allen, Janis Robinson Daly & Ginny Kubitz Moyer will share how and why they began their writing journeys and will read from one of their novels: The Path Beneath Her Feet (Robinson Daly), The World at Home (Kubitz Moyer), and A Wolff in the Family (Falk-Allen). More details: bookpassage.com/event/francine-falk-allen-ginny-kubiz-moyer-janis-robinson-daly-historical-fiction-panel-corte

Sunday, January 11, 4:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera presents local author and creative writing and journalism teacher, Rebecca Elegant. Featured book: Tell Me Something True, A beautiful collection of 35 original poems paired with images of Northern California’s natural beauty, connecting the reader with the emotional landscape that’s part of the human experience. Details: bookpassage.com/event/rebecca-elegant-tell-me-something-true-corte-madera-store

Tuesday, January 13, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Poetic Medicine with Judith Redwing Keyssar at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Redwing Keyssar has been leading “poetic medicine” sessions through her work in Palliative Care at UCSF for the past 5 years. Her work has created an international community of people who, by listening to and writing poetry together, have healed wounds of grief and loss” and provided resiliency to move forward on our life paths. $15.00. Max 18 attendees, pre-registration required. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classeslectures/p/poetic-medicine-01/13/26

Tuesday, January 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Poetry Salon Happy Hour at Barrel Proof Lounge, 501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. Raise a glass to the Power of Words! Fabulous Featured readers include: Jean Hegland, Ken Rodgers, Guy Biederman, and Betty Rodgers. Happy Hour starts at 4 p.m. with $6 beers & $2 off wine. Free popcorn! Start the new year off right with community, music and poetry! Email Timothy Williams, jaxonspress@gmail.com for more information.

Wednesday, January 14, 7:30 p.m. Dave Pokorny presents West Side Stories:  Every month there is a theme, hopefully that sparks a memory for you. You put your name in a hat and 10 people’s names are drawn at random. When your name is pulled you get 5 minutes to tell your personal true story. At the end of the evening, everyone votes by text for their favorite story of the night. The winner gets $50. January’s theme is “First Things First.”  Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

Friday, January 16, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Online Literary Open Mic. Share a short story or poetry. Email johnnybodega1@gmail.com for Zoom link. Hosted by John Christian, http://flyingchairproductions.weebly.com.

Saturday, January 17, 11:00 a.m. Redwood Writers Club presents Shelley Blanton-Stroud on The Messy Intersection of Fact and Fiction: Navigating the Challenges of Writing a Novel based on History. She will talk about the challenges and opportunities based on writing historical fiction. How much does your fiction “have” to adhere accurately to history? What happens, good and bad, when you diverge? At the Finley Center, Santa Rosa. Details: redwoodwriters.org/shelley-blanton-stroud-the-messy-intersection-of-fact-and-fiction/

Sunday, January 18, 11: 00 a.m. Virtual book launch for Robin Gabbert’s new poetry collection, Somehow I haven’t Drowned. See our In Print page for info on book. Join the Zoom meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88318148420?pwd=yzpsovUrqfdqxuqDnEIBRhfI3jyEtJ.1. Meeting ID: 883 1814 8420. Passcode: 388482. For questions, email: robinpoetry@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dusty Artifact or Window Into the Past: Writing Poems on Petaluma History. If you think you know Petaluma history, then come prepared to be surprised as we write poems from new perspectives. Join Sonoma County Poet Laureate Dave Seter for this special one of a kind workshop. Free at Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, 20 Fourth Street, Petaluma. More details and registration: https://www.petalumamuseum.com/calendar-event/dusty-artifact-or-window-into-the-past-writing-poems-on-petaluma-history/

Wednesday, January 21, 6:00 p.m. Santa Rosa Poetry Slam. (Signups at 5:30 p.m.). At Brew Coffee and Beerhouse (555 Healdsburg Ave., Santa Rosa). Contact Santarosapoetryslam@gmail.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571774108946

Saturday, January 24, 12:00 p.m. The third in the 3-part Zoom series #NotJustPretty, hosted by Cotati poet Karen Pierce Gonzalez and sponsored by Broken Spine Arts (UK). Special guests: Poets/artists Cat Baloq, Laura Grevel, Fidel H. Walsh, Jenn Givhan, Soheila Vahedi. There will also be an open mic. Zoom link forthcoming. More details: karenpiercegonzalez.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

Sunday, January 25, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fourth Sunday Meditation Gathering with Clara Rosemarda. Free on Zoom. Details on Workshops page. Contact: 707-567-7117 or rosen@sonic.net

Sunday, January 25, 1:00 p.m. A special joint author event at Book Passage Corte Madera featuring two award-winning authors: Alice Jones, a celebrated poet, physician, and psychoanalyst, will be presenting her luminous new memoir, Cadence of Vanishing. She will be joined by Denise Newman, a distinguished poet, translator, and interdisciplinary artist, who will discuss her latest work, The Redesignation of Paradise. Details: bookpassage.com/event/alice-jones-denise-newman-cadence-vanishing-redesignation-paradise-corte-madera-store

Tuesday, January 27, 7:00-8:00 p.m.  Poetic License Sonoma: the first of quarterly Zoom readings in 2026 with guest headliner Terry Ehret, who has published four collections of poetry, most recently Night Sky Journey, and three bilingual volumes of the poems of Mexican poet Ulalume González de León. She is a co-founder of Sixteen Rivers Press and poet laureate emerita of Sonoma County. PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Kusum Jain, Susanne Arrhenius, Joseph Cutler, and Joan Osterman. The theme this month is Doubt. Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/85623008113

Friday, January 30, 7:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books welcomes local authors Grant Faulkner and Gail Butensky to Petaluma in celebration of their new book Something Out There in the Distance. Flash-fiction master Faulkner and photographer Butensky have partnered to create this unique narrative made up of stories alongside edge-of-the-world photography. The book tells of two lovers taking a reckless, searching road trip through the American West. More details: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/grant-faulkner-gail-butensky

Mark Your Calendar for February 2026

Sunday, February 1, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Occidental Center for the Arts. Writing Workshop with Julie Gieseke. Write Here: Letting the Land Open Up your Stories. This personal story/memoir workshop is for anyone interested in developing some of the many stories they hold. No previous experience required. Julie Gieseke is a writer, performer and visual artist. She is a coach for individuals seeking ways to break open their creative expression. Cost: Non-OCA Members $125/ Members $115. For details: see Workshops page or occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Sunday February 15, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Occidental Center for the Arts hosts the writers of Red Flag Warning: Mutual Aid and Survival in California’s Fire Country: edited by Dani Burlison & Margaret Elysia Garcia. (AK Press) A guide for living physically, mentally and emotionally amid ecological destruction. Readers are invited to examine what fire can and does mean to them and what it means for us to re-imagine the world. Presenters from this collection include Dani Burlison, Manjula Martin, Hiya Swanhuyser, Beatrice Camacho, and Amy Elizabeth Robinson. Free admission, all donations gratefully accepted. Selected readings, and conversation with the audience, followed by book sales and signing. Refreshments for sale. OCA: 3850 Doris Murphy Way, Occidental, For more info: occidentalcenterforthearts.org