Sonoma County Literary Update

February 2026 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.

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 1, 2:00 p.m. The Poetry Out Loud competition in which Sonoma County high school students recite poems, with the winner moving on to the State competition. This event, which is open to the public, takes place at Sonoma State University’s Stevenson Hall.

Monday, February 2, 6:00 p.m. Rivertown Poets at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma. Featured readers: Donna Emerson and John Trenam. Donna will launch her new poetry collection, Daphne Lifts Up, at this event and be available to sign books. Followed by open mic. Bring one poem of less than three minutes to share. Email any questions to rivertownpoet@gmail.com. Please note: there is no Zoom component for this reading.

Tuesday, February 3, 6:00 p.m. Copperfields Books in Petaluma celebrates the release of The Lions’ Run with New York Times bestselling author Sara Pennypacker, joined in conversation by Stacey Lee, bestselling author and founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement. Details: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/sara-pennypacker-stacey-lee

Friday, February 6, 6:00 p.m. Book Passage author event in celebration of award-winning author David Guterson’s heartfelt and surprisingly humorous new book, Evelyn in Transit: A Novel. A crystalline short novel about defying expectations, hitting the road, and seeking the right way to live. At Corte Madera Store. Details: bookpassage.com/event/david-guterson-evelyn-transit-novel-corte-madera-store

Saturday, February 7, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Rumi’s Caravan at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. An Evening of Poetry and Music in the Ecstatic Tradition. Kay Crista, Barry Spector, Maya Spector, Rebecca Evert, and Larry Robinson share their heartfelt verses, drawing from the rich tapestry of Rumi’s wisdom and the ecstatic spirit of poetic expression. Tickets: $35 will call only. Details:sebarts.org/classes-lectures/rumis-caravan-2026

Monday, February 9, 7:00 p.m. Sande Anfang will be the featured reader in a Bird and Beckett online poetry reading hosted by Kim Shuck and Brett Benson. An open mic follows. On Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84350265713?pwd=eE84V3BYdWxiSFBHNHhmdUt1WTUzdz09

Tuesday, February 10, 17, 24, 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. $40.00 for 3 sessions. Max 18 attendees, pre-registration required. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classeslectures/p/poetic-medicine-02/10/26

Tuesday, February 10, 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! Featured readers include: Gwynn O’Gara and William Greenwood. Followed by open mic with Shawna Swetech. Horses, Love, BHM, and Community are the themes. Happy Hour starts at 4 p.m. with $6 beers & $2 off wine. Free popcorn! Email Timothy Williams,  jaxonspress@gmail.com for more information.

Tuesday, February 10, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Writers Forum presents Kate Farrell: Telling Your Life Story. Memoir writing is often an emotionally intense process that can resurrect old feelings and traumas. We’ll discuss the ups and downs of writing a memoir, how to find support, and techniques to use in the process. Free on Zoom. Hosted by Marlene Cullen. Details: thewritespot.us/forum.php

Wednesday, February 11, 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 “No Pain Without Gain.”  Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

Thursday February 12, 6:00 p.m. Poet Laureate Dave Seter will be a featured reader at the Speakeasy reading series curated by Brian Martens. This event includes an open mic. The event is held at the Santa Rosa Arts Center located at 312 South A Street. Details at: https://santarosaartscenter.org/events/

Friday, February 13, 7:00-8:00 p.m. 7 Minutes Max Storytelling at Occidental Center for the Arts. An evening of 7 live stories told in 7 minutes or less. $10 GA, $5 for OCA members. Pay at the door. Storytellers will be selected randomly from willing participants. Theme for January: Resolutions. Details: occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Friday, February 13, 7:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books welcomes award-winning author Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes to Montgomery Village, featuring her stunning new novel The Pohaku. Details: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/jasmin-iolani-hakes

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

Wednesday, February 18, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Writers Forum presents Samantha Rose: In memoir writing, we set the intention to tell a truthful story about our own lives but often, truths that were buried or unknown, come through in the writing. In the spirit of truth-telling, she will discuss the truths that emerged while writing Giving Up the Ghost and how they shifted the story she’d been telling herself for much of her life. Free on Zoom. Hosted by Marlene Cullen. Details: thewritespot.us/forum.phpk

Friday, February 20, 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, February 21, 11:00 a.m. Redwood Writers Club presents Christine Walker: SENSORY, WHOLE-BODY WRITING: How to bring Memorable Characters Alive on the Page! At the Finley Center in Santa Rosa (room 5). Details and registration.

Sunday, February 22, 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, February 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Occidental Center for the Arts Literary Series. Double Book Party, Music and Art! A Trifecta! An entrancing afternoon with two esteemed poets, Donna Emerson and Gerald Fleming, with selected readings from their recent collections, respectively, Daphne Lifts Up and The Bastard & The Bishop. musical interludes on various stringed instruments from award-winning composer and musician, Jared Emerson-Johnson. Pop-up Art show in lobby from local artist, Barbara Marlin, creator of Daphne Lifts Up book cover. Following readings, a Q&A, with book sales and signing in the lobby. Refreshments will be available for sale. Free event, all donations always gratefully accepted. 3850 Doris Murphy Way, Occidental 95465. OCA is accessible to people with disabilities. For more info: occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Thursday, February 26, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Writers Forum presents Debra Koehler, who will share her writing journey, from believing she couldn’t possibly be imaginative enough to write fiction, to producing a four-book fantasy series. Her talk will cover how using intuition to trust her story, as well as her writing process, helped her move beyond the setbacks and blocks that can be part of any writer’s journey. Free on Zoom. Hosted by Marlene Cullen. Details: thewritespot.us/forum.php

Mark Your Calendar for March 2026

Sunday, March 1, 4:00 p.m. Join us at Book Passage for an author event in celebration of prize-winning, critically acclaimed biographer Carla Kaplan’s radical, delightful, and hard-hitting biography, Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford. Carla will be joined in conversation with Steve Wasserman, the author of Tell Me Something, Tell Me Anything, Even If It’s a Lie. The fifth of the six famous Mitford Girls, Jessica Mitford (also known as Decca), was a British aristocrat-turned-American Communist, famous for exposés like The American Way of Death. At the Corte Madera Store. More details: bookpassage.com/event/carla-kaplan-steve-wasserman-troublemaker-fierce-unruly-life-jessica-mitford-corte-madera

Sunday, March 8. 10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m.. Occidental Center for the Arts’ Studio. 7minutesMAX – Storytelling Workshop with Jessica Morell, and Suze Pringle Cohan.Join our introductory class to learn about narrative, truth telling, what storytelling isn’t  and get a chance to start creating your Moth-style story for our ongoing 7minutesMax events, second Fridays (7-8PM) of the month in the OCA lobby. Workshop registration $75, ($65 for OCA members). Bring your own lunch. This workshop is limited to 20 people. Register early at occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Way, Occidental, CA. OCA’sfacilities are accessible to people with disabilities. For more info: occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Sunday, March 8, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Occidental Center for the Arts’ Lobby. Jazzmyn Inisis will read from her book, Shah Razad and the Djins Who Loved Her. Jazzmyn is a local writer who was deeply influenced living in the middle east as a child of a military father stationed there in the 1950’s. Join us for an afternoon of mystery and storytelling with Jazzmyn, accompanied by middle eastern food and fine wines available for purchase. Settle in and be transported… Free admission, all donations happily accepted. This is a reading only by the author, no books available for sale. OCA: 3850 Doris Murphy Way, Occidental, CA. OCA’s facilities are accessible to people with disabilities. For more info: occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Wednesday, March 11, 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 “Don’t Give Up Your Day Job.”  Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

Wednesday, March 18, 6:00 p.m. Bill McNamara reads from his collection of poems, Before Tomorrow. At Readers’ Books, 130 E. Napa St, Sonoma.

Friday, March 20, 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 March 21, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Dave Seter and Librarian Terra Emerson will be co-leading a workshop on the topic of “Documenting Current Events Through Poetry” at the Sebastopol Branch of Sonoma County Library located at 7140 Bodega Avenue. Details at: https://events.sonomalibrary.org/event/copy-hold-potential-poet-laureate-event-94149

Saturday, March 21, 2:00-5:00 p.m. The first of four workshops with Loretta Mijares—MovingWriting: Embodied Expressive Writing  combining movement/dance with expressive writing. At a private studio in Sebastopol. $75 per afternoon. More details on Workshops page. To register, go to www.MovingWriting.com or email: loretta@movingwriting.com.

Sunday, March 22, 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

Saturday, March 28, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Redwood Writers 2026 Author Launch. This event will be held in person in Room 5 of the Senior Wing at the Finley Center, Santa Rosa. Join the Redwood Writers Branch  in celebrating 18 local authors and their newly published books. This lively community event brings readers and writers together for an inspiring morning of short readings, book sales, and conversation. FREE for members, guests & general public. More details and registration: https://redwoodwriters.org/author-launch