July-August 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-Friday, July 26-31. Napa Valley Writer’s Conference. Readings, craft workshops, and community classes are open to the public. See Conferences page or napawritersconference.org/public-events
Tuesday, July 28, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Poetry Lives! A Monthly Workshop and Open Mic at Sebastapol Center for the Arts ($5/10/15/20 sliding scale for workshop. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classes-lectures/poetry-lives-july-28th-2026
Tuesday, July 28, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Poetic License Sonoma Online Quarterly Poetry Readings. The guest headliner in July is Kay Crista. PLS poets include Steve Trenam, Jaime Zukowski, Judith Vaughn, Leo McCloskey, Kusum Jain, Susanne Arrhenius, Joseph Cutler, and Joan Osterman. This month’s theme is Mystery. Zoom link: santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/82948226178. More details will be posted at: poeticlicensesonoma.com
Thursday, July 30, 5:00-7:00 p.m. A Tribute to French Culture through Poetry and Music at Barrel Proof Lounge, 501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. Celebrate the poetry of your favorite French poets co-hosted by our bilingual speaker and French teacher Evelyne Whitman. Readings by Karen Fitzgerald, Donna Emerson, Karen Bramblett, Pat Nolan and Lance Harmening. The music of France will be provided by SonoTriette, a French language trio formed by brilliant SonoMusette members: writer, musician, singer, Mimi Pirard, piano and standup bass player Jan Martinelli, and accordionist Robert Lunceford. Free Event—tip jar for our musical artists. To become a participant, contact Timothy Williams: jaxonspress@gmail.com, 707-321-3852
Mark Your Calendar for August 2026
Saturday, August 1, 3:30-6:00 p.m. Found Poets at the Big Easy, 128 American Alley, Petaluma. Featuring Anna Simson, with Bernice Espinosa, Tonya Ward Singer, Anaid Carreño and Katrina Phillips. Cost: $15 at the door, 18 & under free!
Mondays, beginning August 3, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Writing Accountability Group at the Sitting Room, facilitated by Iris Jamahl Dunkle. Sometimes, as writers, we need to hold space for each other to write. If you are working on a project and want to work on it with a group of other writers, then sign up to join us! This is not a workshop, just a place to sit down and write together. Hot tea and coffee will be available. Sign up HERE.
Monday, August 3, 6:00 p.m. The New River Town Poets and Aqus Cafe present Veronica Kornberg and Kathryn Jordan. Open mic follows the features. Sign up at the café, first-come, first-served. Come early for dinner and an open mic slot. The location is 189 H Street in Petaluma.
Thursday, August 6, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Book Passage online event: The Art and Heart of Travel Writing with Pico Iyer and Don George. Essential practical tips for writing on place while also shining a light on deeper possibilities within the form. Free to attendees of the 2026 Travel Writers & Photographers Conference (see Conferences page); otherwise, $20. Details and registration: bookpassage.com/event/2026-08-06/art-and-heart-travel-writing-pico-iyer-don-george
Tuesday, August 11, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Poetic Medicine: An Instrument for Healing with Redwing Keyssar at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Poetry can be a salve for the heart and soul. You do not have to be a “poet” or even a “writer” to allow words and feelings to pour through your pen. $15. Pre-registration required. More details and registration: sebarts.org/classes-lectures/poetic-medicine
Wednesday, August 12, 6:00 p.m. Sixteen Rivers Press poets Dana Cervine, Carolyn Miller, and Lenore Myers read their poetry at Readers’ Books, 130 E. Napa St., Sonoma. readersbooks.com/event/2026-08-12/sixteen-rivers-poets
Wednesday, August 12, 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. August’s theme is “Hang In There.” Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories
Thursday, August 13, 7:00 p.m. Luminous Threshold Collective Open Mic: A community grief ritual where people sing, recite poetry, or speak extemporaneously about their experiences of death and grief. Five-minute limit. You need not perform to attend. The witnessing is at least as important as the performing! At the Lost Church, 545 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. $15. Tickets: thelostchurch.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket
Thursday, August 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Speakeasy Poetry and Singer/Songwriters at Santa Rosa Arts Center. Poets and musicians each do a 20-25-minute set followed by open mic. Featured poet: Nichole Turnbloom. Music by acoustic rock trio Late But Ready (Lindsey and Rio McFarland and Drew Pierce). Hosted by Brian Martens and Simmon Factor. At 312 South A Street, Santa Rosa. Details: santarosaartscenter.org/events
Friday, August 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m. 7MInMAX Open Mic Night at Occidental Center for the Arts. Bring your original poems, prose or storytelling to our open mic night. We’ll pick 7 performers from the hat. Come share your work: Read aloud or memorized, just keep it to 7 minutes or less. 2nd Fridays of the month. Cost is $5 OCA members/$10 non-OCA members. Pay at the door. More details: occidentalcenterforthearts.org
Saturday, August 15, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Copperfields Books Petaluma presents a Meet and Greet with Marion Fredman and Elisa Kleven featuring their celebrated juvenile fiction titles, A Time to Hide and The Paper Princess. A Time to Hide by Marion Fredman captures a powerful true story of Holocaust survival, told through personal testimony, historical photographs, and evocative new illustrations. Elisa Kleven’s beloved classic The Paper Princess returns to inspire a new generation of children. Details: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-08-15/marion-fredman-elisa-kleven-mg
Saturday, August 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Bookbinding Date Night at North Bay Letterpress Arts (). Have you ever wanted to learn about bookbinding but didn’t know where to start? How about not spending too much either? Well here’s your chance…a drop-in book lab where you can discover – and make – three different kinds of book structures over three months (or just one). $50 per session. Details and registration: northbayletterpressarts.org
Sunday, August 16, 1:00 p.m. Book Passage in Corte Madera presents author Lena Fein. Featured book: Shattering the Mirror. In this memoir, Fein explores her childhood shaped by a violent, controlling mother and the dissociation she used to survive a high-pressure career and two marriages. At fifty-one, facing her dying mother, Fein finally begins to reclaim the voice and life she once buried. More details: bookpassage.com/event/lena-fein-shattering-mirror
Sunday, August 16, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Roundtable discussion at the Sitting Room with Jean Hegland and Still Time: how writing Still Time helped reframe her understanding of dementia; what kinds of research she did for this project; why she thinks that Shakespeare continues to speak to audiences around the world, and more. In person at 2025 Curtis Drive, Penngrove. Sign up here.
Friday, August 21, 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, flyingchairproductions.weebly.com
Friday, August 21, 7:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books welcomes Claudia Hagadus Long to Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa for the launch of her captivating new mystery novel Sisters at an Exhibition: A Zara and Lilly Mystery. Celebratory reading and discussion followed by an audience Q&A and post-event book signing. Details and RSVP: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-08-21/claudia-hagadus-long
Saturday, August 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m. An Afternoon With Our New Poet Laureate Claire Drucker, at the Sitting Room, 2025 Curtis Drive, Penngrove. Claire plans to read her work and lead us in writing prompts. Come help us celebrate Claire and get inspired to write your own work! Sign up here.
Tuesday, August 25, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Poetry Lives! A Monthly Workshop and Open Mic at Sebastapol Center for the Arts ($5/10/15/20 sliding scale for workshop. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classes-lectures/poetry-lives-august-25th-2026
Wednesday, August 26th, 6:00 p.m. Readers’ Books in Sonoma presents Pamela Jessup Runner reading from Grief Grit Glory. A mother’s extraordinary journey from heartbreak to hope. At 130 E. Napa St., Sonoma. readersbooks.com/event/2026-08-26
Mark Your Calendar for September 2026
Friday, September 4, 7:00 p.m. Celebrate the “Marinaissance” with David Perlis at Copperfields Books in Petaluma as he presents his captivating debut, Morning in Marin: Zen, Drugs, and Ewoks on the California Coast—the first book of its kind to explore Marin County’s extraordinary cultural history. Featuring a reading and intimate conversation followed by a live audience Q&A and book signing. Details and RSVP: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-09-04/david-perlis
Tuesday, September 8, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Poetic Medicine: An Instrument for Healing with Redwing Keyssar at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Poetry can be a salve for the heart and soul. You do not have to be a “poet” or even a “writer” to allow words and feelings to pour through your pen. $15. Pre-registration required. More details and registration: sebarts.org/classes-lectures/poetic-medicine
Wednesday, September 9, 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. September’s theme is “It’s Not Rocket Science.” Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories
Thursday, September 10, 7:00 p.m. Luminous Threshold Collective Open Mic: A community grief ritual where people sing, recite poetry, or speak extemporaneously about their experiences of death and grief. Five-minute limit. You need not perform to attend. The witnessing is at least as important as the performing! At the Lost Church, 545 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. $15. Tickets: thelostchurch.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket
Friday, September 12, 7:00-8:00 p.m. 7MInMAX Open Mic Night at Occidental Center for the Arts. Bring your original poems, prose or storytelling to our open mic night. We’ll pick 7 performers from the hat. Come share your work: Read aloud or memorized, just keep it to 7 minutes or less. 2nd Fridays of the month. Cost is $5 OCA members/$10 non-OCA members. Pay at the door.
Sunday, September 13, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Occidental Center for the Arts Literary Series presents a double book event: Myth & Archetype as Seen Through Poetry & Astrology with author and astrologist Diana Badger, Dance of the Archetypes: How Astrology Informs our Lives and Connects Us to the Earth, and poet and storyteller, Brian R. Martens, Merlin’s Wing, Mythic Poems. Diana and Brian will explore—through the respective lenses of astrology and poetry—valuable insights offered by both myth and archetype, for better clarity and resilience in today’s tumultuous world. This event is free, all donations gratefully invited. Selected readings & conversation, Q&A, book sales & signing. Refreshments for sale. OCA: 3850 Doris Murphy Way, Occidental, CA. For more info: occidentalcenterforthearts.org
Wednesday, September 16, 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Percolations, an on-going jumpline writing group, at Occidental Center for the Arts’ Studio, 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Facilitated by Jessica Morell, guided in a supportive environment, no experience necessary. $10 members/$15 non-members.
Thursday, September 17, 7:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books welcomes local activist and author Deborah Santana to Petaluma in celebration of Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, her new, deeply moving memoir about her path from daughter of a pioneering interracial couple to wife of music legend Carlos Santana—and the spiritual awakening and rebirth that followed her decision to leave their 34-year marriage. More details and RSVP: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-09-17/deborah-santana
Tuesday, September 22, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Poetry Lives! A Monthly Workshop and Open Mic at Sebastapol Center for the Arts ($5/10/15/20 sliding scale for workshop. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classes-lectures/poetry-lives-september-22nd-2026
Saturday, September 26, 7:30 p.m. Copperfield’s Books welcomes Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, joined in conversation by acclaimed local author Ellen Sussman about her newest release, The Women, at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided. Set in 1965, it is a novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era. At Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Ruth Finley Person Theater. Every ticket includes a pre-signed paperback copy of The Women. More details and tickets: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-09-26/kristin-hannah
[…] contacted Jo-Anne Rosen of the Sonoma County Literary Update to get on the event calendar — what a great resource that is! And she added Body on the Wall to the Sonoma County in Print […]
By: Book Launch! Body on the Wall | the poem whisperer – a blog about finding the words on May 17, 2014
at 9:20 am