Sonoma County Literary Update

November 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 8:00 p.m. 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, November 1 through Monday, November 30. NaNo 2.0—a FREE, community-led endeavor that’s keeping the spirit of National Novel Writing Month alive. Whether you’re chasing your first-ever draft or returning for another wild month of literary abandon, NaNo 2.0 has the pep talks, resources, and camaraderie to get you across the finish line. More information and sign-up here: nano2.org

Sunday, November 1, 2:30-5:30 p.m. AND THEN…. 2026 Redwood Writers Poetry Anthology Launch Party. At Main Hall, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St, Sebastopol. Contact Les Bernstein at lessieb13@yahoo.com with any questions.

Monday, November 2, 6:00 p.m. Rivertown Poets features Molly Fisk and Mary Eichbauer, via Zoom.  Our open mic list is full but we hope you’ll come to listen to these fine poets. Email rivertownpoet@gmail.com to be added to the email list. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6508887879, Passcode: 2241991.

Tuesday, November 3, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Virtual. “Reclaiming Your Inner Wisdom: Sacred Indigenous Teachings.” Join us for a transformative virtual conversation with Indigenous Medicine Woman Asha Frost as she explores her groundbreaking book, You Are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom, Ancestral Connection, and Animal Spirit Guidance. Asha Frost (she/her) is an Indigenous Medicine Woman and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. Sonoma County Library. Register here: https://libraryc.org/sonomalibrary/216863/register

Wednesday, November 4, 6:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera presents Mark Danner in conversation with Adam Hochschild, New York Times bestselling author of American Midnight. Featured book: Crossing the Rubicon. Essays on fascism, the war on terror, Abu Ghraib, Dick Cheney, the Iraq War, the Bush-Gore and Trump elections, and many other subjects from one of America’s foremost political thinkers. These provocative pieces have been gathered from the early 2000s to the present and chronicle America’s slide away from democracy to a new era of barbarism. More details: bookpassage.com/event/mark-danner-crossing-rubicon

Thursday, November 5, 6:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera presents Chad Harbach. Featured book: The Brightness. From the bestselling author of literary sensation The Art of Fielding comes an urgent, deeply felt story of friendship, art, love, and grief, following two young women on the brink of irrevocable change. Details: bookpassage.com/event/chad-harbach-brightness

Thursday, November 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m. A Conversation in Poetry: Elizabeth Herron and Gwynn O’Gara. At Many Rivers Books and Tea, 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol. POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

Friday, November 6, 6:00-7:30 p.m. North Bay Letterpress Arts (925-D Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol) presents An Evening of Poetry: Tim Hunt in Conversation with Pat Nolan. Light refreshments and fantastic poetry served in equal measure. Beautiful letterpress broadsides of poets’ work available with a donation to NBLA ($25 each). Please reserve your space as our seating to this free event is limited. More details and RSVP: northbayletterpressarts.org/events-calendar/2026-tim-hunt

Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books in Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa welcomes author, psychotherapist, and spiritual teacher Rosanne Annoni to Santa Rosa in celebration of her moving debut memoir — Unfolding the Heart: One Woman’s Quest for True Nature! Rosanne will be joined in conversation by Sandra Maitri, Santa Rosa author, teacher, and longtime practitioner of the Diamond Approach. Registration recommended for seating. Details and RSVP: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-11-06/rosanne-annoni-sandra-maitri

Saturday, November 7, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 2026 Sonoma County Finding History Day. The Sonoma County Historical Society’s annual celebration of local history brings together dozens of historical societies, museums, archives, libraries, genealogical groups, and cultural organizations from across the county and surrounding region. Held each year at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa. Find more information here.

Saturday, November 7, 10:30 a.m. Copperfield’s Books Calistoga (1330 Lincoln Avenue), Meet and Greet with local author, poet and wellness educator Elizabeth Denison, featuring her new memoir Shawnan Spirit Speaks: LOVE Is the Forever Adventure. More details: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-11-07/elizabeth-denison-mg

Sunday, November 8, 2:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books presents New York Times bestselling author Lucy Foley in conversation with author Amy Meyerson, celebrating the release of Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, a new Miss Marple mystery that reimagines Agatha Christie’s beloved detective for a new generation of readers. At Sebastopol Community Cultural Center (390 Morris Street). Details and tickets: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-11-08/lucy-foley

Sunday, November 8, 2:00-4:00 p.m. An Afternoon with Queer Writers: Reading/Workshop, at the Sitting Room, 2025 Curtis Drive, Penngrove. Join three local queer writers: Claire Drucker, Nicole Zimmerman, and Redwing Keyssar as they share their writing, offer inspiring writing prompts, and create an opportunity to write collectively. More details and signup: eventbrite.com/e/afternoon-with-queer-writers-readingworkshop-tickets-2003236167302

Sunday, November 8, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Occidental Center for the Arts Literary Series presents a debut book launch of Heart Stories: An Inner Exploration of Heart Disease and Human Consciousness, by Dennis von Elgg. Dennis, an acupuncturist, educator, and author, has spent more than three decades exploring the intersection of traditional Chinese medicine, modern medical science, and the human experience. Heart Stories weaves together clinical insight, contemporary research, Eastern philosophy, patient stories, and reflections from his own life to offer a fresh perspective on the heart—not only as an organ, but as a center of physiology, emotion, and consciousness. This free event features selected readings by the author, audience Q&A, book sales and signing. Refreshments available. OCA is located at 3850 Doris Murphy Way, Occidental.

Tuesday, November 10, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Virtual. “A City on Mars: The Science and Absurdities of Space Settlement” with authors Zach Weinersmith, a cartoonist, and Dr. Kelly Weinersmith, a scientist and co-host of the podcast Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe. Sonoma County Library. Register here: https://libraryc.org/sonomalibrary/218261/register

Tuesday, November 10, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Poetic Medicine: An Instrument for Healing with Redwing Keyssar at Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 S. High Street). 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/poetic-medicine

Wednesday, November 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. September’s theme is “Grit.”  Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

Thursday, November 12, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Santa Rosa Arts Center’s Speakeasy Series, featuring Poet Laureate Emerita Terry Ehret and musician Scott Ray Laws. Followed by open mic. Hosted by Brian Martens and Simmon Factors. Free, at the Santa Rosa Arts Center, 312 South A Street, Santa Rosa.

Friday, November 13, 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. We want YOU! Cost is $5 OCA members/$10 non-OCA members. Pay at the door. occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Saturday, November 14, 10 -11:15 a.m. Zoom webinar with author Christine Walker: Nine Ways to Revise and Strenghten Your Novel or Memoir. $55. A fresh approach to revision that helps you discover what your story needs—and what it could become. Christine is the author of the novel Tap Dancing at the Bluebird, the memoir A Painter’s Garden: Cultivating the Creative Life, and Nine Ways: Writing Masterful Fiction and Memoir (Sibyl Writing Craft, 2027). To learn more or to sign up go to: shop.sibyllinepress.com/products/nine-ways-to-revise-your-novel

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Write & Collage with Marlene Cullen. At Petaluma Arts Center, $40 for PAC members, $45 for non-members. More details on Workshops page or TheWriteSpot.us.

Saturday, November 14, 1:00-5:00 p.m. A Memoir Writing Workshop for Women. Crafting Your Life Story returns to Occidental Center for the Arts. An immersive memoir writing experience designed to help you uncover, shape, and share the stories that have defined your life. Open to all levels of writing experience. Alaura O’Dell MFA, a memoir author and writing instructor, has led women’s workshops and classes for over 30 years, including with her company, Sacred Journeys for Women, facilitating retreats to world sacred sites. The workshop is limited to 8 participants and will be held in the OCA Studio. To learn more and to register, visit occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

Saturday, November 14, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Book launch for Spencer Scott’s As If We Were Staying at Solar Punk Farm, the farm that inspired the book. RSVP for location. Details about the book on Sonoma County in Print page.

Saturday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma welcomes local author Teri Roche Drobnick in celebration of her deeply moving new memoir, Our Long Goodbye: A Daughter, a Father, a Best Friend, and the Journey Through Alzheimer’s. In this deeply emotional memoir, a grieving daughter bonds with her father’s best friend of eighty years—and reconnects with her father—through the stories her unlikely new friend shares with her. She will be joined in conversation by her father’s best friend Bob Kahl. Details: copperfieldsbooks.com/event/2026-11-14/teri-roche-drobnick 

Sunday, November 15, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Autumn Muses: An Afternoon with Four Poets: Claire Drucker (Sonoma County Poet Laureate), Todd Melicker, Marjorie Stein, and Kathleen Winter. Join us for a relaxed Autumn afternoon of poetry from our four esteemed poet friends, with tea and cookies!  This free event will include selected readings by each poet, with handpan interludes from Judith Lerner, followed by audience Q&A, book sales & signing, Refreshments available. The Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental. Details: occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Sunday, November 15, 2:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera hosts a reading by LeeAnn Pickrell from her new book, Tsunami. This event is organized by the Left Coast Writers. The story explores the tsunami through a lens of separation, reunion, and the psychic shifts of such an experience. It is a moving account of coming home, letting go of outdated faith, and discovering the connections forged through the stories we tell. Details: bookpassage.com/event/left-coast-writers-leeann-pickrell-tsunami

Tuesday, November 17, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Erasure Poetry Workshop. create erasure poems from various texts such as dictionaries, field guides, novels, or materials of your choosing with the guidance of Melissa Eleftherion, a writer, visual artist, former poet laureate of the City of Ukiah, and manager of the Ukiah Branch Library.  Rincon Valley Regional Library, 6959 Montecito Boulevard, Santa Rosa. Register before November 17 here: events.sonomalibrary.org/event/erasure-poetry-workshop-118591

Wednesday, November 18, 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Percolations. A drop-in generative writing group, guided in a supportive environment, no experience necessary, at Occidental Center for the Arts’ Studio, 3rd Wednesdays of the month (also, Nov. 18, Dec. 16).  Facilitated by Jessica Morell and/or Julie Gieske. $10 members/$15 non-members. Details: occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Friday, November 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, flyingchairproductions.weebly.com

Friday, November 20, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Prescription for Poetry: A Deeper Dive into Poetic Medicine in Community As a Source of Healing. Facilitated by Redwing Keyssar, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 S. High Street). Fee for this session: $45.00. Details and registration: sebarts.org/classeslectures/p/prescriptionforpoetry

Saturday, November 21, 10:00–11:30 a.m. Writers Forum. Presenter Leslie Bradford-Scott, author of The Liar’s Playbook, will talk about Why Stories Stall (and How to Fix Them). Hosted by Marlene Cullen. Free. More details and Zoom link: thewritespot.us/forum

Saturday, November 21, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Redwood Writers 2026 Holiday Book & Craft Fair will be held in Room 5 (Senior Wing) of the Finley Center in Santa Rosa. FREE. Details: redwoodwriters.org/redwood-writers-2026-holiday-book-craft-fair

Tuesday, November 24, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Poetry Lives! A Monthly Workshop and Open Mic at Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 South High Street, Sebastopol). The hour-long workshop facilitated by Jordan & Phee Ranft is dedicated to learning craft elements, discovering new poets, and generating new work. It is not mandatory to participate in the workshop to be a part of the open mic or vice versa. This event is all ages. $5/10/15/20 sliding scale for workshop. Details and registration: sebarts.org/poetry-lives

Saturday, November 28, 1:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera hosts a reading by Nicole Nelson from her novel Family Language. In this striking debut, an ambitious academic faces difficult choices when confronted with overnight motherhood. Family Language explores the misogyny behind the question of whether women can “have it all” as Mona balances her career with new responsibilities. Details: bookpassage.com/event/nicole-nelson-family-language

 

Mark Your Calendar for December 2026

Wednesday, December 2, 6:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.) presents Rebecca Handler in conversation with Daniel Handler. Featured novel: In the Round. Handler’s Kafkaesque literary mystery is either a reflection on middle-aged malaise or the cover-up for a murderous plot. Or maybe it’s a theatrical production. Details: bookpassage.com/event/rebecca-handler-daniel-handler-round

Sunday, December 6, 2026, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Book launch for In Good Company: Holiday Survival Stories, a collection of short stories, memoir and poems by 14 authors. In the Lieb Senior Housing Community Room, 210 Douglas Street, Petaluma. Free admission, refreshments. Selected readings, book sales and signing. Books will be sold for $7 until supplies run out. Otherwise, copies may be purchased on Amazon for $15. Details about the anthology on Sonoma County in Print. Directions to the launch location HERE.

Monday, December 7, 6:00 p.m. Book launch for Ode to Petaluma, A Rivertown Poets Anthology. This book is a compilation of 60 poems by 47 poets, all about Petaluma. Celebrate at Aqus Cafe, 189 H Street Petaluma, where poets whose work is in the book will be the featured readers. Books are available at Copperfields, Usher Gallery, Petaluma Museum and Flourish, all located in Petaluma, or at the Aqus launch. Details about the anthology on Sonoma County in Print.

Tuesday, December 8, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Poetic Medicine: An Instrument for Healing with Redwing Keyssar at Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 S. High Street). 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/poetic-medicine

Tuesday, December 8, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Barrel Proof Lounge Poetry Salon and Timothy Williams present The Second Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Dave Seter, Joanna Wheeldin, Barbara Ann Abbott, Bob Jones, Chappell Rose Holt and Timothy Williams will read/recite Dylan Thomas’s delightfully satirical Christmas tale with musical interludes by Chappell and Dave Holt, Nico Stuart Diaz and Julio Licea. Open mic spots available with Shawna Swetech. At 501 Mendocino Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa. For information contact Timothy Williams: jaxonspress@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 9, 6:30- 8:00 p.m. Writers Forum Presenter Matthew Félix will talk about “The Embodied Writer: How Wellness Enhances Craft.” Free on Zoom. Link will be posted early December. Details: thewritespot.us/forum

Wednesday, December 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 “All’s Well That Ends Well.”  Details and ticket ($21.50) purchase: davepokornypresents.com/west-side-stories

Thursday, December 10, 6:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.) presents Merritt R. Turetsky in conversation with Ed Yong. Featured book: Bogland, a beguiling debut that invites us to discover the hidden power of Earth’s mysterious landscapes while calling for their defense before it’s too late. Details: bookpassage.com/event/merritt-r-turetsky-bogland

Friday, December 11, 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. We want YOU! Cost is $5 OCA members/$10 non-OCA members. Pay at the door. occidentalcenterforthearts.org

Saturday, December 12, 2:00-5:00 p.m. MovingWriting: Embodied Expressive Writing workshop with Loretta Mijares, combining movement/dance with expressive writing. At a private studio in Sebastopol. $75. More details on Workshops page. To register, go to MovingWriting.com or email: loretta@movingwriting.com.

Sunday, December 13, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.) 50th Anniversary Celebration. Authors, music, food, drink. Please RSVP by December 1: bookpassage.com/RSVP50

Friday, December 18, 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

Saturday, December 19, 4:00 p.m. Book Passage Corte Madera (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.) presents Zen teacher and poet Norman Fischer. Featured book: The Great Road, a new collection of wise and surprising essays that explores what it means to dive fully into spiritual practice and to embody our deepest aspirations in every waking moment. Details: bookpassage.com/event/norman-fischer-great-road

Tuesday, December 22, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Poetry Lives! A Monthly Workshop and Open Mic at Sebastopol Center for the Arts (282 South High Street, Sebastopol). The hour-long workshop facilitated by Jordan & Phee Ranft is dedicated to learning craft elements, discovering new poets, and generating new work. It is not mandatory to participate in the workshop to be a part of the open mic or vice versa. This event is all ages. $5/10/15/20 sliding scale for workshop. Details and registration: sebarts.org/poetry-lives