with Margaret Malone This class is for experienced writers who are dedicated to starting the first draft of a story collection over the course of six months. Participants should have experience writing stories and familiarity with the elements of literary short fiction including scene, character, conflict, place, and revision. We will study individual stories by […]
with James Napoli The art and craft of writing for the screen is a skill that all authors would do well to have in their creative arsenals. On one level, prose fiction, memoir, non-fiction, all these forms have been, and will continue to be, sought out by the film industry as foundations for works in […]
with Frances Badalamenti Autofiction is a unique genre (or non-genre) that combines the autobiographical with the fictional. In this course, we will take a close look at the craft of autofiction. We will read novel excerpts, short stories and novellas. We will also look at craft essays on the form. The goal over the twelve […]
During this 10-week online workshop, which meets Tuesday evenings from January 29-April 4, participants will create their own original typefaces as they gain an understanding of the methodologies and software used to produce high-quality digital type. The primary goal of this workshop is to show participants how to systematically think about type and successfully structure […]
May 15, 2023: Deadline for receipt of entry form and fees. June 20-24, 2023: E-mailing of judges’ results – accepted or declined August 7, 2023: Deadline for receipt of accepted work via mail or in person. Work not delivered during scheduled times will not be included in the exhibition. September 18, 2023: Show opens, TBD: Reception, Award Ceremony […]
with Kevin Barrett Kane Learn the fundamentals of book design from a seasoned pro, including layout, typesetting, cover design, and manufacturing. Over the course of two lectures, two workshops, and a final critique (to be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from March 7 through March 21), participants in this online workshop will learn about […]
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, “The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though many of the activities and discussions orbit or are inflected by recovery themes (Akbar has been in active recovery for eight years), participants are not required […]
The creative career of Joseph Jacinto “Jo” Mora (1876-1947) was both compelling and diverse. A painter, muralist, sculptor, building designer, cartographer, actor, set designer, cowboy, and husband and father, Mora’s art work sprang from his interests in numerous subjects including Native Americans and cowboys, the American landscape, California history and its missions, the classics of […]
Take a journey through the locations and architectural details in Buenos Aires that inspired a typographic textile. Since 2018, Muk Monsalve has been hosting and curating type walks around Buenos Aires with her art and business partner, Lucía Soto. This project, called Letra Capital, allows them to highlight and share the love they feel while […]
Have you bought a piece of clothing from a store, and, when you took it to the cashier, had the person checking you out say, "this color will look great on you!" This is a sales strategy, a subtle but still manipulative attempt to build brand loyalty—it's a way for the retailer to assure you […]
Litquake's Epicenter is excited to launch our Spring 2023 season, with Sorry, Bro, the debut novel by Bay Area author Taleen Voskuni. This vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com, set amidst the current San Francisco tech community, follows a young Armenian-American woman as she rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is. When Nareh Bedrossian’s non-Armenian boyfriend […]
A colorful compilation of inspiring and unfathomable stories woven together by humor, pathos, confluences of fate, and the eternal guiding hands of the author's ancestors. Debbie Chinn begins this colorful memoir by tracing her roots back to China. Horrors of war, the Japanese occupation of China, the brutalities of starvation and poverty, and the Communist […]
Dig into overlooked design history and get a sneak peek at Letterform Archive’s forthcoming research hub on women in metal type. Ever wonder who originally designed your favorite typefaces? Many of the fonts we use today (such as Futura, Helvetica, Baskerville) originated in the metal type era (late 1800s to 1950s) when hot metal typesetting […]
Few writers have traced the sensuous connection between food and memory as powerfully as Michelle Zauner has done in her runaway hit memoir, Crying in H Mart. Legions of readers have kept the book on the bestseller list for more than 60 weeks, and for good reason. With breathtaking prose, Zauner delves into the experience of food—our […]
Westward Bound II | August 17 – September 10, 2023, Denver, Colorado This is a national juried exhibition, open to artists at least 18 years of age. Eligible are any artists’ book-works (editioned or unique) created by an artist working in The American West OR with content that relates to The American West. Selections will […]
From air conditioners to yogurt makers, kitchen appliance manuals—with step by step directions for achieving a desired outcome—are incredible examples of early technical writing. The instruction manuals on display reflect a wide range of American consumers and provide today’s bibliophiles and graphic artists the opportunity to study the typography, designs, and color combinations of product […]
Welcome to From the Bench, SFCB's series of short studio tours with friends near and far. From favorite tools to works in progress, you never know what you'll learn about from these amazing artists. This month we'll chat with Gillian Stewart, a prize-winning designer bookbinder from Glasgow, Scotland. She works full-time from her studio making […]
Litquake is honored to present Ukraine's most well-known writer, Andrey Kurkov, and his newest release in English, Diary of an Invasion (Deep Vellum), a collection of writings and broadcasts from the frontlines of a horrendous 21st-century war. Throughout the Russian assault, Kurkov has lived in Kyiv and in the remote countryside, spending the sleepless nights of continuous […]
Are you an Editor of Color? Would you like to meet up with your fellow Editors of Color in a welcoming, intimate, online setting? Jesi Vega, recent president of the Northwest Editors Guild and a Puerto Rican Jew from the Bronx, hosts a monthly Zoom coffee hour for editors who identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of […]
Mujeres Hispanas y Tipografía (Hispanic Women and Typography) celebrates the talents and contributions of Hispanic women to design and typography. Showcasing four individual projects created by Laura Meseguer, Marina Garone, Sandra García, Dafne Martínez, and Jimena Gamio, this publication targets tangible topics, such as educational systems, endangered indigenous languages, and calligraphy. Lavinia Lascaris and Ximena […]
Our guests will speak about their careers in journalism and how they landed at their current position. We’ll learn how they cover and highlight books and authors, including recently featured writers and titles. We’ll find out what they're looking for, how best to approach them, and much more. Given the restrictions of the pandemic, this is […]
The event is a partnership between Dominican University of California’s MFA in Creative Writing Program and Sausalito Books by the Bay. The event features current students, alumni, and faculty of the program. Presenters will read from samples of their poetry and prose writing in the cozy setting of a small bayside bookstore. This is a […]
PubWest and the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia invite you to a joint roundtable discussion on Thursday, April 13th, from 11:00-12:00pm PT. This roundtable will offer an opportunity for PubWest and ABPBC members to connect. As well, the roundtable will provide a forum to discuss overlapping industry issues: Successes and challenges accessing US […]
Protesters through time have used typography to strike through myriad forms of oppression. Their urgent, often handmade signs, placards, and banners put bigots on notice that their hate has been marked for correction. Charting the histories of this material is also an artform itself. The speakers in this panel will share their research and curatorial […]
Join a discussion with writer Valerie Luu, photographer Andria Lo, and poet Hieu Minh Nguyen exploring intergenerational stories and reflections of the culture of Chinatown. Lavish in the fun, colorful, sartorial images and stories celebrating the residents of Chinatown. Chinatown Pretty features beautiful portraits and heartwarming stories of trend-setting seniors across six Chinatowns. Andria Lo and Valerie Luu have […]
Marketing expert Dave Farrow is the two-time Guinness World Record holder for greatest memory. To earn this title, Farrow recalled the exact order of 59 decks of shuffled playing cards using “The Farrow Memory Method.” This method was originally invented to combat Farrow’s dyslexia and ADHD and it is now a unique memory system backed […]
Join us April 14 for KRAZY KRAFTS DAY FOR KIDS at the Printing Museum, a creative day of printing and crafts for the whole family. All are welcome, whether you are a kid or a kid at heart that just loves to make stuff! Activities throughout the day include letterpress printing cards, bookmarks, keepsakes, fun […]
Heyday Books is proud to present a Point Reyes Birding Walk with Keith Hansen, author of Birds of Point Reyes. We will begin our walk at Point Reyes’ iconic Bovine Bakery, and from there Keith will lead us on an adventure of discovery and wonder, introducing all the local feathered friends that Point Reyes has to offer. […]
This coffee chat centers people who work as editors and are living with disability and/or chronic illness. It is open to everyone. The idea was partly inspired by an active peer group currently hosted by the Society of Authors (https://www.societyofauthors.org/Groups/Authors-Disabilities-Illnesses-Network). Group agreements that will be open for discussion at the start of the chat: * […]
In Continental Reckoning renowned historian Elliott West presents a sweeping narrative of the American West and its vital role in the transformation of the nation. In the 1840s, by which time the United States had expanded to the Pacific, what would become the West was home to numerous vibrant Native cultures and vague claims by […]
Thomas Brussig’s classic German novel, The Short End of the Sonnenallee, now appearing for the first time in English, is a moving and miraculously comic story of life in East Berlin before the fall of the Wall. Translator and author Jonathan Franzen, who also provides the foreword for this book, says that it’s “a reminder that, even […]
Open Mic and Featured Reading by Connie Post in Celebration of National Poetry Month In honor of National Poetry Month WNBA-SF will host a national poetry event. Our celebration will include one featured reader & an open mic so brush up those great poems! We’ll see you in April! Featured poet will be Connie Post, Poet Laureate Emeritus […]
Are you a developmental editor, or interested in developmental editing? Join us for an informal chat about this fun and fascinating variety of editing. This event is free to attend and open to all editors.
Please Join us on Tuesday, April 18th from 6:00–8:15 pm for the Hand Bookbinders of California Board Meeting and a Show & Tell. Both will be held at the San Francisco Center for the Book. The monthly business meeting will happen from 6–7 pm, followed by a brief beverage/snack break. At 7:15, we will start […]
This bimonthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our featured readers, or sign up to share your work in our open mic. Readings will be followed by a short community discussion. The theme for April is “Transformation.” Our […]
TBD who leads the meeting. We're meeting virtually on Zoom. BABA meets the third Wednesday evening of each month via Zoom. Members share books, work in progress and information about book events and resources.
If you have never taken a bookbinding class before, this is the class for you. In this a one-week class, you will produce several structures where you will develop the fundamental building blocks of bookbinding. Instructor: Lang Ingalls
his will be both an in-person and Zoom event. (Zoom invite information to come). And here’s our outstanding list of 12 authors who will be reading from their latest books: Cara Black George Cramer Janet Dawson Vinnie Hansen Heather Haven Katherine Hyde Leslie Karst Claudia Long Thena MacArthur Nannette Potter Cindy Sample Susan Shea
Artificial Intelligence is fast becoming an essential dimension of InDesign publishing workflows. Rather than replacing designers, AI will actually empower them to conquer design and content challenges. Join Olav Martin Kvern, author of Real World InDesign, and Max Dunn, CEO of Silicon Publishing, as they present real-world examples of this exciting new trend. From the […]
If you copyedit or proofread fiction or want to learn more about doing so, join host Erin Cusick for an informal discussion about the joys and challenges associated with editing fiction. Come prepared to share insights and experiences, ask questions, or just listen to learn from others. Though the event is open to all editors, […]
Join SFCB in welcoming curator Megan N. Liberty at the opening of her latest exhibition Craft & Conceptual Art: Reshaping the Legacy of Artists' Books Light refreshments will be served; opening remarks at 7 pm. About the exhibition: Craft & Conceptual Art: Reshaping the Legacy of Artists’ Books focuses on the intertwined legacies of book art centers across […]
Join Litquake for our annual celebration of National Poetry Month. We’ll gather under the stunning stained glass of San Francisco's historic Grace Cathedral while five celebrated poets read from their latest collections. Featuring words from James Cagney, Henri Cole, Jewelle Gomez, Jacques Rancourt, and Rachel Zucker. Book sales and signing to follow. Curated and hosted […]
Please join us for the second annual Hayward Lit Hop. Lit Hop showcases a variety of local writers’ groups with the support of local musicians and establishments, including a showcase of MWA NorCal authors. It’s situated in downtown Hayward’s charming B Street area and is absolutely free. Please come support your MWA fellows!
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. The festival was an immediate success and has evolved to include live bands, poetry readings, chef demos, cultural entertainment and artists creating their work on-site. […]
What is redemption? How do you get it? How is it different from revenge? Multi-award winning authors Lucy Jane Bledsoe and Devi S. Laskar will read from their new novels and discuss how they write with an eye toward redemption that is true and honest. Lucy Jane Bledsoe’s newest, Tell The Rest, features two queer characters who […]
Even among iconic frontiersmen like John C. Frémont, Kit Carson, and Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger stands out. A mountain man of the American West, straddling the fur trade era and the age of exploration, he lived the life legends are made of. His adventures are fit for remaking into the tall tales Bridger himself liked […]
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, “The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though many of the activities and discussions orbit or are inflected by recovery themes (Akbar has been in active recovery for eight years), participants are not required […]
Jane Smiley fans, get excited! The Pulitzer Prize–winning author’s forthcoming book, The Questions that Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom, explores a number of provocations around class, race, and gender in the Western literary imagination and—most importantly—reflects on how the autonomy of a reader’s interpretation of any work of literature makes reading an inherently […]
Join Barbara Tomash and Joan Baranow reading from their new poetry collections. Dominican MFA students and alums will also share brief excerpts from new works. This is a free event.
This course is designed for students who have taken L1 Bookbinding and are ready to further develop skills and explore materials. Students will sew a textblock, making the Millimeter Binding with hooked endsheets. The class will cover the importance of bookblock preparation, the principles of a rounded spine, top-edge coloring, hand-sewn endbands, and basic leather […]
with author Nino Strachey in Conversation with SFSU Professor Loretta Stec An “illuminating” (Daily Mail, London) exploration of the second generation of the iconic Bloomsbury Group, who inspired their elders to new heights of creativity and passion while also pushing the boundaries of sexual freedom and gender norms in 1920s England.This event will be held […]
Join Litquake and artist Nancy Calef for a presentation of new paintings entitled Peoplescapes. Inspired by the many faces of North Beach and beyond, this collection hones in on the fervent energy of the Bay Area with sweeping crowd-scapes detailing the diverse personalities that are often overlooked amidst the hubbub of a downtown intersection, a farmers […]
Over 113 authors including New York Times Bestsellers along with local and acclaimed young adult and middle grade writers, plus notable Hollywood directors and creators. 2 days of panels, book signings, food trucks, bad jokes, rock 'n' roll, killer photo ops & general geeky debauchery
This is a FREE and public event celebrating letterpress printing, typography, book arts, ephemera, fine paper, printmaking, and allied arts. Peruse the marketplace with an array of vendors and exhibitors, offering letterpress printed cards, art prints, book arts, fine papers, ink, handset type, vintage books, jewelry, and ephemera, as well as printing presses, tools, supplies, […]
We’ll kick things off with complimentary bagels, spreads, coffee and tea, then gather to listen to our four authors, who will each share their best fifteen minutes of writing (and publishing ) advice. Then we’ll open the floor for a half-hour Q&A with our authors.This event takes place at LitCamp’s beautiful new co-working space for […]
We will have 12 to 14 indie Black and Indigenous speculative fiction writers showcase their work with physical and digital copies available for purchase. In addition, we will bring Sistah Scifi Bookish Tea Party vibes with areas to play games, read, and, of course, color!! This event is appropriate for readers of all ages. Free […]
Join book conservators for a peek into their work and a Q & A at the American Bookbinders Museum.
Bay Area artists and writers are literally changing the landscape of print and online “kids’” graphic novels and comics by creating worlds, characters, and narratives that are visually stunning, compassionate and unique. Join a panel discussion with Susan Beneville, co-creator of Awake and Nix, Emily Martin, co-creator of Princeless, Alex De Luca, creator of Dragon Whisperer, Samuel Sattin, creator of Clint and Bezkamp, Melissa Pagliuca, Above the Clouds and Monster […]