Crazy, CRAZY times. How often have we uttered and heard that recently? After some last minute hurdles and audibles, we found festival homes for the events below.
We are SO excited to see you all soon, in-person and on the 'net, to celebrate books in the Bay Area! Catch you at the Opening Night Party!
The Masked Ball: Litquake's Opening Night Party Thursday, Oct. 7 · 7:00-9:00pm St. Joseph's Art Society
Co-presented by 7x7
Please join us (and special A-list author guests*) for Litquake’s Masked Ball at Saint Joseph's Arts Foundation located in the the elegant and luxurious converted church and courtyard designed by Ken Fulk with a hosted wine bar from 6-7, poetry invocation by San Francisco’s third Poet Laureate devorah major, and music from the Marc Capelle Trio. Free tacos from Taqueria Angelica’s! Free book-themed masks! All proceeds go to offset costs of producing the Litquake 2021 festival. $50 (pre-registration required)
*Scheduled to appear are Robert Mailer Anderson, Natalie Baszile, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Andrew Sean Greer, Daniel Handler, Eddie Muller, D.A. Powell, Michelle Richmond, Chef Bryant Terry, Oscar Villalon, Alia Volz and more!
Word/Jazz Friday, Oct. 8 · 7:00-9:00pm Local Edition
Sponsored by Yerba Buena Community Benefit District Co-presented by Healdsburg Jazz Festival
In the great tradition of San Francisco jazz and spoken-word basement readings first forged by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Kenneth Rexroth, and Bob Kaufman, Litquake is proud to bring back this festival favorite, showcasing world-class poets accompanied by improvised music created on the spot. With Genny Lim, devorah major, Paul S. Flores, and Brontez Purnell. Music by the Marcus Shelby Trio. Doors at 5pm for cocktails. $20 adv / $22 door
Running is a Kind of Dreaming: J.M. Thompson Thursday, Oct. 14 · 7:30-9:00pm Zoom Webinar
Sponsored by HarperOne
Following years of depression, ineffective medication, and therapy that went nowhere, J.M. Thompson feared he was falling into an inescapable darkness. After a suicide attempt, he spent weeks confined in a San Francisco psychiatric hospital, feeling scared, alone, and trapped. One afternoon during an exercise break, he experienced a sudden urge. “Run, I thought. Run before it’s too late and you’re stuck down there. Right now. Run. ”
The impulse that started with sprints across a hospital rooftop turned into all-night runs in the mountains. Through motion and immersion in the beauty of nature, Thompson found a way out of the hell of depression and drug addiction. Step by step, mile by mile, his body and mind healed. Now a successful psychologist, J. M. Thompson details his luminous story of recovery in the new memoir Running is a Kind of Dreaming (HarperOne). He reads from and discusses his work with bestselling author Bonnie Tsui. FREE, $5-10 suggested donation (pre-registration required)
Running is a Kind of Dreaming: J.M. Thompson Friday, Oct. 15 · 8:00-10:00pm Verdi Club
As we all emerge from hibernation, the fog lifts and new stories must be told. Because what else can we do? The Bay Area’s long-running Porchlight storytelling series returns with uplifting-themed tales from West Coast authors. Featuring Charlie Jane Anders, Michelle Cernuto, Tracy Clark-Flory, Miah Jeffra, and Monique Jenkinson (aka Fauxnique). Co-hosted by Arline Klatte and Beth Lisick. Music by Marc Capelle. Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm. $25 adv / $30 door
About Litquake Litquake seeks to foster interest in literature, perpetuate a sense of literary community, and provide a vibrant forum for Bay Area writing as a complement to the city's music, film, and cultural festivals. 2021 Dates: Oct. 7-23. www.litquake.org
Litquake is grateful for the support of the following funders who help make our programming possible. Institutional Giving: California Arts Council, California College of the Arts, California Institute of Integral Studies, Center for the Art of Translation, Chronicle Books, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Grants for the Arts, HarperOne, Margaret and William R. Hearst III Foundation, Miner Anderson Family Foundation, Mystery Writers of America, Northern California Chapter, The Bernard Osher Foundation, Stanford Continuing Studies, Swinerton Family Fund, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, Zellerbach Foundation. Individual Giving: Frances Dinkelspiel and Gary Wayne, Margaret and Will Hearst, Scott James and Gerald Cain, Nion McEvoy, Craig Newmark, and Nicole Miner and Robert Mailer Anderson. Media Sponsors: San Francisco Chronicle, 7 X 7, KQED, Bay Area Reporter, Johnny Funcheap, and KALW 91.7
