The Litquake Literary Festival is set to take place throughout October, featuring more than 80 events showcasing novelists, poets, musicians, chefs, and drag artists. Notable literary figures including Hernan Diaz, Marlon James, Min Jin Lee, Walter Mosley, Claudia Rankine, and Kim Stanley Robinson will join local Bay Area writers for various events across San Francisco and the East Bay.
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Among the highlights is the Opening Night Bash: Booksellers Ball, which will celebrate San Francisco's independent bookstores. Scheduled for October 8th at 7 PM at the former Paper Doll venue, the event will feature an open bar, live music by DJ Lead Teddy, and a literature-themed drag performance by Carlota Di Carlo. Tickets are priced at $50 per person, with a $75 option for those wishing to sponsor a bookseller or librarian.
On October 9th at 7 PM, bestselling novelist Olivie Blake will present her latest work, Dreamland, inspired loosely by the 1947 Black Dahlia murder. In conversation with Kristina Ten, Blake will discuss themes of fame and ambition. Attendees can pay what they can to secure a seat, with the event taking place at Gilman Brewing in Berkeley.
The Poetry World Series: Litquake Edition will occur on October 10th at 7 PM at the Make-Out Room. Poets including Bhion Achimba and Safia Elhillo will compete in a battle judged by audience-pitched topics, emceed by Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket. Tickets are available for $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and the event is restricted to those aged 21 and over.
Sherry Turkle will explore the implications of her book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines, in a discussion with cartoonist Amy Kurzweil on October 21st at 6:30 PM at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. This free event will focus on the relationship between digital technologies and human connection.
The following night, a special edition of Porchlight storytelling will feature writers and comedians including Jack Boulware and sam sax, performing tales related to film at the Vogue Theater on October 22nd at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
On October 23rd at 6:30 PM, Walter Mosley will discuss his Joe King Oliver series, particularly the fourth novel, Hanging and Burning, in conversation with Carvell Wallace at the San Francisco Public Library. The event is free with a suggested donation of $10 to $15, or $33 for a signed book.
The festival will culminate with Lit Crawl SF on October 24th from 5 PM to 9 PM, a unique multi-phase event in the Mission District. Special programming will include Dramatic Readings of Not-So-Dramatic Local Stories at Ritual Coffee Roasters at 6:30 PM, featuring amusing tales from the past 25 years.
Tickets and additional information for these events can be found on the Litquake website.