Events

Jim Rendon presents Super-Charged: How Outlaws, Hippies, and Scientists Reinvented Marijuana ($24.95). Rendon takes readers behind the scenes and into the homes and grow operations of the committed, quality-obsessed practitioners in the international underground industry responsible for creating today’s super-charged cannabis.

This event is SOLD OUT!
Want a signed copy? Order here and please note "signed copy" in the comments field of your on-line order. Signed copies subject to availability.

Join us as Ina Garten, the bestselling author and beloved star of "Barefoot Contessa" on Food Network, talks about her new book, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust. Many home cooks falter when it comes to pairing dishes and planning ahead. With simple tried-and-true recipes and tips, Ina comes to the rescue - and shows how everything can come together effortlessly.

This special event with Ina Garten will be moderated by Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo! Each ticket entitles one person to admission and seating for the event, and one autographed copy of Ina Garten's  Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust.

Ina Garten is the author of four previous cookbooks, which have sold more than three million copies. In 1978, Ina Garten left her job as a budget analyst in the White House to pursue her dream of operating a specialty food store. She is a frequent contributor to major national magazines and writes a recurring column in O Magazine. Her new television series on entertaining can be seen on Food Network.

Call to inquire about ticket availability
Call (415) 927-0960, ext. 1 to reserve

Barbara Kingsolver reads from her new novel Flight Behavior ($28.99), which follows the story of a Tennessee farm wife who dreams of something bigger. One day, she comes upon a forested glen filled with silent red fire. Fundamentalists, climate scientists, politicians, and the media all weigh in on the phenomenon, as locals fend off the invasion.

This is a ticketed event: admission to this Book Passage event is by purchase of Flight Behavior ($28.99 + tax) from Book Passage.  A ticket entitles one person to admission and seating. [Due to high demand, tickets are now only available by calling (415) 927-0960, ext. 1]

Barbara Kingsolver is the author of seven works of fiction, including the novels The Poisonwood Bible, Animal Dreams, and The Bean Trees, as well as books of poetry, essays, and creative nonfiction such as Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. In 2000, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal, our country's highest honor for service through the arts. Her last novel, The Lacuna, was a best seller and also won the Orange Prize.

Tom Ricks talks about The Generals: American Military Command from WWII to Today ($36.00). From the bestselling author of Fiasco and The Gamble comes an epic history of the decline of American military leadership from World War II to Iraq. As military history, this is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the difference between good leaders and bad ones.

Thomas E. Ricks is a fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a contributing editor of Foreign Policy magazine, in which he writes the blog The Best Defense. Ricks covered the U.S. military for The Washington Post from 2000 through 2008. Until the end of 1999 he had the same beat at The Wall Street Journal, where he was a reporter for seventeen years. A member of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams, he has covered U.S. military activities in Somalia, Haiti, Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Kuwait, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He is the author of several books, including The Gamble and the #1 New York Times bestseller Fiasco, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Celebrate teens with Book Passage and several of the contributing authors of Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters To Their Teen Selves, a book of reflections and advice from nearly 70 young adult authors writing to their teen selves. Editor E. Kristin Anderson and contributors Marke Bieschke, Stacey Jay, Mike Jung, Katherine Longshore, Erika Stalder and Mariko Tamaki will talk about their letters and their experiences.
 
Dear Teen Me includes letters from six New York Times bestselling authors, including Lauren Oliver, Ellen Hopkins, Nancy Holder, Carrie Jones, Sara Zarr, Tom Angleberger, Robin Benway, and more, and covers a wide variety of topics including body issues, bullying, friendship, love. Some authors chose to write diary entries, some chose letters, and a few graphic novelists turned their stories into visual art, but they all offer invaluable wisdom and advice to young readers. All of the Dear Teen Me authors experienced challenging times as teens in one form or another, and now they are here to relate that it does get better!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Port Huron Statement, the manifesto that lauched the seminal Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Tom Hayden was the principle author of this document, which remains as relevant today as it was in 1962. Tom's breadth of experience and vision is unique in the peace movement. As a civil rights worker in the south, a peace activist, and a superb chronicler of our social history as it was -- and is -- unfolding, Tom's analysis always pierces the fog of misrepresentation and gets to the heart of the matter. No one understands social/political movements better than Tom Hayden, and his ideas for the future of democracy are critical in these times.                

Tom combines the savvy of a political strategist with the heart of a life-long activist who is committed to systemic change. His new book, Inspiring Participatory Democracy ($21.95), will be available at this event, as will some of his earlier books, including copies of the Port Huron Statement with an updated forward.

Joins us for a fast-paced and irreverent evening, showcasing new work from the students of the San Francisco Writer's Grotto writing classes. On this Friday evening, both fiction and nonfiction writers will read their work — but only for 3 minutes each! Their instructors (Grotto authors) will enforce the time limit. Join us for wine, fun, and fresh new writing.

Rebecah Freeling is a master storyteller, experienced early childhood educator, and parent coach.  New to California, she recently joined the faculty of Marin Mountain School Early Childhood Center in Corte Madera. For thirteen years she was owner, Director and Lead Teacher of Briar Rose Children's Center in her home state of Ohio. Her magical stories, both original and drawn from the folk and fairy tale traditions, are enhanced by handmade table puppets and simple marionettes.  One often observes the children hearing her stories to be sitting on the edge of their seats, eyes wide and mouths open in anticipation!

With an artist's eye to describe Italy's beauty, Jojo Capece chronicles an unforgettable story of American expatriate, Bebe Deverton in All Roads Lead to Rome ($19.79). Deverton finds herself up against the kaleidoscope of the Italian network of Power - the Supreme Court, Mafia, CIA, Masons, and, ultimately, the Vatican - as the reader is transported to the splendour, romance and intrigue of the Eternal City. 

Jojo Capece was educated in New York and London, has lived in three continents and resides in San Francisco with her husband. 

Patsy Garlan presents Sea Change: The Uncertain Realm of the Married ($16.95), a novel set on a fictional Hawaiian island in mid-November, 1963. Katherine Somerset is a lovely woman married to a rich, charming man, with three well-behaved children and seemingly everything an educated, cultivated woman in her thirties could wish for. Yet, unaccountably dissatisfied, she begins to realize that she is just skimming the surface of her life and that perhaps there is another, deeper self, waiting to emerge.

Patsy Garlan has published poetry, personal essays, syllabuses for drama students, and, with co-author Maryjane Dunstan, two college texts about the future (Prentice Hall), and two children’s books set in Burma (The Viking Press), where she lived for a year with her husband and their four children. 

"From Blog To Book"
How do you create and write a blog that will capture the attention of book agents and publishers? Susan Sachs Lipman takes you through the steps, from concept and proposal through published book.

Susan Sachs Lipman is the author of Fed Up with Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World, which grew out of her award-winning blog, Slow Family Online. She writes for the Christian Science Monitor's Modern Parenthood blog, and is the Social Media Director for the international Children & Nature Network.

The Marin branch of the California Writers Club meets monthly at Book Passage, except July, August and December, on the 4th Sunday of the month, unless a holiday. 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Meeting may feature a guest speaker, a workshop or a panel discussion along with networking, encouragement and writing news. All are welcome. www.cwcmarinwriters.com.

Join Book Passage President (and grandmother) Elaine Petrocelli and Children’s Book Buyer Susan Kunhardt to talk about the best new and classic books for children and young adults. Find out about Book Passage programs to help you share books with your grandchildren, or with other children, no matter where they live. Share the love of reading with the next generation!

Rebecah Freeling is a master storyteller, experienced early childhood educator, and parent coach.  New to California, she recently joined the faculty of Marin Mountain School Early Childhood Center in Corte Madera. For thirteen years she was owner, Director and Lead Teacher of Briar Rose Children's Center in her home state of Ohio. Her magical stories, both original and drawn from the folk and fairy tale traditions, are enhanced by handmade table puppets and simple marionettes.  One often observes the children hearing her stories to be sitting on the edge of their seats, eyes wide and mouths open in anticipation!

Elaine Petrocelli and a team of Book Passage booksellers lead a discussion of books for the holidays. Come join us as we present new books for all the readers on your holiday shopping list this season, from children’s books to the latest literary fiction, and art books to thrillers—we’ll have the best recommendations for readers of all ages and interests!

Joel Salatin presents Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World ($15.99). Virginia farmer Joel Salatin, hailed by The New York Times as "high priest of the pasture," has become the new voice of clean, local, healthy eating by urging people to take a better look at their food: What's in it, where is it coming from and how did it get the table? Whether praising the plusses of lawn farms and kitchen chickens to the dishing the dirt on Genetically Modified Foods and Tyson Chicken Farms, Salatin’s wit, wisdom, storytelling magic and down-home philosophy shines through on every page.

Joel Salatin is a third generation family farmer working his land in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley with his wife, Teresa, son Daniel, daughter Rachel and their families. The Salatin Polyface Farm, an organic  grass-fed farm, services more than 3,000 families, 10 retail outlets and 50 restaurants through on-farm sales and metropolitan buying clubs — and was featured in the national bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma and in the Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc.

This event is SOLD OUT! 

Don't miss this fun and inspired evening with two popular New York Times food writers when thy pit food strategies and recipes against one another. Their cookbook, Cook Fight: Two Cooks, 12 Challenges, 125 Recipes - An Epic Battle for Kitchen Domination, is based on the author's 2009 article in the Times when they were challenged to create a dinner party for 6 on a budget of only $50. Possible? You be the judge at the Left Bank! Julia Moskin is a reporter for the New York Times and Kim Severson is the Atlantic bureau Chief for the New York Times and has received four James Beard Awards and is the author of Spoon Fed: How Eight Cooks Saved My Life.

Join Kim Severson & Julia Moskin at the Left Bank restaurant in Larkspur for what is sure to be a very special and very tasty event.

Don't wait to sign up - space is limited. Price includes the meal, wine, tax, tip & a signed copy of the author’s book. Reserve at Book Passage (415-927-0960) or at bookpassage.com/food-wine-events Can't attend the event? Order a signed copy.

Please note: this event has been postponed. New date TBA! 

Wine & Cheese Reception!

Sheldon Siegel has jumped onto best seller lists and into readers’ and reviewers’ affections with seven extraordinary novels featuring San Francisco criminal defense attorneys Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez. Siegel now returns to write about his hometown of Chicago in his electrifying new thriller, The Terrorist Next Door ($14.99)

Meet Detective David Gold. He’s a third generation native of South Chicago—the hardscrabble neighborhood of steel mills, smokestacks, and steeples near the Indiana border. He’s also one of Chicago’s most decorated homicide detectives. More than a decade after 9/11, someone is setting off fire bombs in Chicago using untraceable cell phones. The international terror channels are silent. As the explosions continue and the death toll mounts, Gold is drawn into a desperate cat-and-mouse game against a brilliant and cunning mind.

New York Times best selling author Sheldon Siegel is a third-generation native of Chicago’s Southeast Side. He is the author of seven critically acclaimed legal thrillers featuring San Francisco criminal defense attorneys Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez.He lives in the San Francisco area with his wife, Linda, and their twin sons, Alan and Stephen.  

Jon Meacham discusses Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power ($35.00). In this magnificent new biography, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author gives us an intimate portrait of Jefferson the human being, the president, and the politician — enabling us to understand Jefferson as never before. 

Priority seating to this event with purchase of the author's new book from Book Passage. Please note in the comments field of your order your intention to come to this special event at Dominican University.

"This terrific book allows us to see the political genius of Thomas Jefferson better than we have ever seen it before. In these endlessly fascinating pages, Jefferson emerges with such vitality that it seems as if he might still be alive today." — Doris Kearns Godwin

"Jon Meacham resolves the bundle of contradictions that was Thomas Jefferson by probing his love of progress and thirst for power. Here was a man endlessly, artfully intent on making the world something it had not been before. A thrilling and affecting portrait of our first philosopher-politician." — Stacy Schiff

"A true triumph.” — Walter Isaacson.

Jon Meacham is the Executive editor of Random House, a former editor of Newsweek, and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning American Lion, as well as other best sellers.

Sat, Dec. 1 (10:00 - 4:00pm) & Sun, Dec. 2 (10:00 - 1:00pm)

Aristotle considered plot the writer’s most important challenge—but by plot he meant the architecture of change in the hero’s fortunes. In this two-day workshop, David Corbett will demonstrate the inextricable link between character and structure, and how the architecture of story, properly understood, deepens our understanding of character. He will also assist each student in fashioning a strong narrative arc for a chosen work-in-progress, to help avoid both formulaic plotting and episodic meandering. 

Please note: This event is SOLD OUT

Bruce Aidells is a local legend, award-winning author of 11 cookbooks including The Complete Meat Cookbook, Complete Sausage Cookbook and Hot Links and Country Flavors. He is also the founder of Aidells' Sausage Company, hence the "Sausage King." His new book is The Great Meat Cookbook: Everything you Need to Know to Buy and Cook Today's Meat. Between the rise of the Internet, economy, small farming renaissance, "new" cuts of meat like bison and goat, Aidells' is a master at helping the home chef understand how to shop and what to look for in quality meat. He will also untangle the labels of "pasture-raised," "heritage," "organic," and other ambiguous stamps that may mislead consumers at the meat counter. When Aidell founded his small campus restaurant during college at UC Santa Cruz', he never knew that he would be the foremost authority on meat in the country. His wife, Chef Nancy Oakes is co-owner of Prospect in San Francisco.

Join Bruce Aidells at  Prospect Restaurant in San Francisco for what is sure to be a very special and very tasty event.

Don't wait to sign up - space is limited. Price includes the meal, wine, tax, tip & a signed copy of the author’s book. Reserve at Book Passage (415-927-0960) or at bookpassage.com/food-wine-events Can't attend the event? Order a signed copy.

Paola Gianturco presents Grandmother Power ($49.95). Gianturco’s belief in a worldwide grandmothers movement comes alive by the 120 courageous women, activists, and change agents she has interviewed and photographed. Visually captivating, this work is an inspiration for everyone, as it cements the power of grandmothers worldwide.

Connie Clark talks about Joy After Fifty: A Woman’s Guide to Passion, Purpose, and Lasting Happiness ($14.95). A practicing psychotherapist, Clark presents principles and practices inspired by the science of happiness, positive psychology and timeless spiritual wisdom. In your purse, at your bedside, or in your office, this book will become a cherished companion.

Tom Reiss presents The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo ($27.00). With his critically acclaimed international bestseller The Orientalist, author Tom Reiss proved himself to be not only a supremely talented writer, but also a historical sleuth of the first order. Now, Reiss has surpassed himself, delivering a thrilling, sweeping narrative that introduces readers to one of history’s greatest forgotten heroes: Alex Dumas. Drawing on more than six years of personal research—which included inspecting dungeon cells and even cracking open a safe to recover every piece of the puzzle—Reiss masterfully recounts the epic story of an outsized figure whose daring, courage, and sheer intellectual and athletic prowess formed the very model for the modern-day action hero.

Tom Reiss is the author of the celebrated international bestseller The Orientalist. He has written for The New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times Book Review, among other publications. He lives with his wife and daughters in New York City. 

Introduction by Don George! 

Photographer Barry Brukoff presents Royal Cities of the Ancient Maya ($50.00). Leading Maya scholar, Michael D. Coe, and Brukoff, one of the world’s finest photographers of ancient sites, bring the rich cultural heritage of the Maya vividly and authoritatively to life in this new work—irresistible to everyone from the casual visitor to Pre-Columbian experts.

Please note: this event is SOLD OUT!

We’ll all be clamoring to go to the Left Bank to celebrate Hubert Keller's Souvenirs: Stories and Recipes from My Life, the new book by one of America’s most talented chefs, Hubert Keller. Raised in Alsace France, Keller was destined to be in the kitchen as he grew up above his father’s patisserie. He apprenticed under many great French chefs until he landed in San Francisco and became the chef/owner of the popular Fleur de Lys restaurant along with his wife Chantal and Maurice Rouas. Chef Keller has been named the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: California.” 

Don't wait to sign up - space is limited. Price includes the meal, wine, tax, tip & a signed copy of the author’s book. Reserve at Book Passage (415-927-0960) or at bookpassage.com/food-wine-events Can't attend the event? Order a signed copy.

In conversation with Jason Roberts

Peter Orner talks about his novel Love and Shame and Love ($14.99). Covering four generations of one family, Orner illuminates the countless ways that love both makes us whole and completely unravels us. A comic and sorrowful tapestry of memory, of connection and disconnection, this work explores the universals with originality and wisdom.

Jason Roberts is author of the bestselling A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler, a biography of James Holman, the blind adventurer of the early 19th century.

Also appearing: Sebastien Rouxel 
Featuring Bouchon Bakery baked goods and coffee/tea service

Chef Thomas Keller shares his newest cookbook, Bouchon Bakery ($50.00). This cookbook, Keller's fifth, is a joyous exploration of his favorite all-American childhood treats and of the classic French pastries he adored as a young chef in Paris. Written with Sebastien Rouxel, who oversees pastry for The French Laundry, the Bouchon Bakeries, and per se, Bouchon Bakery is a wonder of beauty, playfulness, and inspired technique. Its recipes are marvels of ingenuity and simplicity.

Thomas Keller, author of The French Laundry Cookbook, Bouchon, Under Pressure, Ad Hoc at Home, and Bouchon Bakery, has six restaurants and six bakeries in the U.S. which continue to elevate the industry’s standards. Keller’s three-star Michelin Guide-rated fine dining restaurants, The French Laundry and per se, are considered two of the best restaurants in America and are consistently ranked among the top five eateries in the world. 

Priority seating to this Book Passage event with purchase of the author's new book from Book Passage.  

Charlotte Cheng has worked as a freelance illustrator and educational consultant for a variety of projects and companies including Walt Disney Imagineering and LeapFrog.  Her debut as a picture book illustrator in A Moment in Time ($17.99) features a heartwarming tale of a family's photo-taking fun on a fine summer day.  It's a perfect gift for any aspiring photographer or scrapbooker and a wonderful lesson about the value of capturing family moments.  Come join Charlotte as she shares her journey in turning moments into memories and memories into universally accessible stories.  Whether you're a writer, an illustrator, or just a lover of picture books, there is a story inside you that is waiting to be shared!      

Margo True discusses The Sunset Essential Western Cookbook: Fresh, Flavorful Recipes for Everyday Cooking ($24.95). Awesome enchiladas; cool, crunchy Caesar salad—these iconic Western recipes are matched with 150 full color photos. The recipes include the best loved versions of the dishes tested by Sunset’s food editors.

Left Coast Writers® Book Launches at Book Passage in Corte Madera

Told with self-lacerating honesty and unvarnished prose that rises on command to poetic intensity, Lucille Lang Day's Married at Fourteen ($16.95) is the absorbing memoir of a young woman who struggles to find storybook romance and a purpose in life beyond it—and, against cruel odds, succeeds.

Lucille Lang Day's first poetry collection, Self-Portrait with Hand Microscope, received the Joseph Henry Jackson Award. She received her M.A. in English and M.F.A. in creative writing at San Francisco State University. She is also the founder and director of the small press Scarlet Tanager Books. 
 

Join Book Passage and Scottevest founder Scott Jordan for an exclusive holiday sale and celebration! Scottevest jackets and vests feature specially designed pockets for a streamlined look that allows you to carry essential accessories safely, stealthily, and comfortably.

·        All Scottevest items 20% off during the show

·        A first look at brand new Scottevest merchandise

·        “What’s in your Scottevest” contest

·        How to get the most out of your Scottevest workshops with Scott himself!

·        Door prizes

·        Refreshments

Scottevests -  the most stylish way to travel

Mastering Children’s Writing
A New Workshop Salon Led by Andrea Alban
2nd Sunday each month • Corte Madera
5:00-8:00 pm • $180 per year (annual membership comes with one free private consultation with Andrea, a $60 value!) or $30 per monthly meeting

Spark your imagination and polish your manuscript in a community of enthusiastic writers. Listen to an engaging craft presentation, practice new writing and editing techniques, give and receive peer feedback, and go home to your desk with a monthly assignment — energized and inspired. Craft topics will include style and voice, point of view, characterization, fictional time and place, plot and story arc, and the art of revision. We will also explore manuscript submission, book promotion, and establishing an online presence and platform as a writer. Andrea Alban is the author of nine books including The Happiness Tree and a YA novel, Anya’s War. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing.

Register for annual membership:
Register >>

Register for one session:
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Phil Cousineau shares The Painted Word ($16.95). Whether old-fangled or brand new, all the words included in this new work possess an ineffable quality that makes them luminous. To untangle the knot of interlocking meanings of these painted words, logophile and mythologist Phil Cousineau begins each fascinating word entry with his own brief definition. He then fills it in with a tint of etymology and a smattering of quotes that show how the word is used, ending with a list of companion words. 

Phil Cousineau is an award-winning writer and filmmaker, teacher and editor, independent scholar and travel leader, storyteller and TV host. His fascination with art, literature, and the history of culture has taken him from Michigan to Marrakesh, Iceland to the Amazon, in a worldwide search for what the ancients called the “soul of the world.” 

Join the Left Coast Writers literary salon for a special holiday celebration. The Left Coast Writers will share food, drink and a celebration of the holidays in stories and poems. They’ll also share their recommendations for the best book gifts this season.

This event will feature a display of costumes worn by Michael Jackson throughout his career! 

Designer Michael Bush shares The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson ($45.00). This work is a fascinating look at the intersection of music and fashion, as well as an homage to Michael Jackson’s brilliant fusing of costume, personality, and performance to create his iconic image. This is the first art-driven book about the costumes, apparel, shoes, and accessories worn by Michael Jackson, including hundreds of lavish photographs and a behind-the-scenes look into the process of collaborating with him on the making of his wardrobe, written by his longtime costume designer Michael Bush.

Penn Jillette presents Every Day is An Atheist Holiday ($25.95). The larger, louder half of legendary magic act Penn & Teller, and New York Times-bestselling author of God, No!, is back with a new collection of spiritual rants and hilarious ravings - the perfect year-round gift, when you consider that every day is an atheist holiday. 

Penn Jillette has published numerous articles in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Playboy, and elsewhere. He is the author of the novel Sock and the comedic How to Cheat Your Friends at Poker (coauthored by Teller). He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Rebecah Freeling is a master storyteller, experienced early childhood educator, and parent coach.  New to California, she recently joined the faculty of Marin Mountain School Early Childhood Center in Corte Madera. For thirteen years she was owner, Director and Lead Teacher of Briar Rose Children's Center in her home state of Ohio. Her magical stories, both original and drawn from the folk and fairy tale traditions, are enhanced by handmade table puppets and simple marionettes.  One often observes the children hearing her stories to be sitting on the edge of their seats, eyes wide and mouths open in anticipation!

Special for kids!

Jan Klyce presents Andrew’s Wish ($15.95). Andrew finds a box of gifts that Santa left behind. He carries the box over the snow covered hills to find the kingdom of the elves, hoping the gifts can arrive by Christmas morning. In this timeless story, Andrew transports himself into the heart of every reader with his message of love. Includes a CD narrated by Kelsey Grammer.

Rebecah Freeling is a master storyteller, experienced early childhood educator, and parent coach.  New to California, she recently joined the faculty of Marin Mountain School Early Childhood Center in Corte Madera. For thirteen years she was owner, Director and Lead Teacher of Briar Rose Children's Center in her home state of Ohio. Her magical stories, both original and drawn from the folk and fairy tale traditions, are enhanced by handmade table puppets and simple marionettes.  One often observes the children hearing her stories to be sitting on the edge of their seats, eyes wide and mouths open in anticipation!

Lisa Alcalay Klug shares Hot Mamalah ($18.99). This "ultimate guide for every woman of the tribe" is a start-to-finish celebration of the strengths, challenges, and triumphs of Jewish women—the good, the great, the PMS-y, and the menopausal! This “ABCs of She” dishes up a delicious smorgasbord of everything whole-y and holy feminine for having fun and having chutzpah, with humorous essays, adorable illustrations, how-to’s and more. From cocktails to cupcakes, Purim costumes to bar aliases, Hot Mamalah whets an appetite for getting the most out of life, love, and your closet. Hot Mamalah is the much anticipated companion to the hilarious 21st century Jewish catalog, Cool Jew.

Left Coast Writers® Literary Salon at Book Passage in Corte Madera  

Author Constance Hale presents Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch: Let Verbs Power Your Writing ($26.95). Synthesizing the pedagogical and the popular, the scholarly and the scandalous, Hale combines the wit of Bill Bryson with the practical wisdom of William Zinsser. She marches through linguistic history to paint a layered picture of our language—from before it really existed to the quirky usages we see online today.

Constance Hale is the author of Wired Style and Sin and Syntax. She has taught at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University and UC Berkeley Extension. She is based in San Francisco, California.

Book Passage hosts the monthly meetings of Left Coast Writers® at our Corte Madera store. This Literary Salon is led by author/teacherLinda Watanabe McFerrin. The monthly meetings provide an evening of literary connections, support, counsel, provocative readings, writing tips, literary chat, unabashed networking, and great fun. Each meeting also features a presentation by one of several Bay Area literary figures. The fee includes membership in Left Coast Writers®, a group of new and experienced writers. LCW has its own lively newsletter and website at www.leftcoastwriters.com/.  

Four Tuesdays: Jan. 8-29 • 6:30 - 8:30pm • $155 

George Howe Colt shares Brothers: On His Brothers and Brothers in History ($30.00). Colt’s new book is an idiosyncratic and masterful blend of memoir and history featuring both the author’s three brothers and iconic brothers in history—the Booths, the Van Goghs, the Kelloggs, the Marx Brothers, and the Thoreaus. Illuminating and affecting, this book will be revelatory for any parent of sons, any sibling, anyone curious about how a man’s life can be molded by his brothers. 

George Howe Colt is the bestselling author of November of the Soul: The Enigma of Suicide and The Big House, which was a National Book Award finalist and a New York Times notable book. He lives with his family in Western Massachusetts. 

Six Fridays: Jan. 11-Feb. 15 • 10:00-12:00 pm • $150

Book proceeds for this evening will benefit a TBA children's charity 

CEO of AVG Technologies N.V., JR Smith, and its Chief Policy officer Siobhan MacDermott have come together to author Wide Open Privacy: Strategies for the Digital Life, a guide to help users take control of their privacy in an ever more digital age.

Far from being a “Privacy for Dummies” approach, the book aims at covering everything from governmental policy to individual privacy concern, and considers both the private and commercial expectations on personal data. After all these are going to be some of the hottest political topics we face in the next few years; how do you begin to legislate something as vast, international and free as the internet which spans multiple cultures, languages and governments?

Siobhan MacDermott is one of the foremost global authorities on the future of Information Technology, consumer dynamics, cybersecurity, privacy, and business leadership.

In his first-ever collaboration, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins combines his skill for cutting-edge science and historical mystery with award-winning novelist Rebecca Cantrell's talent for haunting suspense and sensual atmosphere in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as . . . The Blood Gospel ($27.99).

James Rollins is the New York Times bestseller of thrillers translated into forty languages. His Sigma series has been lauded as one of the "top crowd pleasers" (New York Times) and one of the "hottest summer reads" (People Magazine).

Rebecca Cantrell's Hannah Vogel mystery novels have won the Bruce Alexander and Macavity awards and been nominated for the Barry and Romantic Times Reviewers Choice awards; her critically-acclaimed novel, iDrakula, was nominated for the APPY award and listed on Booklist's Top 10 Horror Fiction for Youth.

Join Linda Watanabe McFerrin and the Left Coast Writers® for an evening of love stories to help set the mood for Valentine’s Day. You can count on the talented writers from LCW to provide an entertaining evening full of love, lust and other appropriate emotions.

There’ll be wine an chocolate, of course, AND all who attend are invited to bring a love or lust story of 1000 words or less. Their stories will be considered for publication on the hotflashessexystsories.com website and a $100 award. You must be present to enter. 

Sign up here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/403956459687115/