Writing the Virus — Reading from the new StatORec anthology
With Caille Millner, Jon Roemer, and David Dario Winner, moderated by Oscar Villalon
Monday, November 30, 7:30pm PT/10:30pm ET • Virtual Event via Zoom

Writing the Virus, the first anthology to explore the human effects of the pandemic, parses the virus as it hits a society polarized by racism, privilege, and politics. The book tracks the virus’s progression from epidemiological threat to international crisis and sketches the evolution of Corona’s rapidly changing meaning over the past three-quarters of a year. Among the 31 works in the book, Writing the Virus appeals to the power of love in the Black community as our strongest and most promising force for change (Millner); explores what it means to be a writer in precarious times (Roemer); and exposes the uncomfortable barriers of ethnicity, civic cooperation, and racism as experienced by someone going out for what is no longer an ordinary run (Winner). Writing the Virus, edited by Andrea Scrima and David Winner, was published November 1 by Outpost 19 Books.

Readers of the evening: Caille Millner (“Something New”); Jon Roemer (“Uncertainty Ever After”); and David Dario Winner (“Daisy Assassin”). The event will be moderated by Oscar Villalon, managing editor of Zyzzyva.

Caille Millner
Caille Millner is the author of The Golden Road: Notes on My Gentrification (Penguin Press). Her short fiction has appeared in The Southern Review, Zyzzyva, and Best American Short Stories 2016. Her essays have appeared in Michigan Quarterly Review and The Paris Review Daily.

Jon Roemer
Jon Roemer is the publisher and senior editor at Outpost19 Books and author of the novel Five Windows. His writing has appeared at The Millions, KGB Lit, The Writer, OZY, San Francisco Chronicle Book Review, 3:AM, and elsewhere. His public speaking includes the Editors’ Picks panel at Library Journal’s Day of Dialogue and Northwestern University’s guest lecture program. He is queer and based in San Francisco.

David Dario Winner
David Winner is the author of Tyler’s Last and The Cannibal of Guadalajara. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, The Kenyon Review, The Iowa Review, The Millions, and other publications in the US and the UK. He is the fiction editor of the Rome-based magazine, The American, senior editor for Statorec, and a regular contributor to the The Brooklyn Rail.

Oscar Villalon
Oscar Villalon is the managing editor of Zyzzyva. His writing has appeared in Freeman’s, Literary Hub, the Believer, Alta, Zócalo Public Square, and other publications. He lives in San Francisco.

Thursday, November 19, 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET • Virtual Event via Twitch

Emmy Award winner Henry Winker and Lin Oliver are back for the second installment of the New York Times bestselling middle grade series that Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney calls “truly out of this world!”

After escaping his oppressive red dwarf planet and landing a role on a popular Hollywood sitcom, Buddy Burger seems destined for high-flying success. His legions of fans love his six eyes, his suction cup feet, and even his excessive need for avocados. It seems nothing can stop his rise to super-stardom—until the arrival of Citizen Cruel, a shape-shifting Squadron member sent from Buddy’s home planet to bring him back by any means necessary. Will Buddy conquer this clever and unpredictable enemy? How long can he continue to keep his alien identity secret from his friends and fans? Is there enough guacamole on Earth to sustain him? And chips to go with it? Action-packed and full of laughs, Alien Superstar: Lights, Camera, Danger! is the second book in the exciting New York Times bestselling middle grade series.

Henry Winkler is an Emmy Award–winning actor, writer, director, and producer who has created some of the most iconic TV roles, including Arthur “the Fonz” Fonzarelli on Happy Days and Gene Cousineau on Barry.

Lin Oliver is a children’s book writer and a writer and producer for both TV and film. She is currently the executive director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She and Henry both live in Los Angeles.

Varian Johnson is the author of nine novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which was named a 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Book and a 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for the Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts middle-grade fantasy series as well as novels and short stories for YA audiences.

Lisa Yee’s debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Her other novels for young people include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, So Totally Emily Ebers, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes). She also the author of American Girl’s Kanani books, the DC Super Hero Girls middle grade novel series, Good Luck, Ivy, and the Lea Clark series.

July 20 - 23 • 9:30 am - 12:30 am • for ages 9-12 • $430

Please note: This class has been cancelled due to concerns for the health and well-being of our community. If you have already enrolled, we will be reaching out to you with further details.

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Rip ALL the Pages! A Creative Writing Summer “Play-Shop” for Kids. 

Sharpen your observations skills, dive into the deep-end of original detail, and master your own metaphors and similes.

Limited to 18 students (ages 9-12) the only requirement is a favorite pen and a willingness to surprise yourself. We’ll tip words over to find out what breathes underneath, hike for haiku, sneak around and listen—aka eavesdrop!—for dialog, explore making images to create our poems, sudden fiction, letters, and more. 

All materials and sort-of-healthy snacks included.

Karen Benke is the author of Rip the Page! Leap Write In! Write Back Soon! and Rip ALL the Pages! from Roost Books|Penguin Random House and translated into Chinese, Korean, and Russian. Founder of The Writers Nest and Program Director of Creative Writing Adventures (a nonprofit program of CalPoets), she taught writing for 23 years as a California Poet in the Schools and now brings her imaginative writing "play-shops" into libraries, bookstores and art centers internationally. 

Visit her at www.karenbenke.com or creativewritingadventures.org

Please note: This event has been postponed due to concerns for the health and well-being of our community. For updates on this event and for additional event information, please subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Druk & Mita

As Mita falls asleep beneath the familiar stars of Bhutan, she meets the young dragon, Druk. Druk and Mita explore the universe, aging side-by-side, always expanding their ability to love. The simple, yet profound story and enchanting illustrations bring to life the flora, fauna, and Buddhist traditions of the Himalayas. Readers’ hearts will open along with Druk and Mita’s on this journey of love and transformation. Illustrated by award-winning artist, Cara Bevan.

Moonwitch of Crushtide Island

Cunning moonwitch, Impolara, has discovered that cats really do have nine lives. She’s convinced that she does too, but to live them and rule Dream, she needs rare Dreamdancer, Rose. Can a handful of friends—feline, human and magical—save Rose and stop Impolara’s plot to rule Dream forever? In Moonwitch of Crushtide Island, they’ll risk everything to find out. Leap into Book II of the Dreamhaven Series. Illustrated by award-winning artist, Cara Bevan.

Tracy Tandy is the author of Dreamhaven, Moonwitch of Crushtide Island, Druk & Mita, Alphabet Dreams, Alphabet Dreams Coloring Book, and the award-winning sci-fi short story, Deadline. Ms. Tandy believes dreams and love arrive on our doorstep in remarkable (sometimes furry) packages. Whether writing for children or adults, she consults with her opinionated feline characters, extraterrestrial detectives, a wily witch and a Bhutanese dragon. Her life is never boring. Read more at tracytandy.com.

Join us for a special INK meeting with author Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo!

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! On November 1 every year, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. In 2018, more than 300,000 people participated in NaNoWriMo, and more than 150,000 kids in 10,000 classrooms took part in their Young Writers Program. Join us on Friday evening, November 15th for a special INK meeting with Executive Director of NaNoWriMo Grant Faulkner to discuss Brave the Page, the official NaNoWriMo handbook!

Partly a how-to guide on the nitty-gritty of writing, partly a collection of inspiration to set (and meet) ambitious goals, Brave the Page is the go-to resource for middle-grade writers. Narrated in a fun, refreshingly kid-friendly voice, it champions NaNoWriMo's central mission that everyone's stories deserve to be told. The volume includes chapters on character, plot, setting, and the like; motivating essays from popular authors; advice on how to commit to your goals; a detailed plan for writing a novel or story in a month; and more!

Brave the Page features an exclusive introduction by Jason Reynolds, as well as original essays throughout from Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places), Danielle Paige (Dorothy Must Die), Celia C. Pérez (The First Rule of Punk), Marissa Meyer (Cinder), Daniel José Older (Shadowshaper), Scott Westerfeld (Uglies) and more.

Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month and the co-founder of the online literary journal 100 Word Story and the Flash Fiction Collective. His stories and essays have appeared in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Writer's Digest, and Poets & Writers. He is the author of Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. They provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page. With its first event in 1999, the organization's programs now include National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, Come Write In, and the "Now What?" Months.

Tickets from $22 - $45 (includes a copy of Guts)

Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What's going on?

In Guts, Raina Telgemeier once again brings us a thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face--and conquer--her fears.

Raina Telgemeier is the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning creator of Smile and Sisters, which are both graphic memoirs based on her childhood. She is also the creator of Drama and Ghosts, and is the adapter and illustrator of four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels. Raina lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn more, visit her online at goRaina.com.

Each ticket includes a copy of Guts as well as a special signed book plate. Patrons will also have the opportunity to take a photo with Raina after the event, with higher-tier tickets guaranteeing an earlier place in line. Though Raina will not be signing any memorabilia, autographed copies of her other books will be available for sale before and after the event.

Special Event for Kids!

It's 1890, and the vast prairies of the Dakota Territory are empty of the buffalo that once sustained the people. Thirteen-year-old Red Dove faces a stark choice: leave her Lakota home to live in the white man’s world her father came from, or stay, and watch her family starve.

On the long, dusty trail between her village and the fort, she breaks a sacred tradition and eats the fruit of the Dead Man’s Plum Bush. Her grandfather, wise in the ways of her people, gives her a medicine pouch that allows her to enter the thoughts and feelings of others—and truly listen. With it, she confronts the cruelties of the nun at the boarding school, and the horrors of the massacre at Wounded Knee. With her beloved pony, Red Dove Listen to the Wind follows Red Dove as she begins a journey across the Great Plains to find her true place in the world—and learns that her greatest power comes from within herself.

Of Swiss, British and Syro-Lebanese ancestry, Sonia Antaki was born in Egypt and came to the U.S. as a child. Before discovering her passion for middle grade and young adult fiction, she had several careers–as a professional singer, a financial analyst, a Tony-nominated Broadway producer and an advocate for the Arts and Native traditions. She and her amazing dog Ziggy live in California.

Special Event for Kids!

Swift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter. Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. The trip is full of peril, and Swift encounters forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before he meets a mate and they start a new pack of their own.

Inspired by the extraordinary true story of a wolf named OR-7 (or Journey), who traveled a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest, A Wolf Called Wander is an irresistible tale of survival. It invites readers to experience and imagine what it would be like to be one of the most misunderstood animals on earth.

Rosanne Parry has spent a lifetime hiking and camping in Oregon’s wilderness and has come to love it’s wide-ranging landscapes and wild creatures (except perhaps for the banana slug) Rosanne is the author of Heart of a Shepherd, Last of the Name, and three other award-winning novels for middle grade readers. She is the captain of the League of Exceptional Writers, a free mentoring workshop for young avid readers and writers, sponsored by the Oregon SCBWI and Powells Bookstore. She is a bookmonger at the legendary indie bookstore Annie Blooms of Portland Oregon, and she writes in a treehouse in her backyard. You can find Rosanne at www.rosanneparry.com

Meet & Greet!

Special Event for Kids!

Aimed at third graders and up, Rip ALL the Pages will get you writing, ripping, playing on and off the page. “Rip ALL the Pages is a super-rad book packed with smart, engaging, challenging writing prompts that are sure to stoke the creative fires in writers of all ages!” ~Kate Schatz, NY Times bestselling author of Rad Girls Can! and My Rad Life.

Karen Benke is the author of Rip the Page! (now translated into Russian and Korean), Leap Write In! (for teens) and Write Back Soon! Adventures in Letter Writing.  A longtime Poet in the Schools, she now runs The Writers Nest at the refurbished Mill Valley Lumber Yard. Her books are used by educators, parents, and the children/tweens/teens they’re written for. They have received praise from FamilyFun Magazine, Children’s Book Review, Guernica, and other magazines. Stop by to have a book signed and receive a literary inspiration gift.

A musical fairytale, Beneath the Dragonwood Trees takes us into the woods on a journey reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Hansel and Gretel, Peter and the Wolf, and even a hint of Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.

What lies ahead in this enchanted forest of wacky witches for a lost boy and his stalwart furry and feathered friends? Original songs, musical score, and a wild-haired storyteller guide us on our way in this Broadway-style escapade about a boy’s quest – with his talking animal pals – to catch  the dreaded Wolf and win a Badge of Honor. In the end, Peter learns a great lesson – that the love between family and friends is far more valuable than a Badge of Honor.

Nationally-acclaimed director, composer, choreographer, independent filmmaker, and thirty-year veteran of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Margot Elaine Jones brings us this Broadway-style musical comedy in a print edition with rich and delightful illustrations and QR CODES that connect to bonus songs.