Author Events, July 22-28

Chris Colfer of Glee released his novel 'The Land of Stories', and will sign copies at Copperfields on Tuesday, July 24th

For more events or to list author events in our calendar, visit the Press Democrat’s events listings at pressdemocrat.com .

SUNDAY (July 22)

Rhyme-A-Palooza! A reading for children, 1 p.m.
Poets Kathleen Winter, Bill Vartnaw, George Stenger, Marjorie Stein, Katherine Hastings, Terry Ehret and Iris Jamahl Dunkle read their favorite kids’ poems. All young attendees are invited (but not required) to share their favorite bit of verse. Montgomery Village Courtyard, in cooperation with WordTemple and Copperfield’s Books.
Copperfield’s, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 578-8938, copperfieldsbooks.com .

Napa Valley Writers’ Conference Wine & Poetry, 7:30pm
Wine reception and reading with poet Forrest Gander and fiction writer Kevin Brockmeier. For more information about Napa Valley Writers’ Conference events during the week, visit the website.
Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus, 1088 College Ave., St. Helena. napawritersconference.org

TUESDAY (July 24)

Chris Colfer, “The Land of Stories,” 7 p.m.,
When the twins’ grandmother gives them a treasured fairy tale book, they have no idea they’re about to enter a land beyond all imagining: the Land of Stories, where fairy tales are real.  But as Alex and Conner soon discover, the stories they know so well haven’t ended in this magical land—Goldilocks is a wanted fugitive, Red Riding Hood has her own kingdom, and Queen Cinderella is about to become a mother!  The twins want to get back home. But with the legendary Evil Queen hot on their trail, will they ever find the way?
Note:  The Glee star debuts his children’s wayside fairytale book to those who have reserved their space for the event.
Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 762-0563, copperfieldsbooks.com.

THURSDAY (July 26)

Poetry readings, 6pm
Ed Coletti, Lin Marie deVincent, Geri Digiorno and Jewel Matheison read their poetry.
Sonoma Valley Art Museum, 551 Broadway, Sonoma, 939-7862.

FRIDAY (July 27)

Lawrence Baldassaro, “Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball,” 7 p.m.,
Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Tommy Lasorda, Joe Torre, Tony Conigliaro. Casual fans know these names not as Italian Americans, but as some of the most colorful figures in baseball history. From Joe DiMaggio to A. Bartlett Giamatti, this is their story, a social history of America’s pastime.
Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. (415) 927-0960, bookpassage.com

SATURDAY (July 28)

Deanne Stillman, “Desert Reckoning: A Town Sheriff, a Mojave Hermit, and the Biggest Manhunt in Modern California History,” 7 p.m.
The story ends in a Wagnerian firestorm under a full moon as nuns at a nearby convent watched and prayed. How things got to this point, a point of no return, is the subject of this riveting, exploratory work.
Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. (415) 927-0960, bookpassage.com

To submit book events for consideration in this column, contact Sara Peyton at sara.peyton@gmail.com at least three weeks in advance of the event.