Tag: authors

Author Talk with Kenneth Tan and family

Written by Raquel on April 29, 2026.

Seated side-by-side at their kitchen table in San Jose, 94 year old Crescenciana Tan and her grandson, Kenneth Tan, got to work. Crescenciana made watercolor paintings and Kenneth drew her memories on top of them. When Crescenciana passed, she left behind her paintings, and Kenneth decided he would finish everything she started. He promised.

In Crescenciana, Kenneth weaves together their artwork, conversations, and memoirs to tell his grandmother’s life story and remind us that we can move forward without leaving our loved ones behind.

Tans Interwoven is a collection of honest, heartwarming, and humorous memoirs written by a Filipino American family, with illustrations created by Crescenciana Tan and Kenneth Tan.

Braiding their stories together, the Tans remind us that in our own families, with our lives entwining, we won’t see the patterns we’re repeating unless we take a moment to stop, step back, and look at the entire tapestry altogether.

About the Author:

Kenneth Tan is a second-generation Filipino American living in his hometown of San Jose. He has shared stories about his grandmother on NPR and StoryCorps, and he is a recipient of the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Award.

Crescenciana by Kenneth Tan

Written by Raquel on April 29, 2026. Posted in Peninsula Picks.

In Crescenciana, the book’s forward asks the reader to forgive the subject of the biography’s grammar. The apology is wholly unnecessary; Crescenciana bends the language to fit her emotional reality, turning the language into something that fits her perception. That adherence to direct transcription, and that voice that she brings, are what makes Tan’s biography so impactful. It serves as historical archive, transcription of immigrant experience and familial mythology, all in one. Crescenciana is a biography of the author’s lola (grandmother), following her life in the Philippines before coming to Canada and eventually the United States. The biography is a mixed-media work, combining first hand transcriptions of events told by his lola while also paring each instance with a piece of artwork created by either of the two.

The biography is as much written as it is curated. The balance of writing and image makes the book feel like a gallery, only instead of an author’s note, each image is accompanied by a fully-developed literary snapshot. Kenneth Tan acts as a tour guide through the memories. He leads the reader and frames certain events, both stepping in and pulling away at key moments. Crescenciana is ultimately an impactful, lovingly written and illustrated book. Kenneth Tan will be in the Peninsula Book Collaborative on May 30th, to talk about his work.

Community Poetry Reading

Written by Raquel on March 14, 2026.

Come join us for an evening dedicated to poetry!

Author of the multi-award winning book, earthshine, local author Chuck Brickley will read excerpts from his latest collection, downhill home. Chuck will also be discussing what ‘free-verse haiku’ is, and why it’s a perfect medium of expression for our times.

Chuck will be joined by other local poets, who will read their work.

About Chuck:

Chuck Brickley is a Westmoor High School alum and Westlake resident who has been writing free-verse haiku for over 60 years. His haiku, senryu, haibun and hay(na)ku have been published, awarded and translated in journals and anthologies worldwide.

Visit his author website at: www.chuckbrickley.com

Meet & Greet with Lauren C. Johnson

Written by Raquel on March 1, 2026.

Come meet the author of West Facade, Lauren C. Johnson

First 5 attendees will receive a free copy of The West Facade

About the Book

A cathedral statue discovers what it means to be human, then faces an impossible choice…

In Paris, at the dawn of the Bubonic Plague, the statues that guard the Notre Dame Cathedral are forbidden from experiencing human pleasures. But the statue of Sainte Geneviève’s quiet existence changes irrevocably when a grieving woman places a citrus fruit in her hands as an offering—an offering Geneviève can’t resist eating.

Eating awakens Geneviève to her desires, making Geneviève want to be more than an object on a cathedral wall. But when Geneviève gets what she wants, she must choose between remaining human and accepting mortality or returning to an eternity of being a statue at the cathedral once more.

About the Author

Lauren C. Johnson holds a B.S. in Journalism from Emerson College and an MFA in Creative Writing from American University. Her work has appeared in such publications as Orion and The Rumpus. She is the co-host of Babylon Salon, one of the Bay Area’s longest running literary and performance series, and the co-founder of Club Chicxulub, a journal and reading series featuring speculative fiction authors. Raised in Tampa, Florida, she now lives in San Francisco with her husband and her two rescue doves, Schooner and Eagle. This is her first book.

Author Meet & Greet: Charles Porta

Written by Raquel on January 18, 2026.

In Pure Evil, Page Publishing author Charles Porta tells a spine-chilling thriller story about a serial killer loose in San Francisco. The police department are doing their best, but are being taunted by the killer and the death count of the city is only rising. Then, Detective Draven Overstreet is assigned to the case. He is a brilliant detective who follows his own beat with a strict moral code steeped in the protection of the innocent.

With the aid of the Gothically alluring and seductive Asia Francisco, forensics expert for the San Francisco Police Department, along with assistance from other individuals, they comb the city in desperate search for this disturbed, twisted serial killer lurking among the streets.

First five attendees receive a FREE copy of the book!

Book Launch- Lauren Campbell “When They Were in Vogue”

Written by Raquel on November 26, 2025.

Celebrate the launch of Lauren’s Campbell’s historical fiction book, “When They Were in Vogue.” Join us as we explore this powerful work of historical fiction that covers race, art, friendship, and identity during one of America’s most dynamic cultural moments. The book takes place in the summer of 1929, where siblings Scott and Alice travel from the South to a vibrant and bustling Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance.

This event is perfect for readers of historical fiction with heart, depth, and modern resonance.

About the Author:

Lauren Campbell has been writing stories since childhood, drawn to narratives that illuminate overlooked histories and explore the complexities of human nature. A third-year law student at UC Berkeley School of Law, Lauren brings a keen eye for justice and nuance to fiction that interrogates themes of race, belonging, and social change.

The first 5 attendees will receive a copy of the book thanks to our sponsor, Sobrato Foundation.

Poetry Night

Written by Raquel on September 9, 2025.

Join us for a poetry night with local writers Katrina Benedicto & Jade Zora Dean

Katrina Benedicto (they/she) is a Filipino-American writer and educator. Born in the Bay Area, they lived in Romblon and Manila before moving to San Francisco. They later studied at SFSU, where they hold an MFA in Creative Writing. Their writing often taps into topics of folklore, the body, and the fleeting nature of home.

Jade Zora Dean is a queer, trans poet, writer, and poetry editor for Fourteen Hills: The S.F.S.U. Review. She was born in the Rocky Mountains where she received her B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Colorado Boulder. Now, she has made her home in the beautiful Bay Area. Her poem “Not Hiding Unseen” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and she is currently pursuing her MFA in creative writing at San Francisco State University.

Meet & Greet: Do you know Dino? Author Andy Cruz

Written by Raquel on August 20, 2025.

Imagine going back in time, 152 million years, to the late Jurassic Period. Meet Andy Cruz, aka dinosaurcomics, a Sacramento-based cartoonist that makes comics about prehistory (Especially DINOSAURS!) and his deep fascination with the natural world for a book signing.

Born and raised in the California Bay Area, Andy enjoys long walks on beaches and drinking milk tea. When he’s not drawing, he’s probably reading comics, watching anime, or throwing Tiger Uppercuts in Muay Thai.

Unearthed: Author Chanchal Garg with Mansi Goel

Written by Raquel on August 2, 2025.

Join author Chanchal Garg in conversation with Mansi Goel to discuss Chanchal’s new book “Unearthed” and her journey of healing. Hope to see you here.

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Chanchal Garg is a speaker, executive coach and facilitator at The Stanford Graduate Business School. She is also the author of Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury.

Previously Google’s Global Head of Product Policy, Mansi Goel is now ranked among the Top 5 Executive Coaches in Silicon Valley. Her core passion is to rewild herself and this earth.

I am a Warrior Book Launch & Community Gathering

Written by Raquel on July 25, 2025.

I Have the Heart of a Warrior – Book Launch & Community Gathering

Join us for an inspiring and heart-centered celebration of I Have the Heart of a Warrior, the newest children’s empowerment book by author, humanitarian, and speaker Leslie Lew.

This powerful event is for parents, educators, caregivers, and conscious community members who believe in raising the next generation with courage, confidence, and compassion.

Whether you’re nurturing your own child’s voice or healing your inner child, this gathering is a reminder that we all have the heart of a warrior — and it’s time to live from it.

What to Expect:

A heartfelt reading of I Have the Heart of a Warrior
Interactive Q&A and community discussion with Leslie
Creative activities for kids and families to explore bravery, boundaries, and voice
Book signing + limited edition warrior gifts
A space of love, healing, and bold transformation

Who It’s For:

Parents and caregivers who want to raise brave, emotionally aware kids
Teachers, therapists, and youth advocates focused on empowerment
Anyone looking to reconnect with their own warrior spirit

Come as you are. Leave feeling empowered, connected, and ready to rise — with your little (or inner) warrior by your side.

Upcoming Events