Healing through Books- Book Club
Healing through books. Join us and we’ll provide coffee, light snacks, and a conversation in which we heal ourselves through literature.
Second Wednesday of Each Month | 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Tag: community event
Junk Poetry Workshop
Join us! Blackout poetry meets junk journaling!
Materials will be provided.
Presenter: Dina Klarisse
Meet & Greet with Lauren C. Johnson
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.
March Crochet Workshop
Come and create charming, personalized gifts and decorations for yourself or for your loved ones, whether you’re a beginner or looking to perfect your stitches. Please bring your own crochet hook and yarns (if you have them) or we will provide them at the workshop. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by adults.
Beloved Stories with Ms. Bernadette
Come join us for a storytime with Ms. Bernadette. Hear a story and browse and vote for your Beloved Books.
This month, we are reading
Winnie the Pooh
Amelia Bedelia
Curious George
About storytime presenter:
Ms. Bernadette lives above the Top of the Hill, plays reading games with kids in local schools, and retired from selling books to grown ups to help them do their jobs better. Let’s find your “Beloved Books.”
Author Talk with Nitza Agam
Too Much Love, Stories of Mothering, is an anthology of essays and poems by women, edited by Nitza Agam, reveals and questions the complex and complicated relationships of becoming a mother and being a daughter. The anthology includes eighteen women writers of all ages and backgrounds. On March 14th, seven of the eighteen Bay Area writers will read excerpts from their poems and essays at the bookstore.
List of contributors for the event:
- Nitza Agam
- Abby Caplin
- Kathleen Meadows
- Cynthia Chin- Lee
- Susan Light
- Bonnie Lindauer
- Carole DeNola
About the Author:
Nitza Agam has published two memoirs, several articles and essays in literary magazines and in The SF Chronicle, as well as poems and opinions. Prior to “Too Much Love: Stories of Mothering,” Nitza has also edited The Lemon Tree: Artists’ and Writers’ Personal Journeys of Creativity,” published by BossLady Press, 2022. Agam has a BA from Hebrew University in Jerusalem as well as two master’s degrees in literature from San Francisco State. She also holds a teaching credential in secondary English and has taught at various independent schools and workshops. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, Ofer; together they have two adult sons, David and Or.
Beloved Stories with Ms. Bernadette
Come to storytime with Ms. Bernadette. Hear a story and browse and vote for your Beloved Books. Suitable For Children ages 4 – 8 Years
Book Selections
- Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
- Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
About Ms. Bernadette
Ms. Bernadette lives above the Top of the Hill, plays reading games with kids in local schools, and retired from selling books to grown ups to help them do their jobs better. Let’s find your “Beloved Books.”
Author Talk with Ellie Lopez, author of Chillona
Come join us for an evening celebrating the debut poetry collection, Chillona, by local author Ellie Lopez! In Chillona, Ellie Lopez discusses their personal experience as the eldest daughter in a Mexican American family and navigating life in the Bay Area. Their book covers many themes such as identity, healing, and family. Lopez will be joined by other performers listed down below.
List of performers opening for Ellie Lopez:
- Tara Rico
- Mia Catherine
- Dina Klarisse
- Stephanie Hernandez Jarvis
Ellie Lopez (she/her) is a storyteller from Tracy, CA. Her poetry has been featured in numerous publications most recently Mobile Data Mag and KALW BAY POETS. Ellie has released a BuiLit Zine “While in Mourning” via Sampaguita Press. “Chillona” is her first full length poetry collection and was released October 2025.
Crochet Workshop
Come and create charming, personalized gifts and decorations for yourself or for your loved ones, whether you’re a beginner or looking to perfect your stitches. We will provide hooks and yarn at the workshop or bring your own crochet hook and yarns.
Children under age of 12 must be accompanied by adults.
Author Meet & Greet: Charles Porta
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!