Dear Reader,
This week saw another dismal report on climate change—this time from the United Nations and the IPCC. But as is so often the case, and so often missed, this report offers real-life solutions to many of the problems of climate change: changes we can make to soften the blow, to hand down to new generations a life of pleasures and worth.
That’s been the point of Kepler’s Literary Foundation’s Changing Planet series: making sure that hopeful, even good news doesn’t get lost in the roar. From long-time environmental stalwarts like Naomi Klein and Bill McKibben to new voices like Britt Wray, we’ve featured realistic visions of the world we can save and build on.
Our latest entry in this series is Obama administration alum and climate law scholar Rob Verchick with his new book, The Octopus in the Parking Garage. That’s quite the visual, and quite the statement of how urgent our tasks have become.
Rob took his cue to look into climate change effects through time and around the country. The result is engaging and accessible for all of us who care and want to learn. The Octopus in the Parking Garage empowers us face the climate crisis and shows what we can do to adapt and thrive.
Please join us for an important and encouraging conversation. I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Angie Coiro
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Alka Joshi is not only one of our favorite storytellers; her journey from canceled celebration to a Cinderella best-seller is one of our favorite stories to tell. Three years ago this month, we were all set to celebrate her first novel. The Henna Artist offered everything: rich research, deep personal history, and true-to-life characters. Lakshmi Shastri and her family were so well crafted that once you’d finished the book you already wanted more. Joshi was a debut writer to love.
Yes, everything was all set for an event in March 2020—but we all know what happened next. Pandemic or no, though, you can’t keep a good book down. The Henna Artist became a pick for Reese Witherspoon’s book club and it rocketed to best-seller lists, and was optioned for television rights.
Since then, Joshi has published a companion novel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur; and now, the final installment of the Jaipur Trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris, is coming to a bookshelf near you. Lakshmi’s sister Radha takes the spotlight as a budding perfumer based in 1970s Paris. When she visits Lakshmi and the courtesans of Agra, she discovers that a long-kept secret is threatening to upend her glamorous life.
Join us as we welcome Alka Joshi back to Kepler’s for her first in-store appearance! Purchase a Premier Admission ticket to receive The Perfumist of Paris and a LilaNur Parfums Discovery Set with your copy of the book.
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SUPPORT THE ARTS! Your gift of any amount will help us continue producing outstanding conversations, programs, and classes to engage and inspire our community. Please join our community and donate online today. Donations to Kepler's Literary Foundation are tax-deductible. Thank you!
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All events in person unless otherwise specified. |
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A special evening for everyone who swooned over The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur: Alka Joshi brings us the third and final book in the trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris. She’ll be in conversation with Devi S. Laskar, author of The Atlas of Reds and Blues. Join us!
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When an octopus floated up into a Miami parking garage, of course a meme was born. But it showed yet again: global weather change is real. Join us for a pragmatic, even optimistic take from climate expert Rob Verchick on how we can build climate resilience—and pursue environmental justice at the same time. With Angie Coiro.
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In flash fiction, the whole is a part and the part is a whole. A single sentence can serve the function that a paragraph or even a chapter might in a longer work. In this workshop, Grant Faulkner, co-founder of 100 Word Story and San Francisco’s Flash Fiction Collective—and the author of The Art of Brevity—will discuss how a different type of creativity emerges within a hard compositional limit, exploring the many different forms that short shorts can take.
Come prepared to write short pieces and explore the expansiveness of succinctness.
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Kepler’s is thrilled to host New York Times best-selling author Neal Shusterman & screenwriter Eric Elfman for their new book and series, I Am the Walrus! Think Eoin Colfer meets Rick Riordan with a sprinkle of Margaret Peterson Haddix. When fourteen-year-old Noah falls from the trees on his classmate Sahara, he doesn’t understand how, or why, he would have been up there. It’s just one more in a string of strange things happening to Noah lately. Like when he keels over and every muscle in his body freezes when confronted by bullies. And when he vanishes into the background at a moment he doesn’t want to be noticed. And when he unexpectedly blasts Sahara with a bird shriek while flapping his arms uncontrollably in the middle of a school dance. What does it all mean? And why do there suddenly seem to be so many mysterious people trying to kill him?
This new sci-fi is action packed and hilarious! You won’t want to miss this event!
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Musical force of nature Joan Baez has switched focus: retired from performance, she’s moved to painting and drawing. Now she brings her art to the fore in a new and enchanting volume, Am I Pretty When I Fly? An Album of Upside Down Drawings. As ever, her focus encompasses her passions: politics, relationships, women, animals, and family. Join us for a special evening at Kepler’s!
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Note: this event will take place at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center.
Kepler’s is overjoyed to announce our event with New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan and award-winning author Mark Oshiro for their new standalone book that features two of the most popular characters in the Percy Jackson series, Nico di Angelo and Will Solace.
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Kepler’s is a cultural institution based in Menlo Park, California. Kepler’s operates an innovative hybrid business that includes Kepler’s Books, a social-purpose bookstore, and Kepler’s Literary Foundation, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to enriching the community through literary and cultural programs.
Kepler’s was established in 1955.
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Check out keplers.org for a complete listing of events.
© 2022 Kepler’s Literary Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
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