After a two-year hiatus, the Kepler’s Literary Foundation is restarting its “Story is the Thing” reading series, which highlights emerging writers from around the Bay Area. The first reimagined event, which will serve as a forum for local fiction authors to discuss storytelling and the writing life with community members, will take place on Aug. 29.
Kepler’s originally began putting on the event in 2017, but hasn’t held an in-person local author feature event since February 2020.
Heather Birchall, the program manager for premier events at Kepler’s Literary Foundation, helped get the “Story is the Thing” program restarted. She is excited to see local authors back on Kepler’s stage.
“The only reason the program lapsed was really due to a change in personnel,” said Birchall. “But now we’re ready to get started again championing some magnificent local authors that live right on our doorstep.”
There will be four local authors featured at the first installment of the reinvigorated reading series.
Katherine Lin, a Bay Area attorney and writer, will be discussing her debut novel “You Can’t Stay Here Forever,” which was released in June 2023. Author and former science journalist Claire Oshetsky, who penned the acclaimed novel “Chouette,” will read from her most recent release, “Poor Deer.” Susanne Pari, an Iranian-American writer whose work focuses on themes of displacement and belonging, will read from her latest novel, “In the Time of Our History.” Zach Williams, a local author and lecturer at Stanford University, will discuss his short story collection, “Beautiful Days.”
Birchall said that picking the featured authors is a collaborative process for the Kepler’s staff.
“We have a conversation internally, and colleagues suggest authors that have written books recently which they have loved,” said Birchall. “Our sales reps from the publishing houses also sometimes weigh in as they know about this series and which authors would do well on the stage. … We like to have a mix of debut and more established authors.”
Attendees at the events won’t just listen to the authors speak, they will have the opportunity to speak with the authors and learn more about their work. There will be a reception starting at 6 p.m. for attendees to have a glass of wine and some snacks, and mingle with the authors, Birchall said.
Birchall says that this event is just the tip of the iceberg, and that Kepler’s is excited to continue expanding its community programs.
“I think community outreach has been integral to Kepler’s mission, and there have been many programs with local schools and libraries in the past,” she said. “We are gradually building those programs back up again.”
First event is 7 p.m. on Aug. 29, (reception at 6 p.m. before program); Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; $15-20; keplers.org.
The authors did not just used to be local! How about the rest of the great authors??