We invite you to our Spring Author Chats – three online conversations with three fun and inspiring authors, all to raise funds for the Oakland Literacy Coalition’s new School Library Partnerships program.

Ticket Pricing:

Single Chat – $30
3-Chat Series – $75

See below for more information on how to purchase tickets for the full series or give tickets as a gift.

Event recordings will be sent to ticket holders afterwards. If you can’t attend live, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the conversation and supporting the Oakland Literacy Coalition and our public school libraries!

Easily purchase tickets to a single Author Chat or the full series:

Step 1: In Eventbrite, you’ll see a separate listing for each Author Chat event. Click into any event listing to purchase tickets for that Author Chat or for the full series:

Step 2: From the event listing, click on the green Tickets button:

Step 3: Select the ticket type you want to purchase and click “Checkout” to continue. To purchase the full series, choose the “All 3 Nights of our Spring Author Chats Series” ticket:

To Gift A Ticket:

Tickets to our Author Chats (and the books!) make great gifts!

Follow the steps above to select the ticket you want to gift. After clicking “Checkout” fill in your name and email in the top “Contact” section and fill in your gift recipient’s info in the “Ticket” section that follows:

You will receive a confirmation of having bought the ticket, and your gift recipient will receive a confirmation of their ticket from you along with email reminders leading up to the event with the Zoom link(s).

Featured Authors:

Wear your coziest slippers and have your beverage of choice at the ready to enjoy via Zoom webinar, from the comfort of your couch, or together with your book group!

April 14, 7-8 pm PT — Meg Waite Clayton

Author of the international bestseller The Postmistress of Paris, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and Good Morning America Buzz pick.

Among Meg Waite Clayton’s other works are the National Jewish Book Award finalist The Last Train to London, and The Wednesday Sisters, one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Essential Best Friend Novels of all time. Learn more about Meg and her work!

Moderating this event: Dagmar Serota, Chair, Oakland Literacy Coalition School Library Advisory Committee and former Executive Director, Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries. Dagmar, a lover of historical fiction, says, “I’ve always been fascinated with World War II. I am very excited to moderate our Author Chat with Meg Waite Clayton, an author known for her rigorously researched WWII historical fiction.”

Purchase your copy of The Postmistress of Paris through our bookstore partner, Books Inc., and they will donate 20% back to the Oakland Literacy Coalition.

April 21, 7-8 pm PT — Andy Baraghani

Longtime cook and writer Andy Baraghani releases his highly anticipated debut cookbook, The Cook You Want to Be: Everyday Recipes to Impress.

Andy blends the home cooking of his Iranian upbringing, his professional training in restaurants such as Chez Panisse and Estela, editorial experience at Bon Appetit and Saveur, and his travels from around the globe, to bring home cooks over 120 exquisite everyday recipes. A versatile and stunning cookbook, The Cook You Want to Be is for curious home cooks of all skill levels and culinary ambition, complete with a comprehensive pantry and kitchen tool guide. Learn more about Andy and follow him here!

Moderating this event: Sanam Jorjani, Founding Co-Director of Oakland Literacy Coalition. Sanam shares Andy’s cultural background and, of course, cooking is a sensory celebration of culture. She looks forward to asking him about the roots of his love of cooking.

Preorder your copy of The Cook You Want to Be: Everyday Recipes to Impress through our bookstore partner, Books Inc., and they will donate 20% back to the Oakland Literacy Coalition.

April 28, 7-8 pm PT — Mike Chen

Critically acclaimed science fiction writer and self-described geek, Mike Chen says, “In my stories, there are no epic wars or fate-of-the-universe events; instead, they’re tales of family and friendship and humor that just happen to have some time travel or an apocalypse.”

His new book, Light Years from Home, is the perfect combination of action, imagination and heart; a touching drama about a challenge as difficult as saving the galaxy: making peace with your family…and yourself. Learn more about Mike and his work here!

Moderating this event: Allyson Bogie, Oakland Literacy Coalition’s School Library Partnerships Program Manager. She combines her love wide-ranging love of reading with a love for fostering that in all youth. Allyson says, “Mike Chen’s work is timely and relatable, while also doing what wonderful books do – transporting us somewhere different and sparking new ideas. I’m thrilled to share our conversation with supporters!”

Purchase your copy of Light Years From Home through our bookstore partner, Books Inc., and they will donate 20% back to the Oakland Literacy Coalition.

Thank you to our event sponsors: