BookSwell

From Simon Rich, the Thurber Prize–winning author of "New Teeth" comes a hilarious and powerful collection of short stories chronicling the plight of aging millennials. Rich is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker and has written for Saturday Night Live, Pixar, and The Simpsons. Rich talks about GLORY DAYS, a new batch of can’t-miss stories. High-stakes and heartfelt, GLORY DAYS mourns the death of youthful innocence and hails the beginning of something approximating wisdom. NPR calls Rich “one of the funniest writers in America” and the New York Times Book Review hailed "New Teeth" as "a triumph of sustained humor." Rich talks to Kristen Schaal, an Emmy nominee for her voiceover performance in the Netflix series "BoJack Horseman." Recent credits conclude: the FX series "What We Do in the Shadows", as well as Hulu’s "The Mysterious Benedict Society."

Come join us at the Northridge Branch Library for a lively conversation with author Mary Jones!Join us as we talk to author Mary Jones about her debut short story collection The Goodbye Process. Library Journal recently gave the collection a starred review and said, "Short story fans might just discover their new favorite author in this arresting collection, a must-have." Jones will talk to us about her new book, the publishing process, and writing in general. Attendees will also have a chance to win a copy of The Goodbye Process!Mary Jones’s stories and essays have appeared in many journals including Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading, Subtropics, EPOCH, Alaska Quarterly Review, Columbia Journal, The Hopkins Review, Gay Mag, The Normal School, Epiphany, Santa Monica Review, Brevity and elsewhere. The recipient of a summer prose fellowship from The University of Arizona Poetry Center, her work has been cited as notable in The Best American Essays and appeared in The Best Microfiction 2022. She holds an MFA from Bennington College and teaches fiction writing at UCLA Extension. Originally from Upstate New York, she lives in Los Angeles.No tickets are required for this event, and it is free and open to all.Info about this and Read More ...

Author Soma Mei Sheng Frazier reads from "Off the Books" and leads a discussion on her debut novel's themes.``Join us at Village Well Books & Coffee for the launch of Soma Mei Sheng Frazier's acclaimed debut novel Off the Books! Frazier and historian Samuel Yamashita will discuss the writing life, road trips, and international politics through the prism of this thrilling story.Off the Books:Recent Dartmouth dropout Mei, in search of a new direction in life, drives a limo to make ends meet. Her grandfather convinces her to allow her customers to pay under the table, and before she knows it, she is working as a routine chauffeur for sex workers. Mei does her best to mind her own business, but her knack for discretion soon leads her on a life changing trip from San Francisco to Syracuse with a new client.Handsome and reserved, Henry piques Mei’s interest. Toting an enormous black suitcase with him everywhere he goes, he’s more concerned with taking frequent breaks than making good time on the road. When Mei discovers Henry's secret, she does away with her usual close-lipped demeanor and decides she has no choice but to confront him. What Henry reveals rocks her to Read More ...