Bay Area Book Festival Podcast

"Everyone is born once. I have been born many times," wrote Rumi, the beloved Persian poet, whose words often draw comparisons to Shakespeare. But who was the person behind the poems? And why does a fairly obscure 13th-century mystic continue to captivate contemporary audiences? Brad Gooch, formidable biographer and bestselling author of 'Smash Cut,' 'Flannery,' and 'City Poet,' brilliantly brings the legend to life, vividly coloring in his time and place—imagine trying to write erotic poetry under the seige of Genghis Khan—and reminding us that the power of poetry transcends time and place, much like Rumi himself.

Join beloved children's author Cornelia Funke, the award-winning German storyteller and illustrator of 'Inkheart,' the Reckless series, 'Lilly and Finn,' and her latest, 'The Book No One Ever Read.' A children's story that Cornelia calls "her 'Inkheart' for kindergarteners," this new picture book is a magical journey into the experience of a book that longs to be read. Don't miss your chance to hear one of the great voices of children's literature and take part in the debut of this picture book (already a favorite of festival staff) that is sure to become a classic. In collaboration with the Goethe-Institut San Francisco.

"Read it again!" So goes the litany of kids wanting their favorite book again. Adults too have favorites among authors they read to their children or enjoyed in their youth. Stellar, much-loved authors and illustrators gather here, for a perfect Sunday morning for kids, families, and book-loving avid fans, to talk about their love of storytelling, of making books, and what they're working on now. (Book signings follow; you may buy books at the festival, and bring a few from home, too!)

Power: We all want it, but how do we get it? Many have assumed that acquiring power involves force and manipulation. But psychologist Dacher Keltner turns those notions on their heads in 'The Power Paradox,' arguing that empathy and humility are far more influential. Power is not something we create; it is something we earn. Keltner will lay out how to gain and retain power, when we may abuse it, and what the consequences are of letting those around us languish in powerlessness.

It's not a pretty place, the Internet. Especially for an outspoken woman. Two years ago, Lindy West's confrontation with a nasty troll showed the world how to fight back via technology. With her debut memoir, 'Shrill,' Lindy tells that tale and more, sharing her truths about #ShoutYourAbortion!, being a large woman, being loud, being a feminist, and being funny. This event is for anyone interested in having their own opinions in the digital age.

Where is Africa in world literature? After centuries of being confined to a cramped corner of the literary world—to being described by explorers, tourists, journalists, and activists—African writers discuss what it means to tell their own stories, in their own words and languages, and the journey their work takes to arrive in print, at home and abroad. Lesley Nneka Arimah's 'What It Means When A Man Falls From the Sky' is "completely captivating…whether you're in Nigeria or Chicago" (Ebony); Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's 'Kintu' has been called "a masterpiece of cultural memory" (Publishers Weekly), and Sarah Ladipo Manyika's 'Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun' is one of the "brilliant books that you really need to read" (Buzzfeed).

Short stories are, in the words of the great Lorrie Moore, "second to none in power and efficiency." There's a reason we love short stories as much as we do, and why many of the best movies are based on short fiction rather than novels. Hannah Tinti, co-founder of the literary short story magazine One Story, explores the power and timelessness of the American short story with three One Story authors.

In today's popular culture, "strong female lead" characters and "difficult women" are more common than ever before. How are women writers using popular fiction genres (mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, street lit, women's fiction) to go beyond the "strong female lead" protagonists to share visions of feminist activism and social change? What role do race, class, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and ability play in the intersectional feminist landscapes of their stories?

Gentrification has become a buzzword, but this profound social and economic shift involves far more than trendy boutiques, hipsters, and fancy lattes. Journalists Peter Moskowitz ('How to Kill a City') and Paul Madonna ('All Over Coffee') uncover the massive, systemic forces behind gentrification evictions, how this phenomenon changes our cities for the worse, and how we can fight back.

Four established authors take the mystery out of writing mysteries. Whether inspired by real life (like Dr. Ellen Kirschman), folklore (like Vidar Sundstol with his epic tales involving Nordic superstition), deeply-hidden family secrets, (like Wendy Hornsby's filmmaker sleuth uncovers), or humor, mixups, and disasters (see: Steve Hockensmith), these hard-boiled mystery writers will clue you in on what makes a suspenseful "whodunit?"