7 Can’t-Miss Events at Litquake 2025

The Bay Area’s love of literature is well-documented, as evident in our ecosystem of independent bookstores (have you canceled your Amazon account yet?), as well as our roster of homegrown literary stars. But perhaps nowhere is the romance more obvious than at Litquake, which started as a one-day event in Golden Gate Park in 1999, and now takes the form of a sprawling, two-week series of readings, talks, and parties around the Bay. 

The lineup is always stacked, and this year is no different; check out the full schedule here. But if you’re trying to make some tough calls, COYOTE staff have selected a few personalized picks below.    

‘I took the lake between my legs’: Women of a Certain Age Read Poems on Sex and Death

Pick up any book of poetry and you’ll likely come across a piece on sex, or death, or both. The five authors presenting their work at this reading, however, defy common expectations of who should cover such intense topics. Zeina Hashem Beck, Susan Browne, Danusha Laméris, Rebecca Foust, and Keetje Kuipers — who are all in their mid-40s to late 60s — share personal pieces on sensuality, aging, eroticism, and death. The event is emceed by Susie Bright, she of legends, who co-founded the first women-produced sex magazine, On Our Backs, and started The Best American Erotica series. Swing by for a titillating evening, topped off with a glass of wine from Terah Wine Company. — Nuala. 6–8pm Friday, Oct. 10, Vintage Berkeley, 2113 Vine St., Berkeley. Free, more info here.