Litquake started two years ago when groups of Bay Area writers decided it was high time they put on events like those put on by music, film, and arts groups in the area. They wanted an event that was "diverse and inclusive - a mix of readings, panel discussions, themed events, and general literary mayhem - from a wide range of Bay Area authors. And we definitely didn't want it to be boring." Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote a poem in its honor, and we were off to the races.

This year's action-packed Litquake schedule includes readings on women's literature, writing about rejection, kid lit, musical performances by authors' bands, and a lit pub crawl in the Mission. Authors include (in random order and random selection): Ann Packer; ZZ Packer (not related to Ann, we don't think); Josh Kornbluth; Barry Gifford on turning Wild At Heart into a movie; Justin Chin; Beth Lisick; Michelle Tea; Rachel Fudge, Lisa Jervis, and Andi Zeisler; and the omnipresent Mr. Dave Eggers and his gang of 826, among many, many, others. KALW 91.7 will be broadcasting reading and publishing-themed programs as well.

Venues are all over the Mission and all over town, so do SFist Reads proud and support our vibrant readerly-and-writerly community!