The Buzz: Dave Eggers, Diane Keaton and “The Sacred Feminine”

Jackie Speier, Dave Eggers to appear in Petaluma: The successful collaboration forged last year between Petaluma’s LiteracyWorks and Copperfield’s Book Stores continues to bear intellectual fruit. This January, the Literacyworks Lecture series brings a pair of heavyweight authors to Petaluma in two separate events.

On Monday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m., Congresswoman Jackie Speier will be here to talk about her new book “Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage and Fighting Back.” The free event will take place at Copperfield’s Book Store (140 Kentucky St.), and will focus on the recent 40th anniversary of the People’s Temple killing in November of 1978. Speier, who was present that day, says she wrote the “Undaunted” to address the real-life nightmare that molded her personal and professional perspectives.

Later in the month, on Sunday, Jan. 13, at 3 p.m., bestselling author Dave Eggers will appear at the Petaluma Veteran’s Memorial Building for a conversation with Mokhtar Alkhanshali, the subject of Eggers’ new book, “Monk of Mokha.” The Yemen-born Alkhanshali is the founder of Bluebottle Coffee in San Francisco. His journey from barely-employed drifter to world-travelling entrepreneur is captured in Egger’s new work of “narrative nonfiction.” Tickets come with a copy of the book. $25 for a book plus a single ticket, and $35 for a book plus two tickets. Seats can be reserved at Literacyworks.org or at Copperfeld’s Book Store.?

Diane Keaton drops by Hotel Petaluma: There’s just something about downtown Petaluma’s vintage (and recently restored) Hotel Petaluma that keeps drawing people in for a look around. Last Wednesday afternoon, according to the hotel’s front desk agent Heather Westcott, it was actress Diane Keaton (“The Godfather,” “Annie Hall,” “Something’s Gotta Give”) who suddenly popped in for an impromptu visit. Before departing, the Hollywood legend, described as being “incredible,” posed for a quick snapshot with Westcott. The encounter, not surprisingly, made Westcott’s day.

Petaluma’s Karen R. Clark to sing at SF’s Grace Cathedral: As founder of the choral ensemble known as Vajra Voices, Petaluma’s Karen R. Clark has performed in her share of gorgeous locales. On Friday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m., Clark and the chorus will be joining the acclaimed ensemble Kitka for a concert at San Francisco’s architecturally stunning Grace Cathedral.

The event is timed to coincide with the annual Women’s Marches planned nation-wide that weekend.

The concert, titled “The Eve of the March,” will see the two renowned women’s choruses performing medieval and contemporary songs written to explore the power of the divine feminine. Tickets range from $10-$45, and can be reserved at VajraVoices.com.

(Have an idea for a BUZZ item? Drop us a line at david.templeton@arguscourier.com)