Live Sessions & Offsite Events Program

The Twentynine Palms Book Festival presents one of its most ambitious programs to date, bringing together 100+ authors for 20+ panel discussions, VIP talks, workshops, and offsite literary events celebrating the people, landscapes, and stories of California's Mojave Desert and beyond. From memoir, crime fiction, Indigenous storytelling, poetry, veterans' voices, children's literature, and the American West to conservation, history, music, and creative careers, the program reflects the remarkable diversity of today's literary world while creating opportunities for readers and writers to meet, exchange ideas, and discover new voices. 

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER

9:30 AM Opening Panel | Never Underestimate the Desert. Hosted by Lisa Morgan, Public Relations Officer of the Joshua Tree National Park Association, a festival partner and co-sponsor, this conversation brings together Julia Knobloch, Kim Stringfellow, Amanda LaPera, Ruth Nolan, Gary George and Steve Brown to explore the desert as more than a landscape—it is a catalyst for creativity, discovery, and preservation. Drawing on their experiences as writers, artists, and advocates, the panel examines how storytelling, research, and artistic expression help document, celebrate, and protect the unique cultural and natural heritage of the California desert. 

11:00 AM  Presentation | From Gliders to Global Force: The History of the 29 Palms Marine Base. Award-winning author and retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel John J. McBrearty traces the remarkable evolution of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center—from its beginnings as a World War II glider training site to its role today as a major Marine Corps training installation. Drawing on military history, research, and storytelling, McBrearty explores how the base has shaped the history, identity, and growth of Twentynine Palms while honoring the generations of service members who have trained and served in the California desert.

NOON Panel | Memoir and the California Experience. Hosted by Gregory Gilbert, this conversation brings together Catherine Auman, Pamela Nickel Williams, Katie Nartonis, Jenifer Palmer-Lacy, Jennifer Germano, and Susan Hayden to explore memoir as a literary form shaped by identity, movement, and the landscapes of California. Featuring several local authors and members of the Mojave Sage Writers and the Desert Writers Guild, two organizations that have partnered with the Twentynine Palms Book Festival since its inaugural edition, the panel examines how personal stories become a powerful way of documenting place, preserving memory, and chronicling reinvention. 

1:30 PM Workshop | Expanding the Value of Your Writing. Hosted by Sneha Villalva, author, speaker, and former executive speechwriter and journalist whose work spans media, higher education, and public speaking, this hands-on workshop brings together Lane Igoudin, Kimberly Lee, Regina Hiremath, Mike de la Rocha, and Stephanie Theobald to explore practical strategies for building a sustainable writing career beyond book sales. From film and television adaptation, public speaking, and teaching to consulting, brand partnerships, media opportunities, and audience development, the workshop examines how writers can leverage their stories, expertise, and personal platforms to expand the reach, impact, and commercial value of their work while creating multiple revenue streams.

2:30 PM VIP Talk | Brook Flagg in Conversation with Cary Baker. Brook Flagg joins music journalist Cary Baker for a conversation about her book exploring U2's journey across the Mojave Desert and the profound influence the desert had on the band's creative vision. Blending music history, travel writing, and cultural storytelling, the discussion examines how the Mojave's landscapes, history, and mythology helped shape one of rock music's most iconic groups while revealing the enduring connection between place, imagination, and artistic inspiration. 

3:30 PM Panel | Desert Noir. A collaboration with the Joshua Tree International Film Festival. Four noir projects will be presented as part of the Twentynine Palms Book Festival’s new Book-to-Screen initiative: Twentynine Palms by Daniel Pyne, Zig Zag by J.D. O’Brien, Desert Reckoning by Deanne Stillman, and Under a Black Flag by Brian Townsley. Short readings from each project will be followed by a conversation with the four authors, moderated by acclaimed filmmaker Ondi Timoner, founder of the upcoming Joshua Tree International Film Festival, exploring the inspiration behind these stories and their potential for screen adaptation and international co-production. Joshua Tree-based filmmaker Christian Camargo, who is preparing to shoot a noir feature in the desert this winter, will bring a hands-on production perspective to the conversation, sharing his experience developing a film for production in the Hi-Desert. The goal is to identify how each project can reach its next stage of development. 

5:00 PM VIP Talk | Deanne Stillman in Conversation with Jardine Libaire. To mark the 25th anniversary of Twentynine Palms, bestselling author Deanne Stillman joins novelist Jardine Libaire for a conversation about the book's enduring legacy. In haunting, vivid prose, Deanne creates a far-reaching and true story of America through the prism of a post-Gulf War double homicide, carrying us deep into the Mojave as we meet and come to know the modern nomads who turn to the West for salvation. In this tale of mothers and daughters, class, and fate, the desert itself is a powerful character. 'One of these days,' it says, 'I might just have to shut the whole thing down.'" The story ends with an earthquake that strikes amid live-fire exercises on the base - on a fault line that no one knew about. You can't make this stuff up! 

6:00 PM VIP Talk | Kate Sterlin: Still Life: Photographs & Love Stories. Photographer Kate Sterlin discusses her acclaimed first book, Still Life: Photographs & Love Stories, a powerful blend of photography and prose exploring family, love, race, memory, and loss in America. In conversation with Katie Nartonis—Gallery Director of the Hi Desert Artists Gallery and a journalist whose work on culture, design, art, and architecture has appeared in many magazines—Sterlin reflects on how images and storytelling preserve the fleeting moments that shape our identities and connect the personal with the universal. 

# OFFSITE 

7:00 PM Offsite Reading | Noir in the Boneyard. Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery. An atmospheric evening of crime fiction, noir and pulp storytelling unfolds beneath the desert night sky at the historic Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery. Curated by Brian Townsley, publisher of Starlite Pulp, this special gathering brings together nine distinctive voices in contemporary crime and noir fiction: Peter Bertlessen, Duncan Birmingham, Craig Clevenger, J.D. O’Brien, Nevada McPherson, Greg Mollin, Andrew Miller, Phillip Thompson and Brian Townsley. Each writer will read selected excerpts from their work, bringing stories of mystery, suspense, dark humor and the darker side of human nature to one of the Mojave Desert's most evocative settings. 

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER

8:30 AM Workshop | Imagining Other Worlds: Writing Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror. How do writers create imaginary worlds that feel real, compelling characters who inhabit them, and stories that transport readers beyond the boundaries of everyday life? Hosted by Ken Wachsberger, an experienced book coach who helps writers develop their ideas and bring their stories to life, this workshop brings together Ryan Habermeyer, Jennifer Kain, Joshua Millican, Leanne Kathleen Indigo, Jennifer Cyphers, Fay Inger, and Duncan Birmingham for a lively exploration of speculative storytelling. Moving between fantasy, science fiction, horror, and dark fiction, the conversation will examine the creative process behind world-building, character development, suspense, and the emotional truths that make even the most extraordinary stories resonate with readers. 

10:00 AM Panel | The Desert Is Full of Bodies: The Rise of True Crime. Hosted by Cliff Dorfman, a screenwriter, director and author of the debut crime novel Crime Family, this panel brings together Christopher Church, Kassandra Davis, Andrew Miller, Larry Fondation, Brian Townsley, and Elle Jauffret for a conversation about the rise of true crime as one of today’s most popular media genres.  The panel examines why stories about crime continue to captivate readers and viewers—and what they reveal about justice, morality, human behavior, and our enduring fascination with the darker side of society. 

11:30 AM Panel | Indigenous Stories from Page to Screen: Rewriting the West. Hosted by Natasha Beranek, Literary Programs & Editorial Coordinator, Twentynine Palms Book Festival, this conversation brings together Terria Smith, Ruth Nolan, Christian Camargo and Douglas K. Miller to explore how Indigenous authors, filmmakers, and storytellers are reshaping contemporary portrayals of the American West. As Indigenous stories gain visibility in literature, film, and TV, the panel examines how authentic voices, cultural knowledge, and lived experience are transforming the narratives that reach both readers and audiences around the world. 

12:30 PM Panel | Women Writing the American West: Landscape, Memory & Identity. Hosted by author Mary Camarillo, this conversation brings together Lisa Alvarez, Ruth Nolan, KC Grifant, Susan Huckle and Anne Gardner to explore the histories and personal experiences that have shaped their writing about the American West. Spanning fiction, memoir, poetry, and nonfiction, the panel examines how place, movement, memory, and identity continue to inspire fresh perspectives on the region's past, present, and evolving literary landscape. 

2:00 PM VIP Talk | Obi Kaufmann: California Inside Out. Acclaimed naturalist, artist, and bestselling author Obi Kaufmann discusses his new book, California Inside Out, an illustrated manifesto exploring our relationship with California's landscapes. In conversation with Lisa Morgan, Public Relations Officer of the Joshua Tree National Park Association—a festival partner and co-sponsor—Kaufmann will explore how art, storytelling, ecology, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge can inspire a new conservation ethic rooted in stewardship, interconnectedness, and a deeper kinship with the natural world.

3:00 PM VIP Talk | The Changing Face of Discrimination. Drawing on his extraordinary life and decades of experience as a civil-rights attorney, Thomas Jacobson, author of Underdog: Against All Odds, The Fight for Justice, joins Greg Gilbert, President of the Mojave Sage Writers Association and author of The Little Blue Library That Fought Back, for a timely conversation about the changing face of discrimination in America.  From the institutional racism and antisemitism of the twentieth century to today's challenges involving migration, political polarization, social media and technology, the discussion will explore how prejudice evolves and how individuals and communities can stand up against injustice. Bringing together Jacobson's lifelong fight for civil rights and Gilbert's literary exploration of censorship and community resistance, the conversation asks a fundamental question: Has discrimination truly changed, or has it simply found new ways to express itself? 

4:00 PM Panel | On the Road Again: Route 66 at 100. Hosted by Natasha Beranek, Literary Programs & Editorial Coordinator, Twentynine Palms Book Festival, this conversation brings together Chelsea R. Sutton, David W. Berner, Bobbo Byrnes, and Erik Perezbrain to celebrate the centennial of America's most iconic highway. Exploring Route 66 through literature, history, photography, and personal journeys, the panel examines how the "Mother Road" continues to inspire writers, embody the spirit of reinvention, and shape the cultural imagination of the American West.

5:00 PM Panel | Joan Didion: Writing California, Defining a Voice. Hosted by local nonfiction writer and essayist Eleanor Whitney, this conversation brings together Jardine Libaire, Pamela Nickel Williams, Ruth Nolan and Lane Igoudin, whose own writing has been deeply influenced by Joan Didion. Together, they explore Didion's enduring legacy, her singular voice, and the profound influence her work continues to have on contemporary writing about California, identity, place, and cultural change. 

6:00 PM Screening | Who They Are: Exploring the Crypto-Terrestrial Theory. This special screening of Who They Are features authors and podcasters Leslie and Stephen Shaw, whose exploration of UFO phenomena and the crypto-terrestrial theory has attracted considerable attention, with the documentary reportedly generating more than 400,000 YouTube views in its first week. Directed by Jeremy Norrie (Sky Island Storytelling) and executive produced by J. Horton (J. Horton Films), the documentary examines one of the most intriguing questions surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena: Who—or what—is behind the UFOs reported in our skies, and what might they want? The program will also include a short film featuring recent interviews with the Shaws at Contact in the Desert. Following the screening, Leslie and Stephen Shaw will discuss their theories, the questions raised by the documentary, and why the Mojave Desert continues to inspire mystery, speculation and extraordinary storytelling.

# OFFSITE 

7:00 PM Voices of the Desert. The Palms in Wonder Valley. An evening of readings celebrating the spirit of the Mojave Desert. Hosted by Natasha Beranek, Literary Programs & Editorial Coordinator, Twentynine Palms Book Festival, the event brings together Abigail Stewart, Derrick Davis, Mary Camarillo, Caryn Davidson, Julia Knobloch, David W. Berner, Catherine Auman, Kenneth Pinckney, John Sierpinski and Mike Vail who will share excerpts from their works. 

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER

9:00 AM Workshop | Poetry for Young Voices: Finding Words, Finding Confidence. Hosted by Charlie Ervin, Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education member and longtime Coachella Valley resident, this engaging, hands-on workshop introduces young readers to the joy of writing poetry. Ervin, a strong advocate for literacy, representation, and expanding the range of stories available to young people, will welcome Julia Knobloch, Leanne Kathleen Indigo, Becca Spence Dobias, and Megan Haugh, who will lead participants through creative prompts, imaginative exercises, and playful approaches to writing. Together, they will explore how poetry can build confidence, encourage self-expression, and help young people discover the power of their own voices in a fun and inspiring environment. 

10:00 AM Panel | Books Don’t Need Chargers: Raising Readers in a Digital World. Moderated by Renee Gurley, a Hi-Desert writer, educator, and storyteller deeply connected to the local literary community, this conversation brings together Andrew Tonkovich, Vontavia J. Heard, Brad Berger, Michele Kwasniewski, Lynnette Robb, and Janet Wertman to explore how to inspire a lifelong love of reading in an increasingly screen-driven world. A facilitator of writing workshops with the Inlandia Institute, Renee brings a valuable local perspective and a commitment to the power of storytelling, learning, and community. Drawing on their experiences as authors, educators, and parents, the panelists will share practical ways to encourage curiosity, imagination, and meaningful reading habits, helping families raise the next generation of enthusiastic readers.

11:30 AM Presentation | From Dust to Denim: Dressing the Desert Life. Presented by Georgene Shelton, fashion production specialist and designer of the Desert Hat Collection, this fascinating journey through the history of desert clothing explores how Native American communities and the pioneers who settled the California desert developed distinctive ways of dressing to adapt to an unforgiving environment. From traditional Indigenous garments made with locally available natural materials to the durable canvas, denim, leather, and practical headwear adopted by settlers, miners, ranchers, and other desert pioneers, the presentation examines how climate, local resources, work, and survival shaped a unique style of clothing. 

12:30 PM VIP Talk | The St. Paul Phantom: Boxing, Community & the American Dream. Returning to the festival, Gerard Gibbons explores how The St. Paul Phantom, the latest installment in his Fight for Glory series, draws on a time when boxing brought together Irish, Black, Native American, Jewish, Italian, German, and immigrant communities from every walk of life. Through the story of his family, two legendary Hall-of-Fame fighting brothers, Gibbons reflects on sport as a bridge across cultures, establishing common ground, the values of perseverance and respect, and the enduring lessons this era offers today's younger generations. The conversation will be hosted by Todd Aaron Jensen, an entertainment journalist whose career includes celebrity interviews, profiles, investigative features, and reviews for numerous national and international publications.

2:00 PM Reading | Letters to the Beyond: Stargazing with P.O. Box Outer Space. Building on a creative partnership with the Twentynine Palms Book Festival since its earliest editions, this special reading celebrates P.O. Box Outer Space, the literary and artistic zine series co-edited by novelist Jardine Libaire and designer Beth Middleworth. Described as a collection of “open letters to the beyond,” the publication explores the cosmic, existential and deeply personal through imaginative storytelling. Three distinctive writers will share their work: Bruce Craven, novelist, poet and screenwriter whose Fast Sofa was adapted into a feature film; X. C. Atkins, Los Angeles-based fiction writer and author of Grace Street Alley and Other Stories and The Desperado Days; and Hellin Kay, filmmaker, photographer and writer whose work spans independent cinema, fashion and literary publications. Together, they invite audiences on an imaginative journey where literature, art and the mysteries of the universe intersect.

3:30 PM Panel | Starting a Second Chapter: Writing After 65. Hosted by Patrick Zuchowicki Jucaud, Twentynine Palms Book Festival Director, this inspiring conversation brings together Heidi Eagleton, Lynnette Robb, Mike Vail, and Nancy Glowinski to explore how writing can become a fulfilling second act. As a growing number of retirees choose to make the California Hi-Desert their home, the panel shares personal journeys into writing, practical advice on developing a creative routine, and insights into transforming life experience into stories worth publishing. 

4:30 PM Workshop | Writing the Return: Storytelling as Therapy for Veterans and Their Families. Hosted by retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel John J. McBrearty, this meaningful conversation brings together John R. Cole, Bory Thach, Agustin Ramirez, Greg Buffington, Fred “Bo” Dunning, Will Torres, Michelle Katz, and Jake Harriman to explore how storytelling can help veterans and their families process military experiences, navigate the transition to civilian life, and build resilience. Drawing on their personal journeys and professional expertise, the panel examines writing as a powerful tool for healing, reflection, and strengthening community. John J. McBrearty is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and author dedicated to helping veterans share their experiences through storytelling. John R. Cole is a Vietnam combat veteran committed to preserving military history and the personal stories of those who served. Bory Thach was born in a refugee camp on the Thailand-Cambodia border. An Iraq War veteran with an MFA from Cal State San Bernardino, he explores his experiences through creative writing. Agustin Ramirez is a U.S. Navy veteran and Interim Associate Vice President at Cal State San Bernardino, where he has directed the Veterans Success Centers since 2017. Greg Buffington is a retired U.S. Army Major and Afghanistan combat veteran who survived a roadside bombing and uses poetry to explore the emotional realities of war. Fred “Bo” Dunning is a U.S. Air Force veteran, psychologist and author with approximately 35 years of experience treating veterans affected by PTSD. Will Torres is a U.S. Marine veteran, screenwriter and poet raised on the Desert Cahuilla Reservation, whose work draws on his military experience and Native American heritage. Michelle Katz is an author, creative coach and former film and television producer. Founder of Story Is Medicine and host of the Broken & Healed podcast, she explores storytelling as a path to healing. Jake Harriman is a former Marine Force Recon officer, Bronze Star recipient and Iraq War veteran. He founded Nuru International and The Brickyard, initiatives focused on poverty reduction and community leadership.

# OFFSITE

1:00 PM Offsite Reading | Poetry Happy Hour. 29 Palms Inn. An afternoon celebration of spoken word set on the outdoor patio of the historic 29 Palms Inn. The event will be hosted by Palo Xanto, a California Hi-Desert lyric poet, musician, and frontman whose work brings together poetry, music, and the distinctive creative spirit of the desert. Divided into two one-hour sessions, Poetry Happy Hour features Kent Wilson, Jennifer Kain, Ruth Nolan, Lisa Alvarez, Lynnette Robb, Larry Fike, Lashane Arnett, Megan Haugh, Leanne Kathleen Indigo, Cindy Rinne, Mike Vail, Tammy C. Greenwood, Nikki Rawnsley, Stacey Lee Gee, and Kate Sterlin who will share original work inspired by memory, place, nature, identity, and the California desert.