Occidental Center for the Arts Literary Series presents Beside the River and its sequel, River’s End by local author Mark Tate.

In Beside the River, we meet Kazumi Matsuoka, owner of Kawabata Vineyard and Winery and an eighty year old haiku master ready to publish her latest book. Her property is near the Laguna, the setting of the novel. Her dream to transform ten acres of her vineyard into a preserve with hiking paths that will connect through the Laguna de Santa Rosa to the California Coastwalk is challenged by the discovery of individuals in a nearby homeless encampment. It’s sequel, River’s End will immerse the reader in the struggles of drug addiction, homelessness, murder, bound in the whirl wind of climate change.

Author Mark Tate

Mark Tate was born at Hamilton Air Force Base, Marin County, and at a young age lived in rural Japan where his father was stationed. Mark graduated from San Francisco State College with a BA & MA in English Literature and Creative Writing. Mark has been a long-time resident of Sonoma County where he lives with his wife Lori and two cats, Buddy and Buster.

This is a free indoor event with no registration required. In accordance with County Guidelines, masking inside the auditorium will be required. Refreshments, wine and beer available for sale. Selected readings by the author with Q&A, book sales and signing.