County libraries offer wine seminars, wildfire talks for 2025 Book of the Year celebration
This year’s selection is Fire in the Canyon, a novel by Daniel Gumbiner.
Book of the Year focuses on California winemaking, farms, wildfires
– The County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries, Cuesta College Library, and Paso Robles City Library are inviting readers to engage with a quintessential California story as part of the annual countywide literary event, Book of the Year.
This year’s selection is Fire in the Canyon, a novel by Daniel Gumbiner. The book is a finalist for the California Book Award and was named one of the best books of 2023 by The New Yorker.
“Fire in the Canyon feels so real, and it’s a total page-turner,” said Erica Thatcher, Engagement and Marketing Coordinator for the County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries. “Family farms, natural wines, and wildfires. There are some interesting and important ideas in this book. We hope folks will discuss and share this story.”
Author Daniel Gumbiner will discuss his novel at the Cuesta College Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo on Thursday, April 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. A book signing will follow the lecture. Tickets are available at tickets.cuesta.edu. The event will coincide with the 2025 Cuesta College Student Annual Art Exhibition at the adjacent Art Gallery.
The community is also invited to free scheduled events. Paso Robles Emergency Services will present a wildfire safety session at Paso Robles Library on Wednesday, April 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Winemaker Michael Barreto of Oso Libre will lead a smoke-tainted wine tasting and seminar at the Atascadero Library on Tuesday, April 8, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Chris Kern, a wine expert, will lead a “Wine Tasting 101” session at the Paso Robles Library on Wednesday, April 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
“The Paso Robles City Library is particularly pleased to present a series of events based on themes from the book, especially fire safety in light of the recent conflagrations in Los Angeles and wine appreciation that is so important to our local culture,” said Karen Christiansen, Librarian at Paso Robles City Library.
For more information and to reserve a copy of Fire in the Canyon, visit SLOLibrary.org and PRCity.com.
