Booksmith is thrilled to host the launch event for Allison Landa and her debut, Bearded Lady: When You're a Woman with a Beard, Your Secret Is Written All Over Your Face. She'll be in conversation with Marcus Banks. Join us!

PLEASE NOTE: Advance sales for this event have ended, but we will have seats available at the door.

Please note:

• Safety: ID and proof of full vaccination, including booster, will be required at the door. Masks will be required throughout the duration of the event, capacity will be limited to allow indoor distancing, and we'll have extra ventilation in place. 
• Because we’re limiting capacity, we can't guarantee we'll have space for walk-ins. The best way to ensure you’ll get a seat is to order the Book + Seat ticket through this link; you can also RSVP for a free seat right here while supplies last.
• We are happy to offer *signed copies* of Bearded Lady: order a Book + Seat ticket bundle if you'd like to pick up a signed copy at the event, or order here if you just want a signed copy.
• If we feel it is not safe to gather, as the event gets closer, we will pivot to a virtual event and your registration will remain valid.
• Questions? Write [email protected].

About the book

The beard was never far from my mind. Twice daily, I shaved. I blended foundation into my skin with a practiced touch. I hoped for the miracle that never showed its face: smooth skin instead of the prickly surface I felt every time I ran my hand across my chin and down my cheeks. It took years of struggle, of ducking and diving, to finally obtain a diagnosis and treatment. It took love to pull myself from the shadows and into the sun.

Bearded Lady is a tale of hiding and revealing, of secrets and salvation, of how what we believe sets us apart actually unites us. It’s the story of what happens when you can no longer push down your deepest humiliation and instead must truly face the world.

About the authors

Allison Landa, whose work has been featured in Business Insider, Parents Magazine, The Guardian US, The Washington Post, and HuffPost Personal among other venues, wrote Bearded Lady as an account of life with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Landa teaches at The Writing Salon in San Francisco, has been a member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto, and earned her MFA in fiction writing from St. Mary’s College of California. She lives in Berkeley, CA, where she works as a writing teacher and coach. Author photo by Maya Blum Photography.

Marcus Banks is a health journalist who covers developments in cancer treatments for various outlets. Once he was a librarian, but got tired of people thinking that means he just read all day (although that would have been nice). He's also Allison Landa's good friend. They first met in 2007, as a part of a book club that gathered in Elmwood’s now defunct Espresso Roma, just as Bearded Lady was taking shape. They have stayed in touch through several cross country moves, and it's Marcus's delight to be in conversation with Allison as part of the book launch. Author photo by Pi Wen Looi.

Please note:

• Safety: ID and proof of full vaccination, including booster, will be required at the door. Masks will be required throughout the duration of the event, capacity will be limited to allow indoor distancing, and we'll have extra ventilation in place. 
• Because we’re limiting capacity, we can't guarantee we'll have space for walk-ins. The best way to ensure you’ll get a seat is to order the Book + Seat ticket through this link; you can also RSVP for a free seat right here while supplies last.
• We are happy to offer *signed copies* of Bearded Lady: order a Book + Seat ticket bundle if you'd like to pick up a signed copy at the event, or order here if you just want a signed copy.
• If we feel it is not safe to gather, as the event gets closer, we will pivot to a virtual event and your registration will remain valid.
• Questions? Write [email protected].