Tomas Moniz to discuss 'All Friends Are Necessary' at Bookworks

AT BOOKWORKS

Tomas Moniz will talk about his new novel “All Friends Are Necessary” at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at Bookworks.

“Basically, it’s about how we create community. And more often it includes chosen family,” Moniz said in a phone interview.

The novel is also about friendships that start out romantically and transform to platonically, and vice versa.

Tomas Moniz to discuss 'All Friends Are Necessary' at Bookworks

“I call it a joyful book about grief and how we heal,” Moniz said.

The protagonist, Efren “Chino” Flores, suffers a traumatic loss. He returns to his hometown and receives help from friends. Then he offers them the kind of help they might need when they go through their loss, Moniz explained.

“I wanted the book to show how joy is important in building friendship and community amid the darkness. … The grief never does go away. You just learn to carry it differently.”

Moniz, who lives in Oakland, California, will be in conversation with Daniel Mueller, who teaches creative writing at the University of New Mexico. Part of Moniz’s reason for doing an Albuquerque book event is that it will allow him time to visit family in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Bookworks is located at 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW.

AT BOOKS ON THE BOSQUE

Writer-musician Daryl Gussin and poet James Norman will read from their writings and talk about zines at 6 p.m. Friday, July 26 at Books on the Bosque.

The next day at the bookstore — at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 27 — three authors will talk about their writing. They are Samantha Tetangco, Cynthia Sylvester and Dawn Sperber. They are members of the Plume Writing Community, a local group that is part of a national community.

Books on the Bosque is located at 6261 Riverside Plaza Lane NW.

AT TREASURE HOUSE BOOKS & GIFTS

RJ The Story Guy (aka RJ Mirabal) will sign copies of his new book “Dragon Train Quest” from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at Treasure House Books & Gifts. The book is the third and final novel in the author’s Young Adult fantasy series titled “Dragon Train War.”

Treasure House is at 2012 South Plaza St. NW, in Old Town.

IN TAOS

SOMOS Salon is hosting two literary events this week.

Environmental historian Peter Alagona will give a talk on “The Past and Future of the California Grizzly Bear” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25.

Carrie Nassif, Robyn Hunt and Alicia Elkort will read their poetry at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27.

The salon is located at 108 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos.

Compiled by David Steinberg/ For the Journal