Latest News and Events

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Thank you to Undergound Books for hosting the grand finale event of the "Written on the Wall" book launch.

With cozy seating and ambiance in this beautiful bookstore, attendees listened to the presentation, followed by a reading, Q & A session, and book signing.  

There was plenty of time to mingle in the store following the official activities of the event, and people stayed well into the second hour to talk all things books and creativity.

With a stop next door at my favorite coffee shop, Old Soul, it was the perfect way to wrap the book launch series.

My heart is full of gratitude to everyone who came out to a book event in support of this book release.  Your presence has meant the world to me.

Imagine... the quaint, pine-tree rimmed town of Tahoe City, a jewel that rests water-adjacent to the famous alpine lake.  Crisp, autumn air refreshes each inhale, and the people are just as endearing as the setting.

Authors, speakers, and written-word creatives traveled from across the country to participate in the Tahoe Literary Festival, a vibrant event that took place over the span of two days.

As a Selected Reader, I had the privilege of speaking about my writing and then sharing an excerpt of "Written on the Wall."  The feedback I received afterwards was so incredibly heartwarming-- comments ranging from the emotional impact of my writing, to the poise and grace I commanded while reading.

After a weekend of literary workshops and presentations with fellow writers and creatives, and a closing book fair where we could set up camp and offer our books for sale, I was ready to drive back down the mountain, processing this truly fulfilling festival experience.

It was an honor to meet so many incredible authors, and I look forward to supporting their work out in the world.

My first author reading in Sacramento was a smash!  Friends, newly made friends, and family gathered at my local Land Park bookstore to hear the inspiration and backstory for "Written on the Wall" and a reading of the opening chapter.

A delightful highlight was an attendee who'd pre-read the book and showed up with his book tagged with at least thirty different sticky tabs.  If this was any indication of the Q & A session, it was accordingly inspired.  It was an absolute joy to answer the many wonderful questions this incredible audience brought to the occasion.

A book-signing and social hour followed, and I was glowing for days after, remembering, with gratitude, the honor I felt to present my work to my nearest and dearest.

Thank you to everyone who attended this long-awaited event.  I'm so grateful for you!

A wonderful and inspiring evening at Bookshop West Portal.

Matthew Clark Davison moderated our panel of local authors, including Ben C. Davis and John Doll.  

Matthew's charisma and creativity sparked an imaginative and interactive conversation, and audience members from the full house brought such thought-provoking questions.  It was an honor to share the stage with Ben and John, and we are grateful to Bookshop West Portal for hosting us.

What a magical night in the City!

I'm feeling so fancy being in my local newspaper!

Check it out:

Land Park News

August 22, 2025 edition

Page 4

Join me at a book event on 9/11, 9/14, or 10/19!

Boycotting Amazon and the big bullies?  Power to the people—buy local!!  Sacramento and Bay Area friends, here’s where to find “Written on the Wall” near you.

SACRAMENTO

Underground Books

Available in-store now @ 2814 35th Street, Sacramento, CA 

or by order online: https://shop.underground-books.com/search/site/written%20on%20the%20wall

Avid Reader at Broadway

Available in-store after 9/14 @ 1945 Broadway, Sacramento, CA

or by phone order: (916) 441-4400

A Seat at the Table

Available in-store now @  9257 Laguna Springs Dr #130, Elk Grove, CA

SAN FRANCISCO

Book Passage SF Ferry Building

Autographed copies available in-store @ 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

or by phone order: (415) 927-0960

Bookshop West Portal

Available in-store after 8/20 @  80 West Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 

Thank you for supporting local independent booksellers!

Join me for a book launch event this fall to celebrate the publication of my novel “Written on the Wall.”

The first session at Crawford’s is a super casual open-house for a couple hours during their monthly first-Saturday sale.  I’ll just be hanging out at a table, chatting with anyone who stops by.

The following three events, at Book Passage (August), Avid Reader (September), and Underground Books (October), will be more structured, traditional author events beginning at the listed start-times.  I’ll speak a bit about the book, read some opening chapters, hold a Q & A, and sign books—copies will be available for purchase in-store at any of these events, or you can bring your own.

CRAWFORD’S BOOKS

Open House Chat w/ Author

Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 11am-1pm

5301 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 

https://crawfordbooks.net/

Stop by and say hello!

Copies for sale during event.

BOOK PASSAGE AT SF FERRY BUILDING

Author Reading & Book Signing

Sunday, August 3, 2025 at 2pm

One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

https://www.bookpassage.com/event/marisa-atha-written-wall-ferry-building-store

Spend a fun day in the city, with a stop at the Ferry Building…

Book Passage is stocking autographed copies of the book.

THE AVID READER AT BROADWAY STATION

Author Reading & Book Signing

Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 2pm

1945 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 

https://www.avidreaderbroadway.com/events

My neighborhood bookstore—support small, local business!

Avid Reader will be stocking this book prior to the event.

UNDERGROUND BOOKS

Author Reading & Book Signing

Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 1pm

2814 35thStreet, Sacramento, CA 

https://www.sthope.org/community-event/author-talk-book-signing-featuring-marisa-atha

Underground Books has kindly stocked my book, so please support this local, Black-owned, women-led, bookstore by purchasing your copy in-store or via the website!  (And then grab a cup of coffee around the corner at my favorite coffee shop, Old Soul…)

Thank you for your support, friends!

A note to the reader… 

“YOU wrote this??” People are going to ask me.  

Most know me as the encouraging voice teacher, chill yogi, or helpful mother, and I often publish articles and blog posts that reflect these aspects of my identity—essays about singing, wellness, creativity, etc.  “Written on the Wall,” is not these things, and content warning: it’s not always an easy read.  My mom told me that she bought a copy, and I warned her that it’s a bit spicy for her taste, so she’d better buckle up!

The characters swear, drink, make outlandish and hurtful choices that wound those around them.  These are imperfect, flawed, youngish adults who sometimes think bad thoughts, say bad words, and make bad choices. In other words, they are humans who have hard lessons to learn… and the “badness” is actually a lens to the brokenness.

Their harsh words come from ignorance, fear, and misinformation, and destructive behaviors from immaturity, mental health disorder, and addiction. They do and say things that are so cringe-inducing because these are challenging, but redeemable, people who need to learn the hardest of lessons.

This book is not an autobiography, and the characters are fictional.  They are imagined counterpoints to my experience walking in the world; their lessons are created and filtered through me.  Topics of fertility, neurodiversity and ableism, addiction and mental health are touched on—some of the characters learn what they need, and some are just starting at the trailhead of their journey.

I hope you come to care about these beautiful, flawed people as much as I do.

You can find “Written on the Wall” for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Pegasus Publishers, and more.

Thank you for your support—please spread the words to any friends and family who might enjoy reading!

Getting closer to the finish line... latest from my publisher as of March 2025:

"Now that we have both your cover certificate and final proof certificate you can now be added to the queue to enter the final stage.

No more changes can be made now that your cover blurb has been confirmed.

The final stage is where the correct information is added to the barcode box and cover blurb. Your cover and manuscript will then be checked in house and prepared for printing. You will then be passed on to the publicity team who will put together your publicity material and gather contacts to promote and sell your book.

They will then contact you when they have a provisional publication date set. 

It has been lovely working with you and I wish you well with your book."

Stay tuned for more updates as they come!...

Thank you to NATS Inter Nos Independent Voices editor Cynthia Vaughn for publishing my article, "Empathetic Connection in the Voice Studio."

"It takes a special person to be a voice teacher — someone who is gifted musically and knows how to teach, but also someone who can attune to each student, shifting oneself slightly to accommodate the other’s personhood, someone with emotional intelligence who can register the subtleties of a student..."

Read full article here: https://www.nats.org/_Library/Independent_Voices_Articles/Empathetic_Connection_in_the_Voice_Studio.pdf