“With the tinkle of glasses and murmur of conversation a comforting backdrop all around them, Jane raised her Manhattan in a toast to Sandy, her publisher and friend.”

You’re invited to a book launch party (August 19, 5:30-8:30 pm PST) at my favorite Sacramento restaurant, Magpie Cafe, which the LA Times recently named as one of the best 101 restaurants in California. Owners Janel Inouye and Ed Rohr are long-time friends and great supporters of local farmers, chefs and makers, especially through Slow Food Sacramento. Magpie has always been my go-to comfort food in town.

At this dinner, I get to have a brief conversation with a writer whose work I’ve always followed, because she’s smart, perceptive and, yes, funny—Carla Meyer. She currently writes movie reviews for the San Francisco Chronicle (the real life place inspiring the fictional San Francisco Prospect). Previously, she wrote both restaurant and movie reviews for the Sacramento Bee. But maybe most important to me, Carla worked for the Bakersfield Californian, in my hometown. Our fathers played football together in high school. Carla and I share a little chip on our shoulder when people are snotty about less-chic locales. (A trait my character Jane Benjamin obviously shares.)

The really special bit? Magpie is serving up food that appears in An Unlikely Prospect—especially at John’s Grill, where the last scene in the novel takes place. Everything from blinis with caviar to hang town fry.

If you’d like to join us, please do these two things:

The official part of the program will end at 7:30, but you’re welcome to linger and visit and eat and drink until 8:30.

I’m really looking forward to seeing you there.