Desert General designs and produces cultural events that spotlight California’s rich social, literary, and countercultural history, with a particular focus on how Twentynine Palms has contributed to that legacy.

EVENTS

MONTHLY READINGS

Held once a month at Desert General's location in Twentynine Palms' Tin Town the Desert General Readings is an intimate literary series dedicated to lifelong learning and local voices. The program features a mix of emerging and established authors and artists—many of them living in or writing about the Mojave Desert. Past guests include Deanne Stillman, Daniel Pyne, Cary Baker, Laila Lalami, and Jardine Libaire.

Saturday, 17 January

Conversation between

Lisa Alvarez and Ruth Nolan


Saturday, 14 February

Robert Landau

— presentation on the making of his newest book,

Art Deco


Saturday, 14 March

One-on-one conversation between

Josh Jackson and Alicia Pike


Saturday, 11 April

Conversation between

Stephanie Theobald and Rachel Resnick

on Stephanie’s new book,

Sex Drive


THE DENIM DAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2026

Denim Day is a one-day cultural program dedicated to understanding the history of jeans and the role California’s counterculture played in transforming a utilitarian garment into a global symbol of rebellion, identity, and self-expression. Designed as a sequence of four concise talks and discussions, the program offers a clear, accessible overview of denim’s evolution—from Western workwear to countercultural icon—situated within California’s frontier and creative history.


DESERT NOIR

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026

Desert Noir is a curated mini-market created for screenwriters, producers, directors, and financiers seeking high-impact, cost-efficient noir fiction and nonfiction projects suited for feature films and documentaries. The program focuses on stories rooted in the American desert and the broader Southwest, emphasizing strong literary foundations, cinematic settings, and realistic production pathways.


Desert General is the organizer of the Twentynine Palms Book Festival

October 23–25, 2026

The Twentynine Palms Book Festival invites readers, authors, publishers, and entertainment executives to discover fresh voices and original stories in one of California’s most unexpected literary destinations. Held during one of the desert’s most beautiful seasons—clear skies, warm days, cool evenings—the festival transforms the town into a walkable, multi-venue cultural experience. Programming includes author talks, readings, panels, workshops, and professional networking, with a growing emphasis on stories suited for film, television, and documentary adaptation.


For more information, contact Patick Zuchowicki Jucaud pz@thedesertgeneralstore.com


Learn more about the 2026 program.


Book Release Party

Author, screenwriter Daniel Pyne & Author, publisher Brian Townsley