
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.





