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BookPeople Presents: An Evening with Cartoonist Zach Weinersmith

4.8

Details

Get ready for a delightfully nerdy night of cartoons, comedy, and reluctant adventure at BookPeople Presents: An Evening with Cartoonist Zach Weinersmith on June 29, 2026 at 6:00 pm.

This free, public event celebrates Zach’s new cartoon-illustrated middle grade novel, Sawyer Lee and the Quest to Just Stay Home—a story for every kid (and adult) who has ever wanted nothing more than to stay on the couch and avoid all quests, adventures, and other suspiciously energetic activities.

You’ll hear Zach talk about creating a hero whose greatest ambition is to maintain maximum coziness, and how that clashes with a town full of overachievers obsessed with winning the grand prize at the annual gourd festival. Expect sharp humor, quirky worldbuilding, and lots of behind-the-scenes insight into how this novel blends traditional storytelling with hundreds of cartoons.

After the talk and Q&A, there will be a signing line, giving fans a chance to get books signed, chat briefly, and maybe swap gourd-related theories or SMBC deep cuts. It’s a perfect outing for:

Fans of the webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Readers who loved Bea Wolf, Soonish, or A City on Mars
Parents and kids looking for a funny, smart middle grade read
Anyone who appreciates science-y humor, absurdity, and cartoon art

About the book

Eleven-year-old Sawyer Lee comes from a long line of doers—astronauts, scientists, secret agents, and champions of nearly everything. Sawyer, however, would prefer to emulate a very tired barnacle. His dream life is simple: hang out on his best friend Gary’s couch with a cozy blanket, chamomile tea, and absolutely no plans.

Unfortunately, the town of Ovelaville has other ideas. As the locals ramp up their schemes to dominate the annual gourd festival—nature’s tribute to the world’s dullest vegetable—Sawyer is unwillingly dragged into a whirlwind of friendship, betrayal, mystery, and excessive gardening enthusiasm. To escape back to the couch, he has to expend a horrifying amount of effort, solving problems he never asked for and discovering that sometimes staying home isn’t as simple as it sounds.

About Zach Weinersmith

Hugo Award–winning, Eisner-nominated creator of the graphic novel Bea Wolf
Cartoonist behind the long-running webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Co-author of the New York Times–bestselling science books Soonish and A City on Mars
Illustrator of the bestselling graphic nonfiction book Open Borders
Former third-place finisher in the 1989 junior seed-spitting competition of the Luling Watermelon Thump

He currently lives in Virginia with his family and a small farm’s worth of animals, which frequently inspire his mix of absurd and oddly practical humor.

Why go?

Enjoy a lively author talk packed with jokes, comics, and creative process stories
Discover a new middle grade novel that’s perfect for reluctant readers and comedy fans
Support a beloved independent bookstore by picking up a copy on-site
Meet fellow fans of SMBC, comics, sci-fi, and offbeat children’s literature

By buying the book at the event, you help ensure that publishers keep sending imaginative, hilarious creators like Zach Weinersmith to BookPeople—fueling more author nights, more weird and wonderful stories, and more chances to turn a regular Monday into something memorable.

Come for the cartoons, stay for the gourds, and maybe even let yourself be dragged—just a little—off the couch and into an adventure.

Venue Details

BookPeople is the kind of bookstore that reminds you why printed pages still feel a little bit like magic. Nestled along North Lamar, this beloved Austin landmark has been championing stories, ideas, and community conversations since 1970.

A literary playground for every reader
Inside, you’ll find towering shelves packed with everything from buzzy new releases and indie darlings to poetry, graphic novels, and staff-favorite hidden gems. Carefully curated sections make it easy to wander from genre to genre, discovering something unexpected each time.
Texas’ largest independent bookstore
As the largest indie bookstore in the state, BookPeople feels both expansive and cozy. There are quiet corners to linger in, long tables of staff picks covered in handwritten notes, and displays that celebrate local authors, banned books awareness, and thought-provoking nonfiction.
Author events that feel like hangouts
BookPeople is famous for its author events, drawing big-name writers, rising voices, and genre stars. Readings, signings, and lively Q&A sessions turn the store into an energetic gathering space where you can meet your literary heroes or discover a new favorite author up close.
A community hub with character
More than a shop, BookPeople functions as a cultural heartbeat for local book lovers. It hosts book clubs, kids’ storytimes, and themed events that bring together readers of all ages. The staff’s enthusiasm for matching people with the perfect book is contagious, and their recommendations often become lifelong favorites.
Gifts, goodies, and more than just books
Beyond the stacks, you’ll find clever gifts, stationery, puzzles, and bookish merch that make it easy to walk in for “just one book” and leave with an armful of treasures. Everything feels curated with a sense of humor and a love for storytelling.
A cozy spot to linger with a drink
A visit often includes grabbing a drink or snack and settling in with a new find. The store is designed for lingering, browsing, and people-watching, making it just as much a place to spend an afternoon as it is a place to shop.
Rooted in free expression
Inspired in part by the spirit of Ray Bradbury’s work, BookPeople stands firmly for intellectual freedom and equal access to books. Its displays and programming often highlight the importance of uncensored reading and diverse voices, reinforcing its role as a defender of stories and ideas.

Whether you are hunting for your next obsession, attending a reading, or simply wandering the aisles to clear your head, BookPeople offers that classic, time-stopping bookstore experience. It is a place where conversations start in line, where staff hand you a book “you just have to read,” and where the joy of reading is always front and center.