Nice Places

Oakland authors Vincent Chu and Tomas Moniz discuss Vincent's debut novel, Nice Places.

When Georgie quits his job at Oats Technologies to travel the world for one year, he hopes to escape the daily existential discomfort of corporate life. But after a meditation guru robs him on his way to the airport, he awakens in a guest house in the rundown yet vibrant Panhandle neighborhood of San Francisco. Alone with his phone and a desperate urge to assure his friends and family all is well, Georgie shares a photo of “authentic” boat noodles. To his surprise, everyone loves the post and believes he is overseas. Ant, a mixed media artist from Berlin, proposes a collaboration. With her vision and the help of a charming cast of guests and locals, Georgie’s unlikely adventures unravel in ways he never imagined.

In conversation with Oakland author Tomas Moniz, Vincent will discuss the promise of nice places, daily existential discomfort, and the simultaneous life-affirming and absurd qualities of travel. If you've ever had a trip go wrong, questioned your motives for wanting to get away, or wished to lead a more meaningful life but did not know where to start—this night is for you.

Vincent Chu is the author of Nice Places (Forest Avenue Press, 2026) and the story collection Like a Champion (7.13 Books, 2018). His fiction has appeared in Muumuu House, Still Magazine, Pithead Chapel, and elsewhere. Vincent is a Hambidge Fellow, former Headlands Center for the Arts Affiliate Artist, and Pushcart Prize nominee. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from UCLA.

Tomas Moniz is a latinx writer living in East Oakland, CA. His debut novel, Big Familia, was a finalist for the 2020 PEN/ Hemingway and the LAMBDA. His second novel, All Friends Are Necessary, won the 2024 California Golden Poppy Award. His new novel, The King of Aloe Vera, will be published on September 29th, 2026 from Algonquin Books. He edited the popular Rad Dad and Rad Families anthologies, and he teaches at Berkeley City College, the Antioch MFA, and St Mary's College USF.

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