Book talks at smaller SF venues tend to run tight — an hour of conversation, fifteen minutes of Q&A, then a signing line that can stretch longer than expected if the turnout is good. Burke's appearance is the kind of mid-sized literary event that draws a real crowd without the chaos of a major bookstore launch, which usually means you can actually get a word in during the signing.

Practical note: if the venue is in the Mission or Castro corridor, street parking on a weekend is a known slog — BART to 16th Street Mission or Castro Station cuts that problem entirely. Bring cash if there's a book purchase table; smaller venues don't always run card readers smoothly at the merch table.

If you've got two hours: arrive five minutes early to grab a seat toward the middle — close enough to hear the reading clearly, far enough back to slip into the signing line without being last.