Writers Bloc Presents Jacob Soboroff and Mariana van Zeller

In Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster, Soboroff explores the disaster that shook the region.No one in Southern California will ever forget the wildfires that struck the region beginning on January 7, 2025.Residents of the Santa Monica Mountains communities, Malibu and the Pacific Palisades are no strangers to wildfires; they’ve endured fires almost every year. But the fires that lit up the skies on January 7 took our collective breath away, along with thousands of homes, billions of dollars worth of property, and many lives.Award-winning MS NOW journalist Jacob Soboroff covered the Eaton and Palisades fires from his deeply personal and moving perspective: he grew up in the beautiful Palisades neighborhood that blew up in flames.In his new book, Firestorm:The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster, Soboroff explores the disaster that shook the very core of the region. He interviews fire experts, climate experts, law enforcement, electeds, and others to try to get to the bottom of how these fires could explode into such a massive and destructive cataclysm. Soboroff is the author of the bestselling and multi-award winning book, Separated. He brings to Firestorm heartstopping drama of the tragedy that changed the face of Los Angeles.Joining Jacob will be award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller, whom Jacob describes as one of the most “badass journalists” he knows. She’s won countless Emmy wins and nominations for her National Geographic show, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller. Twenty-nine Emmy nominations in 2025 alone. Twenty-one in 2024, winning 10 in these past two years. Trafficked deals with the complex and terrifying world of global black markets and trafficking networks. She also has a Dupont, a Peabody, and other distinguished awards. Limited parking onsite. We recommend rideshares and carpooling. Please allow time to find parking.Did you know that you can make a fully tax-deductible donation?As a nonprofit organization, Writers Bloc Presents relies on support from people like you. Help us to remain a strong community as we continue to celebrate literature by authors we love, and explore critical contemporary issues. Please donate here.No refunds or exchanges on tickets or books. Books must be picked up on the night of the program. Tickets are strictly non-transferable; do not buy tickets from any resale sites or external vendors.