THURSDAY 5/2


ELIZABETH LOWELL

Lowell reads from Running Scared, a novel that is set in Las Vegas and filled to the brim with frothing passion and bubbling intrigue. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.


* JANE DeLYNN and ANNA BERGMAN

New York-based DeLynn reads from her new book, Leash. DeLynn is also the author of Don Juan in the Village, and has written for big-time periodicals. She will be joined by a certain Bergman. Wildrose, 1021 Pike St, 271-5437, 8 pm, free.


TORY DENT, MARTIN FARAWELL, JOHN KISTNE, CASEY BUSH, JOANN FARIAS, CLOUD SPARROW

All of these poets are well noted and, if you don't know who they are, worth discovering. A panel on "Poetry in the Midst of Crisis" will precede the event at 5:30 pm. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 8 pm, $7.


AMY LUELLA BRITSAS

Britsas will read from her first book, Alpha Beta Hill, in an ambient style, with a slide show. Uncommon Grounds, 6508 Roosevelt Way, 527-1128, 8 pm, free.


* DAVID SHIELDS

Shields will read and sign his latest book, Enough About You, which is about David Shields. Here is a sentence from this delightful book: "I found out today that the man I rent a room from goes to Thailand twice a year and sleeps with Thai prostitutes." University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free. Shields also reads Tues May 7 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free; and Wed May 8 at Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.


MARY LOU SANELLI

Sanelli reads from her new collection, Women in the Garden, a collection of poems about women she has encountered in metaphorical gardens or, better yet, meet-her-for-a-book gardens. UW Cunningham Hall Gallery, UW Campus, 685-1090, 3:30 pm, free.


FRIDAY 5/3


* JESSICA HAGADORN, TESS GALLAGHER, PAUL HARDING, MICHAEL HALL, TEEN EMERGING VOICES

With the exception of the emerging voices, all of these poets are well noted and, if you don't know who they are, worth discovering. A panel on "Pushing the Boundaries" will precede the event at 5:30 pm. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 8 pm, $10.


JEAN ROUAUD

French novelist Rouaud will share his French thoughts about the influence of French memories in his French writing. Alliance Française de Seattle, 4649 Sunnyside Ave, suite 205, 632-5433, 7 pm, $20.


STUART WOODS

Woods signs and reads The Short Forever, the latest Stone Barrington mystery, in which he looks into a deadly and puzzling rivalry between two American spies. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry, 587-5737, 1 pm, free.


JANE ALEXANDER

Stage and screen performing artist Alexander makes a midday appearance at Elliott Bay. She is in Seattle to play the lead role in A Contemporary Theatre's production of Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, noon, free.


ASPECTS OF UN BALLO IN MASCHERA

Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins and Education Director Perry Lorenzo discuss the final production in the Opera's 2001-02 season, Giuseppe Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, $5.


SATURDAY 5/4


SEKOU SUNDIATA, FRAN CASTAN, WILLIE SMITH, RICH FORSTER, KAREN FINNEYFROCK

All of these poets are well noted and, if you don't know who they are, worth discovering. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7 pm, $10.


ALFREDO ARREGUĂŤN and LAURO FLORES

Flores, a UW professor of Spanish, Portuguese, and American ethnic studies, and artist ArreguĂ­n show slides, talk about, and sign Alfredo ArreguĂ­n: Patterns of Dreams and Nature. Henry Art Gallery Auditorium, UW Campus, call University Bookstore, 634-3400, for details, 2 pm, free with admission.


* SEATTLE POETRY SLAM: GRAND SLAM FINALS

And the Grand Slam finalists are: Roberto Ascalon, Tara Hardy, Ayinde Howell, Coy King, Mikhael Moore, Nathan Ramos, Jeremy Richards, and Morriss Stegosaurus. Four of these poets will win the honor of representing Seattle at the National Poetry Slam finals in Minneapolis this summer. (Charles Mudede has nothing against slam poetry!) Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 443-1744, 8:30 pm, $12.


STEVEN J. RUSSELL

Seattle's Russell is here to sign and read Kalakala: Magnificent Vision Recaptured, an illustrated volume which chronicles the story of the local Art Deco ferry Kalakala. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.


JESSICA HAGEDORN

Poet, novelist, and performance artist Hagedorn reads from a book of poems called Danger and Beauty. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.


JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER

Foer's debut novel, Everything is Illuminated, is said to be deeply funny. Francine Prose writes: "It's hard to get through the first chapters of Everything is Illuminated. The problem is, you keep laughing out loud, losing your place, starting again, then stopping because you're tempted to call your friends." Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


SARA HALL

Sara Hall, the 1998 World Masters Champion in Women's Single Shell Racing, reads from her memoir, Drawn to the Rhythm. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 5 pm, free. Hall also reads Sun May 5 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.


SUNDAY 5/5


SARAH JONES, STEVE COLMAN, CR AVERY, PAT PAYNE, JAMES WHETZEL

All of these poets are well noted and, if you don't know who they are, worth discovering. Moore Theatre, 443-1744, 7:30 pm, $14.


RANDY HORN

Horn reads and signs Zobmondo!! The Outrageous Book of Bizarre Choices. It has to do with some kind of college game. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.


DEBORAH BERGER and FRIENDS

Seattle writer Berger has collected a variety of letters written by daughters to their mothers in Dear Mom: Letters of Loss and Longing. What kinds of things do daughters say to their moms? The mother/daughter thing is such a mystery to me. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 1 pm, free.


MONDAY 5/6


DENNIS SMITH

Firefighter and writer Smith tells it like it is in Report from Ground Zero: The Story of the Rescue Efforts at the World Trade Center. Proceeds from the sale of this book will not go into Smith's pocket, but will be contributed to the Foundation for American Firefighters. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.


* CARYL PHILLIPS

The wonderful Phillips (who was born in St. Kitts, raised and educated in Britain, and presently lives in New York) is here to read and sign his new book of essays, A New World Order. Absolutely do not miss this reading. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


CLARA OLNIK KELLY

Kelly writes, "It is a well-known fact that war, any war, is senseless and denigrating. When innocent people are brought into that war because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, it becomes incomprehensible." Excellent point, Kelly! Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.


TUESDAY 5/7


KEVIN O'BRIEN

This local author reads from and signs Make Them Cry, his second paperback original thriller. A killer is stalking Seattle's streets, collecting bones to make a monument to madness. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 587-5737, noon, free.


WEDNESDAY 5/8


* JANE DeLYNN

DeLynn will read from her newest book, Leash, a story of a moderately wealthy, terminally hip New York female "of a certain age" seeking adventure in the sedate dyke bars of lower Manhattan. Rebecca Brown is a fan of her work. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.


CANDACE ROBB

Local author Robb reads from and signs the U.S. edition of A Spy for the Redeemer, her latest medieval mystery with Owen Archer. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 587-5737, noon, free.


RICK BASS

Bass reads from his latest collection, The Hermit's Story, which has to do with nature and that kind of thing. Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 587-2447, 7:30 pm, free.


* HENRY LOUIS GATES JR.

See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free, ticket required.