THURSDAY 7/19


JAMES WOLCOTT

Vanity Fair gossip magnate James Wolcott's novel, The Catsitters, has been getting mixed reviews--but reviewers do tend to pussyfoot around when it comes criticizing the sharp-tongued Wolcott. One review I read wistfully wondered why Wolcott didn't apply his well-known wit to his endeavors in fiction. Walker Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, free.


KATIE SCHNEIDER

All We Know of Love debuts Schneider with a flurry of supernatural elements, including the main character's vision of the Virgin Mary. Schneider is from Oregon, and the novel is set in the Northwest. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free (advance tickets).


* JIMMY SANTIAGO BACA

Imprisoned at the age of 18, Jimmy Santiago Baca taught himself how to read, and his first poem came to him while in a prison shower (there's a persistent muse). Over the years, his poetry has really busted out, inspiring many. Tonight, he reads from a memoir about his hard-won literary life, titled A Place To Stand. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


* TESS GALLAGHER

Fourth in a series of speakers discussing Northwest history and literature, poet Gallagher will read from her own recent work, and from that of her late husband, Raymond Carver. Savery Hall 239, UW Campus, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.


FRIDAY 7/20


TODD BALF

The Last River: The Tragic Race for Shangri-La is Balf's white-knuckled whitewater kayaking river adventure. Walker Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, free.


TERRY RYAN

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less is a memoir commemorating the days when one could make a few bucks by coming up with slogans such as "The Readings Calendar is Nice, The Readings Calendar is Great; Go to a Reading, You May Even Find a Date." Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


SATURDAY 7/21


SKYE KATHLEEN MOODY

Seattle's Skye Moody presents the latest adventures of Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Venus Diamond, in K Falls: A Pacific Northwest Mystery. Elliott Bay Books, 4:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


* FELICE PICANO

Reads from Onyx. See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


SUNDAY 7/22

There is nothing happening today.


MONDAY 7/23


MAKARAND PARANJAPE

Respected poet, novelist, critic, editor, and columnist, Paranjape chooses tonight to read from his poetry, published in the books The Serene Flame and Playing the Dark God. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


* ROBERT CLARK

Don't be swayed by the banal title of Clark's novel, Love Among the Ruins--it is, according to some very fine critics, actually a complex and beautifully written love story centered around the political turmoil of the summer of '68. Also, Clark, who lives in Seattle, is the author of Mr. White's Confession, which even a Stranger reviewer admired! Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park Town Center, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.


TUESDAY 7/24


MICAELA GILCHRIST

The 19th-century western frontier is the setting for Gilchrist's historical novel, The Good Journey, in which the main character is based on Clark (of Lewis and Clark)'s niece. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


JACK WOMACK

Clarion West presents satire in the form of Jack Womack, whose sci-fi novel, Going, Going, Gone, is set in an alternate-near future New York. Rated Cool for mutants and hipster language. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


* SUSANNE ANTONETTA

Michael Pollan writes about Antonetta's harrowing story of growing up amidst chemicals, Body Toxic: An Environmental Memoir: "before long the sheer force of the writing makes the reader accept the agency of her migrating molecules." Antonetta is a very fine poet, from Bellingham. Third Place Books, 7 pm, free.


KAREN CONNELLY

Poet and activist Connelly reads from her book, The Border Surrounds Us--which questions "physical and mental borders that simultaneously separate us from and engage us with the 'other.'" Co-sponsored by Global Source Education. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.


WEDNESDAY 7/25


BARBARA NEELY

Neely's housecleaning sleuth, Ms. Blanche White, lives up to her name in this latest harrowing adventure, Blanche Passes Go. Elliott Bay Books, 7 pm, free (advance tickets).


MATTHEW IRIBARNE

Iribarne's award-winning debut collection, Astronauts & Other Stories, adheres closely to the form's gestational traditions: childhood and family, violence and loss, passion and humor. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free (advance tickets).


POETRY/SPOKEN WORD OPEN MICS

For more open mics, see http://zerocard.org/poetry, Chris Blakeley's Seattle Open Mic website.

CATHARTICISM--Wed at 9. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, free.

EAST INDIA TRADING COMPANY--Mon at 7. Coffee Messiah, free.

HOMELAND--Tues at 8. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 324-8815, donation.

POETRY RELEASE--Sun at 6. Contour, 807 First Ave, 447-7704, free.

POETS WEST--Sun June 24, 7 pm. With featured poets Martin Blackman, Alan Braden, Michael Magee, Jean Musser, Connie Walle, then open mic. Wit's End Bookstore & Tea Shop, 770 N 34th St, 682-1268, free.

REBIRTH--Thurs at 7. Zodiac Coffee, 607 Broadway E, 720-4502, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Wed at 8 (21+). Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $3.

STAGE FRIGHT--Every second and fourth Wed at 7; writers ages 14-24 only. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, free.