* E. LYNN HARRIS
I believe E. Lynn Harris may just have the honorable distinction of being the first New York Times best-selling author to officially commit the term "bling-bling" to page in his latest romance novel, A Love of My Own. Beloved by both gays and sisters, Harris' massive success reminds us why America is a strange and wonderful place. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
GINA OCHSNER
Award-winning Oregonian Ochsner presents her premiere collection, a celebrated assortment of folk- and myth-inspired tales entitled Necessary Grace to Fall. Eagle Harbor Book Company, 157 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, 842-5332, 7:30 pm, free. Also Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, Aug 17 at 7:30 pm, free.
RICHARD BACH
Jonathan Livingston Seagull author discusses Ferret Chronicles, his newest allegorical account about rodents. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.
MARK SPRAGG
Bound with leather-skinned prose, Spragg's debut novel, The Fruit of Stone, tells the story of a country love triangle in modern-day Wyoming. Real men read Western romance novels. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* HAL FOSTER
See Stranger Suggests. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.
CATHERINE RYAN HYDE
Schmaltz queen Catherine Ryan Hyde returns with another heartwarming affair sure to mend your wary worldview. The Pay It Forward (Remember? Closet case with prosthetic face side-by-side with "I see dead people"?) author turns a few more stomachs with Walter's Purple Heart, the story of a World War II ghost and the loved ones he scares the shit out of. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, noon, free.
JEFF WALLACH
Explore the "unmanicured terrain" of wearing funny pants and hitting a tiny ball with a stick in Wallach's Driven to Extremes, his no-doubt riveting account of what he affectionately calls "extreme" (sweet!) golf. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.
JAN TISSOT
A Seattle University law student enters the electrifying sphere of Hawaiian land-use disputes in Tissot's stirring new novel, Keiki. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
ADAM DAVIES
In The Frog King, former Random House editorial assistant Adam Davies tells the story of an Ivy League-educated (surprise!) editorial assistant working in the ruthless depths of a large New York publishing company. Pardon my clairvoyance, but I've got an itch that tells me our Frog King might be inordinately witty and terribly misunderstood. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
BHARTI KIRCHNER
A featured author at this year's University of Washington Summer Arts Fest, Kirchner reads from Darjeeling, his cross-Atlantic account of the sibling rivalry between two Indian sisters. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
JOY FIELDING
Fear and paranoia consume an unsuspecting landlady in Whispers and Lies, the latest by the best-selling author of Grand Avenue and The First Time. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
MARY MORGAN
Mystery is afoot in the waters of the Puget Sound as Seattle-based limey author Mary Morgan signs Deeper Waters, her sophomore effort and follow-up to 1997's Willful Neglect. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SARA DONATI
With the most recent addition to the Last of the Mohicans trilogy, Sara Donati follows the continuing adventures of the Bonner family as they battle prejudice, disease, and many other clichés of historical fiction in 18th-century New York state. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
JOANNIE KERVRAN STANGELAND & DAVID D. HOROWITZ
From the roster of Seattle's own Rose Alley Press come two local poets with their respective collections in tow. Stangeland reads from Weathered Steps, Horowitz from Resin from the Rain. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
CATHARTICISM--Poetry, music, performance, and chaos, with host Ricky Rebel. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, free.
JET CITY POETRY SLAM--New venue combining poetry, performance, and the cruel dynamics of reality TV. Tuesdays at 8 pm. Central Saloon, 207 First Ave S, 427-2300, $3.
MIDNIGHT CABARET--Stories, song, and performance with host Sylvia O'Stayformore. Saturdays at midnight. Coffee Messiah, 861-8233, free.
MULTI-MEDIA OPEN MIC--Sat Aug 17 at 9 pm. Aurafice Café, 616 & 612 E Pine St, 860-9977, free.
OUT OF TUNE--Poetry and music free-for-all hosted by Jon Hogan and Jill Charles. Thursdays at 8:30 pm, sign up at 8 pm. The 15th, 7515 15th Ave NW, 706-4973, free.
POETSWEST--Open mic with featured poets Tammy Kaiser, Dobbie Norris, and Julene Weave. Sun Aug 18 at 7 pm. Wit's End Bookstore & Tea Shop, 770 N 34th St, 682-1268, free.
reBIRTH--All-ages open-mic brouhaha. Sundays at 7 pm. French and European Artistic and Cultural Center, 623 Broadway E, 726-4843, free.
SCRATCHING POST--Poetry open mic, all ages. Thursdays at 8 pm, sign up at 7:30 pm. Mr. Spot's Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424, free.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Open mic, feature, and slam with Karen Finneyfrock. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $4.
* SWIRLS BEFORE PINE--A weekly forum for writers by writers. Mondays at 7 pm. Coffee Messiah, 861-8233, free.
TAKE A POEM INTO YOUR HEART--Featured poets TBA. Thurs Aug 15 at 7 pm. Third Place Books, 366-3333, free.
CALLS FOR WRITERS
SURVEILLANCE WRITING CONTEST--In conjunction with Hugo House's current Surveillance exhibition. Entries due Tues Sept 3 at 5 pm. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030. See www.hugohouse.org/programs/surveillance_competition.html for more information.
