FRIDAY 2/4



DON WEST

Dream of the Great Blue is a debut novel about a middle-aged couple. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free. (Also on Feb 5 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.)

M. G. LORD

Astro Turf is a memoir about NASA. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

YXTA MAYA MURRAY

The Queen Jade is a rainforest adventure. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free. SATURDAY 2/5



AMANDA HALE

Sounding the Blood is a novel about human desperation, a whaling station, and the year 1916. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4:30 pm, free.

JEAN REYNOLDS PAGE

Accidental Happiness is by the author of A Blessed Event. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

MONDAY 2/7



RYAN BOUDINOT, BRIAN AMES, HEIDI BARACK, RAY VUKCEVICH, MATTHEW SIMMONS

A launch party for the new issue of Hobart, guest edited by the great local fiction writer Ryan Boudinot. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

MARY GORDON

Pearl is about family, geopolitics, and the year 1998. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

TUESDAY 2/8



MIRANDA BEVERLY-WHITTEMORE

The Effects of Light is a novel about a family with secrets. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free. WEDNESDAY 2/9



DAVID GRINSPOON

The scientist talks about Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life. Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave N, 7:30 pm, $5.

JOHN M. BARRY

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History is about sick cattle, bureaucratic mismanagement, and the year 1918. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

CURT COLBERT

Queer Street is a mystery about Seattle, a murdered drag queen, and the year 1948. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

TRACY CHEVALIER

In this Seattle Arts & Lectures event, the author of Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Lady and the Unicorn talks about her life, her work, Vermeer, William Blake, and other topics. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 621-2230, 7:30 pm, $10-$25.

CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN

The Shadow of the Wind is "part detective story, part boy's adventure, part romance and fantasy, and gothic horror" (Booklist). Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.