READINGS
by Traci Vogel
THURSDAY 9/23
*DEBBIE STOLLER & MARCELLE KARP
The BUST girls read from The BUST Guide to the New Girl Order, an anthology of themed essays. See Book Review Revue, page 37. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 7:30 pm, free.
IRVIN YALOM
Psychotherapist Yalom explores the therapeutic encounter in Momma and the Meaning of Life. How does that make you feel? University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
JOHN RIDLEY
Everybody Smokes In Hell reads like a hell-yeah screenplay, woozying from character to character, scene to bloody scene through the mean streets of L.A. Ridley is a smooth-talkin’ writer, and some people really like to read this shit. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
IVAN DOIG
I know Mr. Doig didn’t write the song “I Call the Wind Mariah,” but I can’t help hearing it scored over his Western novel Ride With Me, Mariah Montana. His new novel, however, is called Mountain Time — a title that reminds me only of John Denver. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
R.D. CHIN
Chin is a sought-after Feng Shui person; he discusses his book Feng Shui Revealed: An Aesthetic, Practical Approach to the Ancient Art of Space Alignment, and demonstrates some simple Feng Shui procedures. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.
FRIDAY 9/24
CHAR MARGOLIS
Throw away that 900 number — exercise your own psychic abilities via Margolis’ how-to Questions from Earth, Answers from Heaven. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 6:30 pm, free.
SATURDAY 9/25
JOSEPH A. SCHIPACCI & FRANCIS X. SCHIPACCI
Seattle cousins Joe and Frank Schipacci (SKIP-ACH-CHEE) have written a back-to-basics cookbook complete with shopping advice and tips from “Killer the Dog.” Cordon Blue Collar: Smart Shopping, Smart Cooking makes Wolfie Puck look like the mama’s boy he is. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 1 pm, free.
RICHARD BANGS
Living after his explosive last name, Mr. Bangs writes adventure travel books; his newest, The Lost River: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Transformation on Wild Water, follows a 1973 attempt to travel a tributary of the Nile, a trip which claimed the lives of two men. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.
JODY ALIESAN
Seattle poet Aliesan reads from her newest collection, Loving in Time of War, which concerns itself with peoples of “diasporas,” people who are uprooted due to war. Aliesan is a poet who believes that “telling the truth is still part of our job description.” Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUNDAY 9/26
*PHILIP RED EAGLE, PRISCILLA LONG, TOM HUNLEY, PAUL HUNTER
Four fine local writers offer various versions of new work, or of old work rediscovered, or of work-in-progress, all certain to charm in this Titlewave reading curated by Roberta and John Olson. Titlewave Books, 7 Mercer St, 284-9985, 7:30 pm, free.
MONDAY 9/27
MICHAEL VOURI
A book many of us could have used for elementary school essays, Vouri’s The Pig War: Standoff at Griffin Bay dissects that historical confrontation on San Juan Island, where the only victim was a pig. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
FRANCESCA MARCIANO
Romance in Kenya’s now-affluent suburbs drives Marciano’s Rules of the Wild, alternately described as “trashy” and “beautifully observed,” a “vexing book.” Marciano reads here for the paperback debut. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
JOHN MACLEAN
Norman Maclean wrote Young Men and Fire, and now his son John adds fuel with Fire on the Mountain, a dramatic recounting of the 1994 Colorado Storm King Mountain forest fire that claimed 14 firefighters. Kane Hall Walker-Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets).
TUESDAY 9/28
JOHN MACLEAN
See listing above. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
SIMON SINGH
A guide to modern cryptography, replete with historical anecdote and a $15,000 potluck contest: The Code Book, The Evolution of Secrecy from Mary, Queen of Scots to Quantum Cryptography promises something for the secret-keeper in us all. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
DEBORAH MIRANDA
Buoyed by a not-very-articulate blurb by Wendy Rose (“one long scream from a heart that will not stop living”), UW graduate student and Native American poet Miranda reads from her new book of poetry, Indian Cartography. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 5 pm, free.
BILL HESS
A big, beautiful, escapist coffee-table book, Hess’ Gift of the Whale: The Inupiat Bowhead Hunt, A Sacred Tradition journeys to the world of Alaska’s Inupiat Eskimos, illustrated with 180 photographs. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 9/29
EDWIDGE DANTICAT
Danticat’s literary arc has been buttressed by well-deserved praise; she writes from heartfelt memory of her childhood land, Haiti. She visits here for the paperback release of last year’s The Farming of Bones. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUSAN MINOT
Minot’s main character is still dying, still courageous in facing life’s challenges, still yearning for a lover she met in her 20s, in the sentimental novel Evening. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
LUANN COLUMBO
Columbo’s very useful outdoor manual, How to Have Sex in the Woods, covers not only the titular subject but many other tips as well. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.
OPEN MIC
Note to regularly programmed open mics: The Stranger will list events only if we receive an announcement — regular listings will be dropped unless we are notified that the events are in fact ongoing.
THURSDAY 9/23
THE PEARL
Turn irritation into beauty: bring fiction, poetry, film or drama. Every first Thursday celebrates Dead Poets. The Pearl, 4215 University Way NE, 547-3326, 8 pm, free.
665
A Salon production: open mic, spoken word and music. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave, 329-4066, 8 pm, free.
SUNDAY 9/26
*RED SKY POETRY THEATER
Seattle’s longest-running reading series turns 19 this season. Celebrate with well-known local writers and an open mic. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th off Pine, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, donation.
WEDNESDAY 9/29
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM
With a new venue and a new night, Seattle’s biggest poetry slam is alive and kickin’. Tonight, Ian Duncan (“Floyd” from Carlotta’s Late Night Wing Ding) and Bruce Singleton on bagpipes blow some hot air. Slam for $50! Rupert’s, 309 First Ave S, 628-7703, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 9 pm, $3.
COFFEE MESSIAH
Come to confess your sins, stay for a cookie. Open mic for poetry, stories, music, rants, and more. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WRITERS:
WORDSCAPE
The Stranger recommends that you pick up Wordscape, Seattle’s free monthly guide to literary events, to find a complete listing of opportunities for writers. Wordscape has an outstanding listing of contests, grants, and calls for writing, which we can only envy. Pick it up at most local bookstores and libraries!