THURSDAY 2/27



LYNN FREED

"Woman as hapless victim to the will of man" (Jean Rhys-style) appears to be the focus of Freed's fourth novel, House of Women. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

JOHN HORGAN

The science of God: "Seeker" Horgan attempts to reconcile the great questions with a wide cross-section of the world's thinking folks in Rational Mysticism. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

*WILLIAM F. PEPPER

In 1999, lawyer William Pepper successfully took on a wrongful-death case against "unknown conspirators" in the death of Martin Luther King Jr.--effectively clearing the name of James Earl Ray as King's assassin--to little fanfare. Determined to spread his quarter-century's worth of knowledge on the subject, Pepper discusses his conspiracy-laden text, An Act of the State. New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 124 21st Ave, 624-6600, 7 pm, free.

PETER RICHARDS, MATTHEW ZAPRUDER

Two associated poets, Richards and Zapruder, read from their latest, the unfortunately titled Nude Siren and American Linden, respectively. Open Books: A Poem Emporium, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811, 7:30 pm, free.

MARTY WINGATE

Got gardening troubles? Yeah, me neither. But if ever you do, Marty'll help ya out. Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Wingate signs Big Ideas for Northwest Small Gardens. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

FRIDAY 2/28



JIM FIELDER

The subtitle of Fielder's debut, Slow Death, is perhaps the least artful phrase to ever appear on the cover of a mass-market release, which should no doubt say something about the contents: The Sickest Serial Torture-Slayer Ever to Stalk the Southwest. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.

BIA LOWE

A woman engorged by her passions, Lowe (Wild Ride) illuminates the subtle distractions that writhe in her head and underpants in her latest collection, Splendored Thing: Love, Roses, & Other Thorny Treasures. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

SATURDAY 3/1



JOAN BURTON, DUSE McLEAN

In a historical view of the lost city of Seattle, co-authors Burton and McLean direct you on urban trails through the commercial wasteland of our former city in Urban Walks: 23 Walks Through Seattle's Parks and Neighborhoods. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 11 am, free.

MAXIMILIAN LERNER

Is it me, or does the image of the secret agent seem more than a little bloated in its quaint antiquity? Maybe it's the sloppy behemoth of Pierce Brosnan finally putting the nail in the Bond coffin, but even the thought of the super-spy feels like something of a relic. But don't tell Maximilian Lerner ("if that is your real name"), a WWII agent in his own right who now squeaks out a living with books on the subject. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

PAUL LOEB

Loeb, the author of Soul of a Citizen, is here to make you feel bad for your civically neglectful nature. Fittingly, this repentance takes place in a church. St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, 323-0300, 7 pm, free.

WENDY PALMER

Sensei Wendy Palmer (what kind of a sensei name is Wendy?) "explores the process that responds to the question--How do we transform our negativity into love and from negativity into freedom?" Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.

SUNDAY 3/2



RIF K. HAFFAR

If nothing else, Haffar's Away From My Desk is proof positive that the American obsession with the vicarious has gone too far. We're not even looking to heroes with our admiration--instead we'll settle for the transcontinental ramblings of a telecom executive. Quick, who wants to give me a book deal? University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free. Also, Third Place Books, 366-3333, Tues at 7 pm, free.

CYNTHIA MOE-LOBEDA

Seattle University professor Moe-Lobeda attempts to supply a "progressive Christian activist response" to the threat of globalization in Healing a Broken World. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.MONDAY 3/3



* LOUISE GLÜCK

See Stranger Suggests. ACT, 700 Union St, 292-7676, 7:30 pm, $14.

DAO STROM

Here with her debut novel, Grass Roof, Tin Roof, Strom portrays two generations of Vietnamese refugees in America following the fall of Saigon. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

TUESDAY 3/4



* MICHAEL BYERS, STEVE POTTER

As part of the Rendezvous Reading Series, award-winning local fiction writer Byers reads from his forthcoming debut novel, Long For This World, with another local, Potter, in tow. Little Theatre, 610 19th Ave E, 329-2629, 7:30 pm, $5.

ART McNEIL

Dreamcrafting author and self-help guru McNeil discusses goal-setting and actualization. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

FRED BECKEY

Noted mountaineer Beckey surveys the surveyors in Range of Glaciers, his personal and historical account of Cascade mountain exploration. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY 3/5



JERRILYN FARMER

Farmer signs Mumbo Gumbo, the latest in a long line of award-winning "food mysteries," in which caterer/crack detective Madeline Bean navigates the case of a missing writer for a hit food show. "Something's cooking--and it's not in the kitchen." I wish I were kidding. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

BRENDAN O'CARROLL

Don't let the import beer companies fool you--Ireland is a miserable, squalid place, packed to the gills with the miserable, squalid Irish. O'Carroll revels in the moss-covered Irish with his popular stories of 1960s Dublin, and his popular heroine Agnes Browne. In his latest, Brown traces the young life of Browne in the even more miserable Ireland of the '40s in The Young Wan. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

JAMIE O'NEILL

O'Neill arrives on rails of publicist gold with the heavily praised, ten-years-in-the-making At Swim, Two Boys--the story of two boys in 1916 Dublin. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.

* SUBTEXT POETRY READING

With this installment of the excellent Subtext reading series, Vancouver writer Rhoda Rosenfeld and Cornish instructor April Denonno meet in the eternity of the Hugo House. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5.

MARY C. WRIGHT

It's not clear which contributors to the Wright-edited More Voices, New Stories collection will be in attendance at tonight's reading (the book's writers include Robert S. Fisher, Marianne Forssblad, Charles LeWarne, Nhien T. Nguyen, Michael Reese, Elizabeth Salas, and Jacqueline Williams), but the subject--a mixed history of King County at its sesquicentennial--is enough to assure an audience packed to the rafters. Arrive early. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

POETRY/OPEN MICS
HOMELAND--Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.

LITTLE METAL MEN--Hosted by Vanessa Sooy. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, free.

OUT OF TUNE--Poetry and music free-for-all hosted by Jon Hogan. Thursdays at 8:30 pm, signup at 8 pm. The 15th, 7515 15th Ave NW, 706-4973, free.

POETSWEST--Featuring Sondra Ashton, Jill McGrath, and Sharon Svendsen. Thurs Feb 27 at 7 pm. Lux, 2226 First Ave, 682-1268, free. Also, Sun March 2 at 7 pm, featuring John Akins, Steven Earl, and Leonard L. Tews. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.

POETSWEST AT FRYE ART MUSEUM--Featuring Harvey Goldner. Sun March 2 at 1:30 pm. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave, 622-9250, free.

ReBIRTH--All-ages open-mic brouhaha. Sundays at 7 pm. French and European Artistic and Cultural Center, 623 Broadway E, 726-4843, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATRE--Featuring Martha Linehan. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 547-4585, free.

SCRATCHING POST--Poetry open mic, all ages. Thursdays at 8 pm, signup at 7:30 pm. Mr. Spot's Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Open mic and slam with Karen Finneyfrock. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $4.