CHARMAINE CRAIG
Craig's debut, The Good Men, is all about 14th-century France and religion, and you know what that means: sex, sex, and more sex. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7:30 pm, free.
LYLE DICK
Sponsored in part by the Canada-America Society and the Canadian Studies Center at the University of Washington (huh?), Dick offers another fascinatingly thick record of the roller coaster ride that is Inuit culture in Musk Ox Land. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
IT'S ABOUT TIME READING SERIES
A monthly open discussion on the writer's role in society. Featured readers this month include Skye Moody, Douglas Schuder, Pamela Moore Dionne, and Alle C. Hall. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7:30 pm, free.
LINDA MASON
I've got another bone to pick--what's the deal with women's liberation, anyway? Case in point: Mason's Working Mother's Guide to Life, or, more clearly stated, "how to buck the system and have everything your way." I, for one, take issue. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.
HOWARD NORMAN
Art, love, and other train wrecks: Norman's latest tale, The Haunting of L., follows the assistant to a photographer who catalyzes railroad disasters and then photographs them. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY 3/14
* MICHAEL BRAME, GALINA POPOVA
With all of the cultural relevance of a moldy sandwich, Brame and Popova exhume the Shakespeare controversy from its grave of indifference for another bout with masturbatory literary conjecture. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free. [The books editor likes literary masturbation; it's almost as good as the real thing.--Charles Mudede]
KRISTIN WATERFIELD DUISBERG
Duisberg's debut novel is a cargo bay packed to the gills with baggage, as the repressed memories of her protagonist unfold themselves in the violently self-destructive episodes of The Good Patient. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* JEREMIAH ECK
Architect and author Eck presents his keynote speech--"Principles of House: Saltbox to Soprano"--at this year's 2002 Home of the Year awards. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, $15-$18.
SATURDAY 3/15
DONNA KELLEHER
... And for those of us whose pets fill the void of our otherwise soul-crushing experience, Kelleher offers the ultimate gluttony: acupuncture for your little Twinkles. The Seattle vet signs her tome to holistic healing for pets, The Last Chance Dog. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 1 pm, free.
LAURIE R. KING
A "true original!" according to her press release, King picks up where last year's Folly left off, with Keeping Watch, her latest psychological thriller. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, noon, free. Also Third Place Books, 366-3333, Sun March 16 at 5 pm, free.
PICO IYER
Typically a popular travel writer, Pico Iyer (whose name conveniently rhymes with "frequent flyer") makes a pit stop at Elliott Bay with a new novel entitled Abandon. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUNDAY 3/16
RAMZY BAROUD
Intimate tales from the frontline of last year's Israeli invasion compose the Baroud edited collection Searching Jenin. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.
LOUISE MARLEY
The Glass Harmonica author addresses her latest fable through her characteristic musical bent. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7 pm, free.
MONDAY 3/17
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. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 587-5737, noon, free.
RUTH OZEKI
If the politics of food seem like great fodder for familial fiction (and honestly, how could you argue with such blinding truths?), then you might check out Ozeki's sophomore novel, All over Creation. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
LINDA SUE PARK
Newberry Award-winning author Park signs one of those "against all odds" young adult novels about a 12th-century Korean boy called Tree Ear and his love affair with pottery. Suffer the poor fifth grader who gets assigned this little gem. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
TUESDAY 3/18
* LESLEY DOWNER
Women of the Pleasure Quarter author Downer zeroes in on noted geisha Madame Sadayakko, who, among other things, was sketched by Picasso, cofounded the Japanese new wave, and was the apparent inspiration for Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Downer signs Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha Who Bewitched the West. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* EARL EMERSON
A self-described "Novel of Suspense," Emerson's Into the Inferno sounds destined for mass consumption as some straight-to-video, Lorenzo Lamas vehicle: A firefighter has seven days to find the antidote for a poisonous chemical he has imbibed, or... fuck, who cares? File under: Race Against Time, "High-octane," and zzzzzzzz. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free. [The books editor likes pulp.--Charles Mudede]
NUALA O'FAOLAIN
With the apparent prize of death, O'Faolain's Almost There charts her personal journey through the "crucible of middle age." Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 3/19
GWEN KNIGHT, BARBARA EARL THOMAS
In conjunction with the showcase of Seattleite Knight's six decades of work currently displayed at the Tacoma Art Museum, the artist joins essayist Thomas with the exhibition's accompanying volume, Never Late for Heaven. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
VICENTE WOLF
Another interior-decorating book to decorate your interiors with: Top designer and photographer Wolf immerses you in the beauty of beige with Learning to See. University Bookstore, 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 Janee Baugher, Christopher J. Jarmick, Griffith H. Williams. Sun March 16 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market 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.
RED SKY POETRY THEATRE--Featuring Kathleen Hunt. Sun March 16 at 7:30 pm. 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. Bad Juju Lounge, 1518 11th Ave, 709-9951, $4.
