MARIE C. WILSON
Closing the Leadership Gap is about the lack of women in political office, and what can be done about it. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, noon, free.
NORWESCON
Norwescon claims to be "one of the largest regional Science Fiction conventions in the United States." Events include panels on "Ten Books to Give Your Muggle, er, I Mean Mundane Friends" and "SF Pictionary" and forums like "Sexual Roleplaying" and "Getting Laid at SF Conventions." And that's just Thursday! DoubleTree Hotel, Sea-Tac Airport, 18740 Pacific Highway S, www.norwescon.org, 1 pm to midnight, $30. (The festival continues through Sunday; see website for more details.)
GEORGE JARECKE, NANCY PLANT
Jarecke and Plant sign Seeking Civility: Common Courtesy and the Common Law. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
ELIZABETH GEORGE
According to press materials for this event, Write Away, a new book for aspiring writers by the popular mystery writer, "takes the mystery out of writing." Yeah, right. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* PAUL THEROUX
When unknown writers publish a book, they simply do just that--publish a book. When writers of Paul Theroux's stature publish a book, it's always an event--a literary event. Even if you have not read his books, you are very aware of the fact that Theroux is an important writer, that he is part of the tradition of writing serious books. And you are aware of this fact because when his books are published, it is always an event--a literary event. (Charles Mudede) Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 621-2230, 7:30 pm, $15.
"PASSED IMPERFECT"
"Passed Imperfect: Assumed Identities in Black and Jewish Culture," a discussion between UW professors and staffers at Colors NW magazine, is a conversation inspired by Philip Roth's The Human Stain. Seattle Art Museum, Nordstrom Lecture Hall, 100 University St, 654-3100, 7:30 pm, free.
* ANTHONY PETROSKY, FRANCES McCUE
Petrosky, winner of the Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets, reads from his collection Crazy Love. McCue, a poet who's won some awards herself, reads from a book-in-process called Dwell. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5/$3 members. FRIDAY 4/9
MARYANNE COMAROTO
Skinny, Tan & Rich: Unveiling the Myth is self-help-ish memoir. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
RUTH OZEKI
The author of My Year of Meats reads from All Over Creation. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free. (Also on April 12 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.)
WEI DJAO
The North Seattle Community College instructor talks about Being Chinese: Voices from the Diaspora. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
JENNIFER LAUCK
Show Me the Way is about motherhood, fulfillment, etc. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7:30 pm, free.
SIXTH ANNUAL BART BAXTER CONTEST FOR POETRY IN PERFORMANCE
Slam poets like you compete for $500 in cash prizes. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free, donation suggested.
SATURDAY 4/10
SUSIE BRIGHT
The erotica writer gets a little more family-friendly in Mommy's Little Girl, a book of essays about her 12-year-old. Seattle Public Library, Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave E, 386-4650, 4 pm, free.
MICHAEL ROACH
Roach reads (and perhaps demonstrates some stuff) from The Tibetan Book of Yoga. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free. (Also reading on April 12 at Barnes & Noble, University Village, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.)
* PERCIVAL EVERETT, JAMES KINCAID, ROBERT ARELLANO
The three authors, all published by Brooklyn's crazy, wonderful Akashic Books, read from A History of the African-American People [Proposed] by Strom Thurmond as Told to Percival Everett, which is completely morbid and inappropriate, and, yes, wonderful. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free. MONDAY 4/12
RIDLEY PEARSON
The Body of David is a thriller. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free. (Also April 13 at Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, noon, free.)
HOWARD HENDRIX
Labyrinth Key is science fiction. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
DAVID BORNSTEIN
The journalist talks about How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of Ideas. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave, 441-5910, 7 pm, $15, students free w/ID.
* STEVEN GILBERT
A Small Dose of Toxicology: The Health Effects of Common chemicals is about lead, mercury, pesticides, Coca-Cola, etc. Ravenna Third Place Books, 525-2347, 7:30 pm, free.
TUESDAY 4/13
EMERIL LAGASSE
The TV chef signs There's a Chef in My Family: Recipes to Get Everybody Cooking. Barnes & Noble, University Village, 517-4107, 4 pm, free.
ZAPP UNDERGROUND
People talk about zines and zap one another. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 6 pm, free.
JOHN SAUL
Black Creek Crossing is scary. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
DAVID McCUMBER
The Pulitzer-having journalist talks about An Air That Kills: How the Asbestos Poisoning of Libby, Montana, Uncovered a National Scandal. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED MURRAY
A big discussion about gay rights in Washington State, led by a gay. Town Hall Seattle, 786-7826, 7 pm, free.
MICHELINE AHARONIAN MARCOM
The Daydreaming Boy is a novel set in Beirut. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 4/14
DEREK ZUMSTEG
Zumsteg, co-author of the Baseball Prospectus, talks about baseball and prospectuses. Barnes & Noble, Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, 264-0156, 12:30 pm, free.
LARRY EVEREST
Oil, Power & Empire: Iraq and the U.S. Global Agenda is, according to Daniel Ellsberg, "a remarkable account of U.S. and UK policy toward Iraq." Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 6 pm, free.
MARY ANN GWINN
The Seattle Times' books editor leads a discussion about book reviewing. Someone (perhaps you) should go ask her why she encourages her book reviewers not to write negative reviews, and whether she thinks she gets more or less honest reviews that way, and whether she realizes that freelance book reviewers need all the work they can get, so of course they'll say nice things about dull books if that's what's required of them in order to freelance for the Seattle Times, and whether, ultimately, she thinks that arrangement is in any way helping advance genuinely good literature. Because, obviously, it isn't. Barnes & Noble, University Village, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.
JOHN DALTON
Heaven Lake is a first novel about a Christian missionary in Taiwan. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
MARVIN THOMAS
I wonder if Personal Village: How to Have People in Your Life by Choice, Not Chance has any advice in it about the people you have to sit near at work, through no fault of your own. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
STORY SLAM!
Like a poetry slam, I guess, but with stories. And a cash prize. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5.
KIJ JOHNSON
Fudoki is "speculative fiction." (I don't know what the phrase means either, frankly.) Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
HOMELAND--Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.
IT'S ABOUT TIME READING SERIES--Featured readers: Denise Michaels, Paul Nelson, Darby Ringer, Richard Gold on April 8 at 7:30 pm. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, free.
OPEN MIKE NIGHT--Musicians, poets, whoever. Thursdays at 8 pm. 15th Avenue Alehouse, 7515 15th Ave NW, free.
POETSWEST--April 11 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Featured readers and an open mic. April 11: all open mic! Sundays at 7 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.
