BO LOZOFF

Named one of America's 100 Spiritual Visionaries by Utne Reader, Lozoff shares his vision in a new book, It's a Meaningful Life. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.

DONALD E. WESTLAKE

A master of the thriller genre gets all pomo in his latest, The Hook, in which a blood contract inevitably leads to the demise of a writer. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

DAVID BIRO

Biro, a fancy-pants doctor and literature Ph.D. at 31, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease. One Hundred Days: My Unexpected Journey from Doctor to Patient chronicles his journey. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.

KEVIN MILLER, MARY LOU SANELLI

A St. Patrick's Day reading by two fine local poets. Miller's latest collection is titled Everywhere Was Far; Sanelli's 1998 collection is titled Close at Hand. Presented by the Passion for Poetry reading series. Barnes & Noble, 31325 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, 253-839-7541, 7:30 pm, free.

KARL E. MEYER, SHAREEN BLAIR BRYSAC

An elegant work of historical detection, Tournament of Shadows illuminates the little-known pre-Cold War Asian conflict known as the Great Game. Meyer and Brysac's work has been stockpiling lots of critical praise. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

GEORGIA LORD WATANABE

Watanabe's Puget Sound Culinaria: A Cook's Guide to Ethnic Markets gathers up info on resources for ethnic ingredients in the Puget Sound region. Share the adventure. Barnes & Noble, Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, 264-0156, 2:30 pm, free.

MARTHA SILANO

Salubrious poetry from a professor of English at Bellevue and Edmonds Community Colleges, and winner of the 1998 William & Kingman Page Poetry Award -- Silano's book is titled What the Truth Tastes Like. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 4 pm, free

KIMBERLY KAFKA

Alaska gets all weird in Kafka's suspense adventure True North. A female bush pilot buys property on Ingalik tribal land; isolationism and xenophobia take their toll. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.

IA DuBOIS, KATHERINE HANSON

Echo: Scandinavian Stories about Girls reveals the "diverse experience of growing up in Scandinavia" through stories and memoirs by renowned authors such as Tove Jannson and Sigrid Undset. The editors present their collection tonight. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

DICK GIBBONS & KIM HAMILTON

"Seattle Love of Life Poets" reading series presents local writers every first and third Mondays. This week, Gibbons and Hamilton read from current work. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, University Village, 789-4899 (Daniel Pearl, organizer), 7 pm, free.

DEEPAK CHOPRA

The doctor of New Age insight, Chopra's book How to Know God discusses biological responses, drawing on psychology and neurology, and how these correspond to spiritual events. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd St, 634-3400, 7 pm, free tickets available at University Book Store.

DONALD ANTRIM

Donald Antrim's novel The Verificationist is set in a pancake house that suffers from a fucked-up gravity field; from here, the absurd is clearly only a trip and a Pynchon away. In fact, Pynchon loves this book, which has been getting a ton of mainstream press. Go tonight and judge for yourself. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

KIJ JOHNSON, JANE JENSEN

Two local writers who have worked in computers duck out of silicon and into sci-fi/fantasy with new works. Johnson's The Fox Woman tells the story of a fox determined to become a human, set in ancient Japan. Jensen is the creator of the Gabriel Knight interactive game series; she presents a thriller titled Millennium Rising. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

DAVID LISS

A fiction debut that reveals a fascination with history, Liss' A Conspiracy of Paper pits 18th-century stock speculation against shady characters to produce a "headlong adventure yarn." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

KURT REIGHLEY

DJ El Toro and Seattle Weekly columnist Reighley takes on "the art and culture of the DJ" in his compendium, Looking for the Perfect Beat. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.

SCOTT SAVAGE

A Plain Life is Savage's plainly told tale of ethical choice, narrating the author's decision to actively drop out of mainstream culture, symbolized by his walk across Ohio to turn in his driver's license at the state capital. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

BRIAN GREENE

Columbia physics professor Greene has written a science book that people are talking about: The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimension, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory. Plus, he's kinda cute. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 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.

665

Count the days no more -- 665 is back, reconfigured by Salon Productions. This open mic is hosted by Sarah Sharp, featuring Nicholas Dylan. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave at Union, 264-5139, 7:30 sign-up, free.

SPOKEN WORD

Each and every Thursday, this venerable Pioneer Square venue spotlights music, poetry, and comedy. Pioneer Square Saloon, 73 Yesler Way, 624-6444, 8:30 pm, free.

WINDOW PAIN

An eclectic open mic that encourages you to "bring your circus act!" Lottie Mott's Coffee Shop and Collective Baggage, 4900 Rainier Ave S, 725-8199, 7 pm, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATER

Seattle's longest-running reading series livens up the tiny Globe Cafe. This week's featured reader is Tod Davis. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th & Pine, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, free (donation).

HOMELAND

Hosted by Circus and friends, "Seattle's own Little Bohemia" emerges from a hiatus transformed. The Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave at Pike, 264-5139, 7:30 sign-up, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM

Seattle's highest-powered slam hunkers down at Dutch Ned's, with featured readers each week, plus open mic for money. Dutch Ned's, 206 First Ave S, 340-8859, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 9 pm, $3.

STAGE FRIGHT

Seattle's hottest stage for readers under 24 years of age continues, hosted by the fabulous Morgan. Pre-reading workshop with Charles Mudede starts at 5:30 pm. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.

CATHARTICISM

Confess your sins at this open mic: a forum for cleansing your soul in public. Poets, writers, and musicians welcome. This week's theme is "Starfucks." Coffee Messiah, 1445 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!