*DR. PEPPER SCHWARTZ
In what is sure to prove a spicy and provocative conversation with The Stranger's own Dan Savage, Schwartz will be discussing her latest book, Everything You Knew About Love and Sex Is Wrong. See Bio Box. Kane Hall, Room 220, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
BARRIE JEAN BORRICH, KAREN TULCHINSKY
Continuing today's partial literary theme of relationships and all things sexual, two writers will read and sign their respective work: Borrich's memoir, My Lesbian Husband, is an account of her 12 years in a monogamous relationship, while Tulchinsky (author of Love Ruins Everything) will be sharing from a volume she edited, Hot & Bothered 2, an anthology of short fictions based on desire in all its many manifestations. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.
MARK SALZMAN
Salzman's new novel, Lying Awake, is set in a Carmelite monastery in modern-day California. Kathleen Norris writes that the author's "respect for the interior life of a nun is impressive... a touching portrait of a woman trying to strike a balance between science and soul." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
LARRY EBERSOLE, DONNA LATHROP, RON STARR, & DAVID HOROWITZ
The "It's About Time" series features readings by established local authors, preceded and followed by an open mic. Seattle Public Library, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE, 684-4063, 6:30 pm, free.
CATHY BIELL, YK HONG, RONICA MUKERJEE, MARCEL PARKER, & CHRIS RIFFLE
Salon Productions presents a night of music, poetry, and performance hosted by Sarah Sharp. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave, 329-4066, 8 pm, free.
A. ALVAREZ
Alvarez--a poet, novelist, and critic hailing from Great Britain--visits to promote his new memoir, Where Did It All Go Right?, due out stateside sometime this November. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
*PETE FROMM
Fromm, author of Night Swimming, Dry Rain, and Indian Creek Chronicles, returns to Seattle to read from his debut novel, How All This Started. Pam Houston called this book about "baseball and psychosis... as edgy as it is honest, as dangerous as it is down-home." Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
*NEIL POLLACK
Pollack, of McSweeney's fame, reads and signs his new satirical whatever-it-is, The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature. Cafe Solstice, 4116 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free; also Mon Oct 16 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
JUDITH POWNALL
Pownall, a "speech artist," will perform the poetry of Mary Oliver, accompanied by eurythmist Jeanne Simon-MacDonald and pianist/percussionist Susan Buffington. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St, 361-5931, 7:30 pm, $15, $12 students/seniors.
RICHARD ROBBINS
Minnesota poet reads from his latest collection, Famous Persons We Have Known. Elliott Bay Book Company, 3 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
JENNIFER LAUCK
Frank McCourt described Lauck's new memoir, Blackbird: A Childhood Lost and Found, as "the unblinking look of one child at a hard world." Elliott Bay Book Company, 5 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
AMY SCHUTZER
Schutzer, a member of the We-Moon collective, reads from her debut novel, Undertow. "It is a pleasure to read a novel in which both lesbian and working-class characters, as well as readers, are considered worthy of the best art," said Judith Barrington. Elliott Bay Book Company, 2 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
JOAN SWIFT
Swift is the featured reader at this presentation of "Read Sky Poetry Theater," followed by an open mic (sign-up begins at 7 pm). Globe Cafe, 1531 14th St, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, free.
*BILL BRADLEY
Former NBA star and presidential hopeful Bradley signs copies of his latest book, The Journey from Here, which focuses on this year's campaign as well as larger political issues facing us in the future. Elliott Bay Book Company, 12:30 pm, free (book signing only).
*MICHAEL HECHTER
Hechter, a UW faculty member, reads from and signs copies of his new book, Containing Nationalism--a study of the political ideology (read: nationalism) that is sure to prove the bloody bane of the 21st century. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
*REBECCA BROWN, PETER PEREIRA, & JODY ALIESAN
A benefit/fundraiser for Grey Spider Press. See Stranger Suggests. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, $3-$25 sliding scale donation at the door.
*ALICE WALKER
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist reads from her new, lugubriously titled book of short fiction, The Way Forward Is with a Broken Heart. This event is a benefit for the organization Books to Prisoners. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, $12-$15 tickets available at University Bookstore (donation of a larger-than-pocketbook-sized dictionary upon purchasing ticket will get you $2 off Walker's new book).
CH'OE IN-HO, O CHONG-HUI
Featured bilingual reading by two award-winning Korean writers along with their translator, Bruce Fulton. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
*ROY PARVIN
Parvin's debut collection of novellas, In the Snow Forest, has been praised by the likes of Charles Baxter, Ron Carlson, and Rick Bass, while Antonya Nelson has said that "each of the three stories... is its own masterpiece." Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.
MARVIN BELL
Bell reads from his new collection of poetry, Nightworks. Seattle Public Library, 7 pm, free.
LILY KING
The Washington Post praised King's debut novel, The Pleasing Hour--the story of a young au pair in France--as both "delightful" and "remarkably well-written." University Bookstore, 7 pm, free.
BRAD NEWSHAM
Globetrotting author reads from his new book, Take Me with You: A Round-the-World Journey to Invite a Stranger Home. "This is the other trip around the world," wrote Broughton Coburn regarding Newsham's latest, "the one our parents told us not to take, and most didn't." Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store
