JON KATZ--Jon Katz turned 50, looked over his successful journalism career, his cozy family, et al., and decided to run away. So he took his dogs, some books by Trappist monk Thomas Merton, and retired to a cabin in the woods. Out of his experience he wrote Running to the Mountain, which is being billed as Thoreau for baby boomers. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
*NANCY LORD--With her slim and simple fictional natural history, Nancy Lord has managed to surpass a genre that is usually leaden with purpose. Green Alaska: Dreams from the Far Coast intersperses narrative re-creations of the 1899 expedition to Alaska, including John Muir and Edward Curtis, with ecstatic accounts of Lord's own Alaska experiences working at a fishery and exploring the country. The result is a beautifully poised book written with sensitivity and insight. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
*ROBERT MCDOWELL--McDowell, author of the book-length poem The Diviners and publisher of Story Line Press in Oregon, will discuss "The History of Expansive Poetry." Open Books, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811, 7:30 pm, free.
FRI-26
TIM & PAULINE CARR--The Carrs, the only human year-round residents of Antarctica's South Georgia, show slides and read from their book, Antarctic Oasis. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
WINIFRED GALLAGHER--Gallagher, thinking cap on and pen in hand (previous books were on identity and how it is shaped by heredity and environment), reads from her new book, Working on God, which explores the state of religion in the good old millennial U.S. of A. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.
*MATTHEW STADLER--Stadler, Guggenheim grant-winner, author of The Sex Offender, and literary editor of Nest magazine, reads from his newest novel, Allan Stein. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SAT-27
R. J. COHN--Gold bullion and bank notes missing for 40 years lure a man to the Olympic Peninsula in Cohn's book, Banker's Gold. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 4 pm, free.
RAM DEVINENI, LINDA HERRING, KAREN SWENSON--A reading in celebration of the newly launched New York poetry journal Rattapallax, featuring the publisher, Devineni, and two local poets. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
J. ROBERT LENNON--"See you in the funny papers" is taken literally by Lennon, whose new novel The Funnies follows a family idealized in a comic strip. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 12 noon, free, and Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 4:30 pm, free.
MARTHA SHELLEY--Just in time for Passover, Shelley, a Bay Area poet and activist, visits with Haggadah: A Celebration of Freedom, a feminist reinterpretation of the Jewish holiday. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
*EL ZIÑO--See calendar box. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 5:30 pm, $8.
SUN-28
CAL KINNEAR, LYNN MILLER, MOLLY TENENBAUM--Three fine local poets read from their contributions to Pontoon: Number Two, an anthology published by the non-profit Floating Bridge Press. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 4:30 pm, free.
ANNA MOCKLER, BRYANT MASON, JAMES BERTOLINO, JERRY MITCHELL--Three poets who combine a love of words with intelligence and humor read from new work as part of the Titlewave Reading Series. Titlewave Books, 7 Mercer St, 324-6379, 7:30 pm, free.
*SEATTLE POETRY FESTIVAL SNEAK PREVIEW--Your chance to catch the action before the crowd hits: poets selected to participate in the upcoming Poetry Festival (April 23-25) read at Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.
MON-29
ANN ECHOLS--Echols' bio Scars of Sweet Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin purports to portray Joplin as neither victim nor icon, instead accumulating anecdotes that reveal Joplin's raw talent and the perils of the beatnik scene. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
E. LYNN HARRIS--Harris rounds out the trilogy begun in Invisible Life with his latest, Abide With Me. His popular books place black characters in dramatic entanglements, and he seems to be primarily responsible for the current wave of "mainstream" novels with gay African American themes. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
*GEOFF RYMAN--Ryman, whose novel 253 first appeared online (where you may still find it), reads from the published version. 253 is a nonlinear narrative that describes in 253 words the autonomous experiences of each passenger on the Tube in London, which has 253 cars. As each of the character's stories come to light, it becomes evident that the train is about to reach the end of the line. 253 is a remarkable piece of constrained writing, and its differences in print and online make for an interesting exploration. Kane Hall, Walker Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
TUES-30
E. LYNN HARRIS--See Mon March 29 listing. Bailey/ Coy Books, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.
*ROBERT LYONS--Lyons' Another Africa, a beautiful book of photography with text by Chinua Achebe, is full of images that might "liberate out imaginations" (John Wideman). Lyons, a Seattleite, will show slides and talk about Africa. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
KAREN SWENSON--Swenson, traveler and poet, reads from her new collection, A Daughter's Latitude: New and Selected Poems, published by renowned Copper Canyon Press. Open Books, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811, 7 pm, free.
WED-31
ELIZABETH STROUT--Amy and Isabelle, Strout's debut novel, combines UFO sightings with the alienation of adolescence, in a story that has been lauded by many readers as sympathetic and finely drawn. Kirkus says Strout's debut "demonstrates exceptional poise, and an uncommon ability to render complex emotions with clarity." Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
OPEN MIKE
Note to regularly programmed open mikes: 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.
THURS-25
665--Words and music add up to this evening venue, tonight presenting Open Mic O'Rama. Four Angels, 1400 14th Ave (at Union), 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.
SUN-28
RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Tonight featuring Elliott Bronstein and Mary Catlin. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave (at Pine), 633-5647, 7 pm, free.
MON-29
livingroom--Make room for Jonathan Bailey. Habitat Espresso, 222 Broadway E, 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.
TUES-30
HOMELAND--Tonight featuring Percy Hilo. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave (at Pine), 324-8815, 7:30 pm, free.
