Not many authors could pull off a midnight reading—J. K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, and maybe that Fifty Shades of Grey lady. But Sherman Alexie is the Biggest Damn Writer in Seattle, Period, and he’s going to keep you up all night to celebrate the release of his thick new book of short fiction, Blasphemy. If you’ve seen Alexie read before, you know that his readings are always intimate, hilarious, and memorable. This one should be even more so; it could be one of those readings Seattle book-lovers will talk about for years to come. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, www.elliottbaybook.com, midnight, free)