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Readings & Events
Comic Book Jam See comics created before your eyes by members of “Friends of the Nib.” Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S. Vale St., 658-0110, www.fantagraphics.com. 6 p.m. Wed. Jan. 17.
Gilda’s Club This cancer support group presents the latest findings on the topic in a lecture “What Scientists Know—And Don’t Know—About the Causes of Cancer.” Gilda’s Club Seattle, 1400 Broadway, 709-1400, www.gildasclubseattle.org. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 17.
David Hlavsa This local playwright, director and teacher reveals his thoughts in An Actor Rehearses. Third Place Books. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 17.
Dana Stabenow A Deeper Sleep is the 15th in her Alaska-based Kate Shugak mystery series. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon, Wed. Jan. 17; Elliott Bay Book Co., 7:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 17.
Pamela Aidan These Three Remain is the last in her trilogy reimagining the inner life of Jane Austen’s Fitzwilliam Darcy. Third Place Books. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Jan Baross Magical realism from this Portland author in José Builds a Woman. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Alan Deutschman In a rut? Check out his Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life. Borders (Redmond), 16549 N.E. 74th St., 425-869-1907. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Sandra M. Gilbert This UC Davis professor speaks on “Modern Death, Millennial Mourning: The Challenge of 21st-Century Grief.” Sponsored by the University Book Store. Room 120, Communications Bldg., UW campus. Free. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Michael Honey Memphis in 1968: a turbulent time and place for the Civil Rights movement. Honey’s book Going Down Jericho Road tells the story. Sponsored by the University Book Store. Room 102, Smith Hall, UW campus, 634-3400. 4 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Laura Leist Make a New Year’s resolution to de-clutter your life with the help of her Eliminate Chaos. Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E., 425-450-1765. 12:30 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Patricia Marx This Saturday Night Live writer’s debut novel is Him Her Him Again The End of Him. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Kevin O’Brien Killing Spree is this Seattle author’s latest mystery. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E., 525-2347. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Anthony B. Robinson Find God in your everyday life with the help of his Common Grace: How to Be a Person and Other Spiritual Matters.Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E. (Bainbridge Island), 842-5332. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Zaid Abdul-Aziz The former Sonic (and Rocket and Celtic) reads from his new autobiography, Darkness to Sunlight. Shoreline Library, 345 N.E. 175th St., 362-7550. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Kathleen Flenniken & John Keeble Reading from her Famous and his Nocturnal America. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19.
Jörg Friedrich Dresden’s destruction and its aftermath recalled in his The Fire: The Bombing of Germany, 1940-1945.University Book Store. 7 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19.
J.A. Jance An ex-anchorwoman is suspected of murder in her new Ali Reynolds thriller, Web of Evil. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon, Fri. Jan. 19. Third Place Books. 6:30 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19.
Bettina Aptheker Intimate Politics is her memoir of “her own political transformation, healing from childhood sexual abuse, and coming out later in life as a lesbian.” As Lady Bracknell might put it, “A life crowded with incident.” Elliott Bay Book Co. 2 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E., 525-2347. 4:30 p.m. Sun. Jan. 21.
Sandi Ault Wild Indigo, her debut mystery, is set in the Colorado Rockies. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon. Sat. Jan. 20.
Laurie Blauner Reading from her Crimean War novel Infinite Kindness. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030, www.hugohouse.org. 2 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Cynthia Bourgeault Episcopal priest, religious and medieval scholar, and musicologist, her new book is Chanting the Psalms—and she’ll show you how. Elliott Bay Book Co. 5 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
John Burroughs A lecture, “From Auschwitz to Trident,” by this expert witness at the recent trial of three anti-nuclear protesters. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $10. 7 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Wes Cowan The star of History Detectives and guest appraiser on Antiques Roadshow shares his antiquing adventures. Kane Hall, UW campus, 543-9681. $15-$18. 7 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Juan-Carlos Cruz The Food Network’s “Calorie Commando” shares his five-week weight-loss plan. Third Place Books. 6:30 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Jack Straw Writers Each year, several writers earn a spot in the Jack Straw Writers Program, designed to help them add an audio component to their works. Now their works can be heard through Jack Straw literary podcasts. Jack Straw Productions produced four podcasts, featuring writers Joan Swift, Larry Laurence, Angela Jane Fountas, and Susan Casey. The celebration of the podcast launch will feature readings by these and several other writers. Beacon Hill Library, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 684-4711, www.jackstraw.org. 2 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20. JOANNE GARRETT
Romance Panel Three authors, Shannon McKeldon, Pat White, and Gerri Russell, discuss “Breaking In To A Tough Fiction Market.” Borders (Redmond) 16549 N.E. 74th St., 425-869-1907. 2 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Isabel Stirling Her book, Zen Pioneer: The Life and Works of Ruth Fuller Sasaki, translates and glosses the Buddhist teacher’s works. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E., 525-2347. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Chris Crutcher The Spokane-based young-adult author (Whale Talk, Athletic Shorts, The Sledding Hill, Running Loose), whose work is frequently challenged by the book-banning brigade, speaks and signs his books. Suggested donation of $25 to benefit the Freedom to Read Foundation (www.ftrf.org). Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 386-4636. 6:30 p.m. Sun. Jan. 21.
Geri Larkin Not quite a cookbook, this Dharma teacher’s Chocolate Cake Sutra: Ingredients for a Sweet Life posits desserts as a metaphor for the enlightened life. Elliott Bay Book Co. 4 p.m. Sat. Jan. 21.
Elliott Lewis His book Fade: My Journeys in Multiracial America includes interviews with people from across the country. Elliott Bay Book Co. 2 p.m. Sun. Jan. 21.
Resistance through Words and Music A “song and story swap” for writers, musicians, and activists. Workshop with performers 2-4 p.m. $5-10 sliding scale. Evening performance: 6-10 p.m. $5-15. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030, www.hugohouse.org.
Neal Barnard New medical developments outlined in his book The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., 425-646-3340. 7 p.m. Mon. Jan. 22.
Zlata Filipovic and Melanie Challenger The words of war’s most powerless victims fill their anthology Stolen Voices: Young People’s War Diaries, From World War I to Iraq. Sponsored by Secret Garden Bookshop. Ballard Branch Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 684-4089. 6:30 p.m. Mon. Jan. 22.
James Grippando When Darkness Falls is his latest. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. 11:30 a.m. Mon. Jan. 22.
Louise Marley & Mary Rosenblum Their new fantasy novels are Airs Beneath the Moon and Horizons. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Mon. Jan. 22.
Michael Meade This storyteller and teacher reads from his The Water of Life: Initiation and the Tempering of the Soul.Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Jan. 22.
Colson Whitehead Apex Hides the Hurt is his latest social satire. Sponsored by the University Book Store. Room 220, Kane Hall, UW campus. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Jan. 22.
Taylor Branch At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68, the last in his biographical trilogy, moves from Martin Luther King’s march on Selma to his assassination. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 386-4636. 7 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23.
Andrew Feld & Pimone Triplett Readings from work new and old by these two members of the UW creative writing faculty. Open Books, 2414 N. 45th St. 633-0811, www.openpoetrybooks.com. 7:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23.
Nancy Folbre This University of Massachusetts economics professor explores the interface between feminist theory and political economy in her lecture “Greed, Lust, and Gender: A History of Economic Ideas.” Sponsored by the University Book Store. Room 130, Kane Hall, UW campus. Free. 6:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23.
Kate Jacobs Crafts and sisterhood in her debut yarn (sorry, couldn’t resist), Friday Night Knitting Club. Third Place Books. 7 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23.
John Lombard If Puget Sound and all its wonders are to be saved, it will be because we change course. Lombard proposes a strategy in Saving Puget Sound: A Conservation Strategy for the 21st Century: “We need relationships with things that we did not create, but which nevertheless share a common bond of life with us. Fish and wildlife native to our region teach us what it means to call this place home. If they can no longer live here, we ignore that message at our peril. The message is not just that resources we mutually depend on are being degraded or lost. Something fundamental to our humanity is being lost as well.” Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, www.townhallseattle.org. $5. 7:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23. JOANNE GARRETT
Sigrid Nuñez Her novel The Last of Her Kind tells of two friends, one accused of murder. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23.
Vendela Vida SEE THE WIRE, TUESDAY. Also at Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Matt Briggs A reading from his Shoot the Buffalo, with music from Eli Moore.University Book Store at the UW Bothell campus, 18325 Campus Way N.E., Suite 102, 425-352-3344. 1:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Terry Collins Exploring the link between human and ecological health, a.k.a. “green chemistry,” in this lecture. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, 360-331-7904, www.iceh.org. $10-$15. 6:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Mary Fortino Before its fishing heyday, Ballard was the “Shingle Capital of the World.” Find out how from Fortino’s lecture. Ballard Branch Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Jayne Ann Krentz Her White Lies introduces a “level 10 para-sensitive,” i.e. a human lie detector. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon. Wed. Jan. 24.
Christopher Moore You Suck: A Love Story is the sequel to his vampire tale Bloodsucking Fiends. Sponsored by the University Book Store. Room 220, Kane Hall, UW campus, 634-3400. $5. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Red Pine The latest in his series of translations of Buddhist texts is The Platform Sutra: The Zen Teaching of Hui-neng. Third Place Books. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Norah Vincent Like Black Like Me, only about gender: Self-Made Man: One Woman’s Journey into Manhood and Back recounts her 18 months as “Ned.” University Book Store. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
James Yee This Muslim chaplain tells of his Navy prison term on charges (eventually dropped) of espionage in For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire. Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E., 425-450-1765. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 24.
Spoken Word/Open Mike
SoulFood Poetry Night Readings by Holly Thomas and Joannie Kevran Stangeland, followed by open mike. SoulFood Books, 15748 Redmond Way, 425-881-5309, www.soulfoodbooks.com. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.
Take a Poem from Your Heart Readings by Debra McElroy and Jenifer Browne Lawrence, followed by open mike. Bookworm Exchange, 4860 Rainier Ave. S., 722-6633. 7 p.m. (open mike signup 6:45) Fri. Jan. 19.
PoetsWest Jeannette Allée, James Rodgers, and Francine Walls are featured. Newberry Books, 561 N.E. Ravenna Blvd., 682-1268. 4 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.
Seattle Poetry Slam Jared Paul is the featured reader. TOST, 513 N. 36th St., www.poetryfestival.org. $5. Signup starts at 8 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23.
Venue Guide
Elliott Bay Book Co. 101 S. Main St., 206-624-6600, www.elliottbaybook.com; Third Place Books 17171 Bothell Way N.E., 206-366-3333, www.thirdplacebooks.com; University Book Store 4326 University Way N.E., 206-634-3400, www.bookstore.washington.edu
