July 23-28, 2007

23MONDAY

1 P.M. Lauren Carr reads from and signs A Reunion to Die For, her new Joshua Thornton mystery, as part of the "Mystery Monday Lunchtime Series" sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America (Mid-Atlantic Branch) at Chapters Literary Bookstore, 445 11th St. NW, 202-737-5553.

7 P.M. Washington Post journalist Laura Sessions Stepp discusses and signs her most recent book, Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love, and Lose at Both, as part of the "In Print, In Person" series at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, Va., 703-228-6328.

7 P.M. Lisa See reads from and signs her new historical novel, Peony in Love, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Award-winning pastry chef Ann Amernick, co-owner of the restaurant Palena in Washington, D.C., discusses and signs her new cookbook, The Art of the Dessert (written with Margie Litman), at Olsson's Books-Penn Quarter, 418 Seventh St. NW, 202-638-7610.

24TUESDAY

6:30 P.M. Jamie Malanowski, managing editor of Playboy magazine, reads from and signs The Coup, a political satire, at Borders Books-14th St., 600 14th St. NW, 202-737-1385.

6:30 P.M. Scott W. Carmichael, a senior security and counterintelligence investigator for the Defense Intelligence Agency, discusses and signs his new book, True Believer: Inside the Investigation and Capture of Ana Montes, Cuba's Master Spy, at the International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW. Admission is $20 for the general public; call 202-393-7798 for details and to RSVP.

7 P.M. Historian Marc Leepson discusses and signs Desperate Engagement: How a Little-Known Civil War Battle Saved Washington, D.C., and Changed American History at Olsson's Books-Old Town, 106 S. Union St., Alexandria, Va., 703-684-0077.

7 P.M. Marcus Stern, Jerry Kramer and George E. Condon Jr. discuss The Wrong Stuff: The Extraordinary Saga of Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the Most Corrupt Congressman Ever Caught (written also with Dean Calbreath) at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919. A book signing follows.

7 P.M. Jason Rodriguez discusses and signs Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened (16 short stories inspired by messages scrawled on vintage postcards) at Olsson's Books-Dupont, 1307 19th St. NW, 202-785-1133.

7:30 P.M. Readings by Sarah Browning and Kurt Olsson close the 32nd season of the Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series held at Miller's Cabin, Picnic Grove #6, Beach Dr. at the Military Road overpass in Rock Creek Park, 703-820-8113.

25WEDNESDAY

7 P.M. Award-winning writer ReShonda Tate Billingsley reads from and signs Everybody Say Amen, the sequel to her novel Let the Church Say Amen, at Borders Books-Largo, 913-A Capital Centre Blvd., Largo, Md., 301-499-2173. She will also read on Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at Karibu Books, the Mall at Prince George's, 3500 East-West Hwy., Hyattsville, Md., 301-559-1140.

7 P.M. Travel writer Patricia Schultz discusses 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. and Canada Before You Die, the new spin-off of her bestselling guide 1,000 Place to See Before You Die, as part of the Smithsonian Resident Associate program being held at the National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater, Fourth St. & Independence Ave. SW. Admission is $25 for nonmembers; call 202-357-3030 for details and to RSVP.