Literary Calendar

6 P.M. Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Natalie Angier will be joined by her husband, Rick Weiss, an award-winning science reporter for The Washington Post, for an illustrated discussion of Angier's recent book, The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science, at the Marian Koshland Science Museum, National Academy of Sciences, Sixth & E Sts. NW. Tickets are $8 each ($5 for students); for details and reservations, call 202-334-1201 or visit http://www.koshland-science-museum.org.

7 P.M. Harvard University law professor Randall Kennedy discusses and signs Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal at Olsson's Books-Penn Quarter, 418 Seventh St. NW, 202-638-7610.

7 P.M. Veteran relationship counselor John Gray discusses and signs his new primer, Why Mars & Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress, at Borders Books-White Flint, 11301 Rockville Pike, Kensington, Md., 301-816-1067.

7 P.M. Economist Tim Harford, a member of the editorial board of the Financial Times (where he also writes the "Dear Economist" column), discusses and signs his new book, The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Jennifer Lee Carrell reads from and signs Interred with Their Bones, her new Shakespeare-inspired thriller, at Olsson's Books-Dupont, 1307 19th St. NW, 202-785-1133.

7:30 P.M. Steve Berry reads from and signs his new thriller, The Venetian Betrayal, at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, 703-998-0404.

25 FRIDAY

7 P.M. Carole Burns discusses and signs Off the Page: Writers Talk About Beginnings, Endings, and Everything in Between, drawn from her experience hosting the online literary program "Off the Page" (part of the Live Discussions series on washingtonpost.com) at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919. She will be joined by several of the writers the book profiles.

26 SATURDAY

2 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 the Silver Spring Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station, 8100 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring Md. Call 301-537-1253 for details.

3 P.M. Writer, photographer and canine aficionado Jean M. Fogle reads from and signs her new book of photographs, Salty Dogs, at Borders Books-Winchester, 2420 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Winchester, Va., 540-535-2243.

8 P.M. The Writer's Center in Bethesda is marking its 31st birthday with a reading by Stanley Plumly, a longtime professor at the University of Maryland and award-winning poet, from his most recent book of verse, Old Heart, at the Allan Lefcowitz Theatre, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, Md. A book signing and birthday festivities follow. Admission is free, but reservations are required; visit http://www.writer.org for details.

27 SUNDAY

4 P.M. James W. Loewen discusses his work, including the revised edition of Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong and, most recently, Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, at the Shirlington Public Library, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., 703-228-6545. A book signing will follow across the street at Busboys and Poets, 4251 S. Campbell Ave., 703-379-9756.

SPECIAL NOTICES

The Pennwriters 21st Annual Conference, "A Writer's Smorgasbord," will be held May 16-18 at the Host Resort in Lancaster, Pa. Writing workshops, intensive seminars and opportunities to meet with editors and agents are all on the agenda, as is a keynote address and dinner with award-winning writer Joyce Carol Oates. Registration is now open (you can register for one day or the entire conference); visit http://www.pennwriters.org.

The Word Works is seeking submissions for the 28th annual Washington Prize, awarded for a manuscript of previously unpublished, original poetry by a living American writer. Manuscripts should be 48 to 64 pages; the author's name, address, phone number, e-mail address and signature should appear on the title page only (there are further manuscript stipulations, so be sure to visit http://www.wordworksdc.com). Manuscripts will not be returned, but send a self-addressed, stamped business envelope to be notified of the results. An entry fee of $25 applies. Entries will be accepted Jan. 15 through March 1. Send to: Steven B. Rogers, Word Works Washington Prize, 3201 Taylor St., Mt. Rainier, Md. 20712.