Literary Calendar

August 11-17, 2008

11 MONDAY

6:30 P.M. Journalist Maggie Jackson discusses and signs her new book, Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age, at Busboys and Poets (D.C.), 2021 14th St. NW, 202-387-7638. She will also speak on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Shirlington Branch Public Library, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., 703-228-6545. A book signing will follow at 8:30 p.m. across the street at Busboys and Poets (Shirlington), 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., 703-379-9756.

7 P.M. Journalist Dick Meyer, a former columnist, reporter and producer for CBS News (and now with NPR), discusses and signs his new book, Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-1919.

12 TUESDAY

7 P.M. George Pelecanos reads from and signs The Turnaround, his new urban noir set on the streets of D.C., at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919. He will also read on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, 703-998-0404.

7 P.M. Luke Salisbury reads from and signs his novel Hollywood and Sunset at the Book Nook Bookstore, 5606 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md., 301-209-0035.

7:30 P.M. Screenwriter and novelist Dirk Wittenborn, a producer of the HBO series "Born Rich," reads from and signs his new work of fiction, Pharmakon, at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, Route 7 at Columbia Pike, Baileys Crossroads, Va., 703-998-0404.

13 WEDNESDAY

Noon. Peter R. Penczer discusses his new illustrated history, The Washington National Mall, as part of the United States Capitol Historical Society's "August Brown Bag Lecture Series" being held at the VFW Building, 200 Maryland Ave. NE. Seating is limited, so pack a lunch (and a copy of the book to be signed) and call 202-543-8919, ext. 38 or e-mail uschs@uschs.org to RSVP.

7 P.M. Ted Widmer, director of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University, discusses and signs his new book, Ark of the Liberties: America and the World, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Solveig Eggerz reads from and signs her new novel, Seal Woman (winner of the Maryland Writers' Association's first prize for fiction), at the Alexandria Library, Barrett Branch, 717 Queen St., Alexandria, Va., 703-838-4555.

14 THURSDAY

12:30 P.M. Eugene Sullivan reads from and signs his new political thriller, The Report to the Judiciary, at Barnes & Noble-Metro Center, 555 12th St. NW, 202-347-0176.

7 P.M. Historian Amanda Griffith presents a lecture, "A New Deal for West Virginia: A Pictorial History of Arthurdale, Eleanor Roosevelt and the Origins of Community Planning," at the National Conservation Training Center, Byrd Auditorium, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, W. Va. Griffith is the author of Arthurdale (part of the "Images of America" pictorial series from Arcadia), detailing the history of the West Virginia town that was the nation's first New Deal Homestead community. Call 304-876-7276 or visit http://www.training.fws.gov for details.

7 P.M. Talane Miedaner, creator of the Web site LifeCoach.com, discusses and signs The Secret Laws of Attraction: The Effortless Way to Get the Relationship You Want at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. Lewis D. Solomon and Janet Stern Solomon discuss and sign Bratproofing Your Children: How to Raise Socially and Financially Responsible Kids at Barnes & Noble-Bethesda, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, Md., 301-986-1761.

16 SATURDAY

12:30 P.M. Children's book author and illustrator Mike Thompson reads from and signs his new book, Chicken Boy and the Wrath of Dr. Dimwad, at Borders Books-Warrenton, 251 W. Lee Hwy., Warrenton, Va., 540-347-9412.

2 P.M. Rebecca M. Hale reads from and signs her new mystery, How to Wash a Cat, at Barnes & Noble-Market Common, 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, Va., 703-248-8244.

17 SUNDAY

4 P.M."Sunday Kind of Love," the monthly poetry series at Busboys and Poets (D.C.), presents readings by Kim Roberts, editor of the online journal Beltway Poetry Quarterly, and Thomas Sayers Ellis, a Washington native and author of The Maverick Room. An open mic segment follows; call 202-387-7638 for details.

SPECIAL NOTICES

The D.C. Public Library and the literacy advocacy group D.C. LEARNs will host a Literacy Volunteer Fair on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. The event will feature representatives from numerous literary organizations in the city, who will counsel prospective volunteers on the programs, training and opportunities available, whether it's helping adults learn to read, earn a GED or grasp the basics of English as a second language. For more information and to RSVP, call Ben Merrion at 202-727-2431 or e-mail benjamin.merrion@dc.gov by Sept. 8.

The Washington Literacy Council, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping adults learn to read, will hold an information session for those interested in training as a reading tutor on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This initial meeting provides information on the program and the chance to get answers to all your tutoring questions. It's also mandatory in order to take part in the council's upcoming tutor training workshop being held on two consecutive Thursdays -- Sept. 18 and 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. All training is held at the council's location, 1918 18th St. NW, Ste. B-2. A $50 fee (tax deductible) is requested to help offset the cost of materials; for more details and to download a tutor application, visit http://www.washingtonliteracycouncil.org.

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold two orientation sessions for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write and speak English: Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, both at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. Once volunteers have completed the orientation, they can select a two-part training session that fits their schedules. The next planned workshop will be held at the Rockville Library on Saturday, Sept. 13 & 27, from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. For complete details, call 301-610-0030, e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org or visit http://www.literacycouncilmcmd.org.

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will hold a basic literacy training workshop for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read and write English beginning on Saturday, Sept. 6, and continuing over the following Saturdays, Sept. 13 and 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day (must attend all sessions) at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, Va. Also offered is an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutor training program, to support volunteers in helping adults who need assistance in understanding and speaking English, as well as reading and writing. The next training session begins Saturday, Oct. 11, and continues on Oct. 18 and 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Like the basic literacy training, all sessions are required. For details, call 703-237-0866 or visit http://www.lcnv.org.