Literary Calendar

29 MONDAY

3:30 P.M. Children's book authors and illustrators (and husband and wife team) Steve Jenkins and Robin Page read from and discuss their new collaboration, the picture book How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?, at Aladdin's Lamp Children's Bookstore, 2499 N. Harrison St., Arlington, Va., 703-241-8281.

7:30 P.M. The Folger Poetry series opens its 2008-09 (and 40th anniversary) season with readings by Nick Flynn, Terrance Hayes, Eileen Myles and Edwin Torres, all contributors to the new anthology State of the Union: 50 Political Poems, at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. A wine reception and book signing follow. Tickets are $12; call 202-544-7077 or visit http://www.folger.edu/poetry.

30 TUESDAY

6:30 P.M. Robert Fisk, Middle East bureau chief for the Independent newspaper, discusses and signs The Age of the Warrior: Selected Essays in an event sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C., at 1800 K St. NW, conference room B1. A reception and book signing follow. Admission is $15 for the general public, $10 for council members. Call 202-293-1051 or e-mail event@worldaffairsdc.org to RSVP.

1 WEDNESDAY

6 P.M. Local author Michael J. Sullivan reads from and signs his new fantasy novel, The Crown Conspiracy, at Barnes & Noble-Market Common, 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, Va., 703-248-8244.

7 P.M. Marine Corps veteran David J. Danelo discusses and signs his new book, The Border: Exploring the U.S.-Mexican Divide, at Olsson's Books-Dupont, 1307 19th St. NW, 202-785-1133.

7 P.M. Retired journalist and lobbyist Joseph S. Miller discusses and signs The Wicked Wine of Democracy: A Memoir of a Political Junkie 1948-1995 at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. Biologist George B. Schaller, head conservationist of the World Conservation Society and author of numerous books, including A Naturalist and Other Beasts: Tales from a Life in the Field and The Last Panda, presents a lecture, "A Life in the Wild," at the National Zoo, Visitor Center Auditorium, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Admission is free, but call 202-633-4085 or visit http://www.FONZ.org to RSVP.

7:30 P.M. Ian Rankin reads from and signs his new Inspector Rebus novel, Exit Music, at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, Route 7 at Columbia Pike, Baileys Crossroads, Va., 703-998-0404.

7:30 P.M. Laurence Gonzales discusses and signs Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things as part of the "National Geographic Live!" series held at the National Geographic Society, Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St. NW. Admission is $18 for nonmembers; call 202-857-7700 or visit http://www.nglive.org to RSVP.

2 THURSDAY

10:30 A.M. Children's book author and illustrator Brian Lies reads from and discusses his new picture book, Bats at the Library, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Stephanie Elizondo Griest discusses and signs Mexican Enough: My Life Between the Borderlines at Olsson's Books-Dupont, 202-785-1133.

7:30 P.M. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska discusses and signs his new book, America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers (written with Peter Kaminsky), at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-656-2797.