Literary Calendar
Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2008

Sunday, September 28, 2008

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.

3 FRIDAY

7 P.M. Cartoonist and novelist Lynda Barry, creator of the syndicated strip "Ernie Pook's Comeek," discusses and signs What It Is, her gathering of at times autobiographical collages exploring the meaning of art, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

4 SATURDAY

10 A.M. The Library of Congress hosts the 15th annual presentation of the Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, sponsored by the Univ. of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) in recognition of "U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore or selected non-fiction published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean or Latinos in the United States." The 2007 honorees are author Pat Mora and illustrator Rafael Lopez for the picture book Yum! Mmmm! Qué Rico!: America's Sproutings, and author Laura Resau for the YA novel Red Glass. A continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m. will precede the ceremony, which takes place in the James Madison Bldg., Mumford Room, 101 Independence Ave. SE. The event is free, but reservations are required; call 202-707-2013.

1 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-Fredericksburg, 1220 Carl D. Silver Pkwy., Fredericksburg, Va., 540-785-6171.

5 SUNDAY

10 A.M. Katherine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and author of A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope, discusses the state of the church in the 21st century as part of "The Sunday Forum: Critical Issues in the Light of Faith," a weekly series held prior to the 11:15 a.m. service at the Washington National Cathedral, hosted by Dean Sam Lloyd. The cathedral is located at Wisconsin & Massachusetts Aves. NW; call 202-364-6616 or visit http://www.nationalcathedral.org.

1 P.M. Ken Silverstein, the Washington editor of Harper's magazine, discusses and signs Turkmeniscam: How Washington Lobbyists Fought to Flack for a Stalinist Dictatorship at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

3 P.M. The Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) presents "A Family Affair: Poetry and Nature," an event featuring readings by Native American poet Joy Harjo, author of the collections The Woman Who Fell from the Sky and How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975-2001, while kids can take part in a supervised nature walk and get a lesson in haiku. A reception and book sale follow. Tickets are $10 for individuals, $5 for additional family members. It all takes place at the Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Rd., Woodstock, Md. Call 410-772-4568, e-mail information@hocopolitso.org or visit http://www.hocopolitso.org for more details and to purchase tickets.

5 P.M. James Traub discusses and signs The Freedom Agenda: Why America Must Spread Democracy (Just Not the Way George Bush Did) at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

SPECIAL NOTICES

The 13th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. at Montgomery College, Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville, Md. The event boasts numerous workshops (on the novel, memoir, short stories to name a few), the chance to meet one-on-one with a literary consultant or journal editor (on a first-come basis, so register early) and readings and discussions with distinguished authors, including Susan Cheever and mystery veterans Laura Lippman and George Pelecanos, both of whom will chat about their work in a conversation moderated by Book World columnist Michael Dirda. And Elmore Leonard, author of bestselling mysteries and short stories such as Mr. Majestyk, Get Shorty and Tishomingo Blues, will receive the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Award, following in the footsteps of such noted writers as John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates and William J. Kennedy. For complete details and to register, call 301-309-9461 or visit http://www.peerlessrockville.org.

Washington Writers' Publishing House (WWPH), a collective literary press created in 1973, announces an open call for its annual fiction and poetry prize contests from residents living within 60 driving miles of the Capitol (Baltimore region included). Book-length manuscripts (there is a fee of $20 for poetry, $25 for fiction) should be submitted by Nov. 1. For complete guidelines, visit http://www.washingtonwriters.org.

Capital BookFest, now in its fourth year, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Blvd @ Cap Centre, 913-A Capital Centre Blvd. in Largo, Md. Among the throng of authors scheduled to attend are poet and children's author Nikki Giovanni, novelist Tananarive Due, ex-"Celebrity Apprentice" contestant Omarosa, baker and entrepreneur Warren Brown and Douglas A. Blackmon, Atlanta bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal and the author of the new book Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II. Call 703-371-4325 or visit http://www.capitalbookfest.org.