Literary Calendar

Literary/Poetry

Booktoberfest Book Sale - More than 15,000 new and used books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, videos, puzzles and games for 50 cents to $1 each (vintage books will be priced appropriately). Benefits the animals of the Spokane Humane Society. Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Spokane Humane Society, 6607 N. Havana St. Free. (509) 467-5235, ext. 211.

BootSlam - Competitive performance poetry presented by Spokane Poetry Slam. Poets have three minutes per round to present their original work, which is judged by five audience members chosen at random. The poet with the highest cumulative score after two rounds wins the $50 prize. Content is not censored. Sign-ups at 7 p.m.; slam at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Boots Bakery, 24 W. Main Ave. $5/to compete and suggested audience donation. (509) 703-7223.

Books are Fun Book and Gift Fair - Items for all ages at discounted prices. Benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. Open to the public. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Rock Pointe III, 1330 N. Washington St.; Wednesday-Friday,10 a.m.-3 p.m., Rock Pointe East, lobby, 1313 N. Atlantic Ave. (509) 953-3246.

Book Drive - Benefits inmates of Washington State Penitentiary and provides free books to people incarcerated, improving literacy in prisons and bolstering poorly funded prison libraries. Gently used novels, chess books, dictionaries and GED test preparation books are often requested. No spiral-bound or hardback book, romance novels or books published before 1984 (binding glue becomes brittle and books fall apart). Collection bins will be located in Holland/Terrell Library, Owen Science and Engineering Library and the Student Recreation Center. Monday, Washington State University, 1630 N.E. Valley Road, Pullman. (509) 335-4667.

Washington State University Visiting Writer Series - With renowned writers Terry Tempest Williams and Brooke Williams, who will read from their recent work about their experiences with nature and ecological awareness. Tuesday, 5 p.m., Washington State University, Compton Union Building auditorium, 2000 NE Stadium Way, Pullman. Free. (509) 338-2581.

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”: Anatomy of a Masterpiece - Although regarded as Gothic sensationalism when first published − both for its lurid tale of a scientist driven mad by his obsession to animate the dead, and for the surprising news that the author was 19-year-old Mary Shelley − “Frankenstein” has resonated widely in the popular imagination, most notably in theater and cinemas. Led by scholar Lance Rhoades, this multimedia presentation considers how Shelley addressed some of mankind’s greatest concerns with a creation that took on a life of its own. Explore and discuss these complicated and complex issues. Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Cheney Library, 610 First St., Cheney, (509) 893-8280; Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road, (509) 893-8350. Free.

Food For Thought Book Club - Discussion of “Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World,” by Paul Stamets. Wednesday, 6 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Library, Gozzer Room, 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 769-2315.

Storytime at Spark Center - For toddlers and preschoolers. Parents and guardians are invited to sit with their little ones for a story time that incorporates movement, puppets and more. Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Spark Center, 1214 W. Summit Parkway. Free. (509) 466-0376.

Author Chris Carlson - Informally discussing his books including his newest book, “Eye on the Caribou: Inside the Alaska Lands Bill.” Wednesday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., BookPeople, 521 S. Main St., Moscow. (208) 882-2669.

Poetry Scribes of Spokane - Wholesome poetry for ages 18 and older. Bring a favorite poem to read. Wednesday, 1 p.m., North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road. (509) 796-2180.

Author Hap Klopp - Reading, discussion and signing with the former North Face CEO and author of the book “Almost: 12 Electric Months Chasing a Silicon Valley Dream.” Wednesday, 7 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Author Seth Kantner - Reading, discussion and signing of “Swallowed by the Great Land.” Kantner is also the author of “Ordinary Wolves.” Thursday, 7 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Spokanity and Grohls - Pacifica Literary Review and Willow Springs are teaming up to present an East-meets-West night of Washington’s finest poetry and prose. Wordsmiths from Seattle and Eastern Washington will gather for the greatest assemblage of literary talent between the Snake River and the Salish Sea. Doors open at 7 p.m. Featuring Brian Cooney, Nance Van Winckel, Chelsea Werner-Jatzke, Alexandra Teague and Alicia K. Padovitch. Friday, the Big Dipper, 171 S. Washington St. Free. (509) 863-8098.

Poetry Reading with Keith Moul - A poet for almost 50 years, he has also published photos, including a volume called “Reconsidered Light,” which consists of 50 photos about which he has written 50 poems. Friday, 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m., South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Free. (509) 444-5385.

Author Paul Duffau - Reading, discussion and signing with the author. Friday, 7 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

SpoYo: Spokane Youth Book Festival - From the organization that puts on the annual Get Lit festival comes SpoYo, the Spokane Youth Books Festival, featuring a slate full of free events and interactive activities where young people and their families will be able to discover new books, play with words and illustrations, and meet and talk to authors, including best-sellers Nick Bruel (“Bad Kitty” series), Sherri Duskey Rinker (“Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site”). Saturday, 9 a.m., Riverpoint Campus Phase One Building, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Free. (509) 828-1498.

Saturday Morning Cartoons - As a spin-off of INK’s wildly successful Origin Stories program, this is a comic and graphic-novel style drawing and writing playshop that inspires students’ creativity and builds story-telling skills. Register online at http://www.sparkwestcentral.org. Saturday, 10 a.m., Spark Center, 1214 W. Summit Parkway. Free.

Spokane Novelists Group - A support/critique group for writers, open to anyone with an interest in writing fiction. No memoirs, nonfiction or poetry. Participants should bring five to 10 pages to read aloud and six to eight copies for others to read along and critique. Meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month, noon-4 p.m., Otis Orchards Community Church, 23304 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. (509) 590-7316.

“The Wolf of Britannia, Part I & II” - Spokane Valley author Jess Steven Hughes will sign copies of his historical novels, the prequels to his novel “The Sign of the Eagle.” These two volumes are about the Celtic British King Caratacus, who fought the Romans for eight years after they invaded Britain in 43 A.D. Saturday, 1 p.m., Hastings Books - Coeur d’Alene, 101 Best Ave., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 664-0464.

Author A.M. Hodgson - The Mead High School graduate will be signing “Prelude,” the first novel of her Rhapsody Quartet series. The fantasy is a coming-of-age story for young adults that features sirens, mermaids, elves, dragons, dwarves, djinn and more. Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Author Krista Gilbert - Reading, discussion and signing with the author. Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Spokane Youth Books Festival: Author S.E. Grove - Her 2014 debut for middle-grade readers, “The Glass Sentence,” was an Indiebound and New York Times best-seller. Its sequel, “The Golden Specific,” was published this summer and continues the 19th century, oceanfaring adventures of young protagonists Sophia and Theo. The author will read from her work and talk about her writing process and inspiration, as well as take questions from the audience and sign books. Saturday, 7 p.m., Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. $5. (509) 828-1498.