New User Orientation
Learn to use the equipment, the center, and the publishing possibilities are infinite. Independent Publishing Resource Center, 917 SW Oak Street, #218, 827-0249, 7 pm, Free
Pacific Poetry Reading
William Stafford was such a vital force in Portland's poetry world, a wonderful man and a wonderful writer. Insightful, generous, and a pacifist. Now, this bookstore is offering a Stafford broadside of a single anti-war poem. Beautiful. Celebrate with readings by three local poets who had a connection to Stafford: Paulann Petersen, Janice Gould, and Derek Sheffield. Looking Glass Bookstore, 318 SW Taylor, 227-4760, 7 pm
Rita Golden Gelman
Here's a book that raises the age old question: Who is paying the bills? Tales of a Female Nomad is the memoir of a woman who made a life change at 46, from children's book author to professional tourist on an ever extended vacation. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm
Shannon Wheeler
Too Much Coffee Man's Amusing Musings. "Wading through the underarm of Human Existence." Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm
Portland Bridges, Soaring Spans
Learn how our bridges are built. One of those everyday, human engineered miracles. Powell's Technical books, 33 NW Park Ave, 228-3906, 1 pm
Literature in Performance
Keith Scales, Rebecca J. Becker, and Tobias Anderson read the work of Connie Willis. Many years ago, Willis herself taught me a writing rule I live by today. Here it is: Every sentence should do three things. Set the tone, advance the plot, and reveal the character. Listen close, see if her work holds up. Borders Books and Music, 708 SW 3rd Ave, 220-5911, 7 pm
