THURSDAY 5/22

Nema
Nema is a "magickian" who has penned a book called The Way of Mystery: Magick, Mysticism and Self-Transcendence. Come learn the difference between "magick" and plain ol' "magic." Another Moon, 618 NW Flanders St, 223-9332, 7 pm

Kate Wilhelm
Hugo and Nebula winner Wilhelm has also written some legal thrillers in addition to all the sci-fi. Her thriller Desperate Measures won the Spotted Owl Award in 2002. Friends of Mystery, at the NW Cultural Center, 1819 NW Everett, 241-0759, 7:30 pm, free

Julie Anne Peters
In Other Words has some good stuff going on this week. Tonight hear Peters read from her bitchin' new young adult lesbian romance novel, Keeping You A Secret. In Other Words, 3734 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 232-6003, 7 pm, free

Virgil Suarez
The Havana-born poet and novelist Suarez has written Havana Thursdays, The Cutter, and much, much more. Literary Arts Council, at PSU's Smith Center, 1825 SW Broadway, 725-5666, 7:30 pm, $8

Steve Almond
Short stories about sloppy, drunken kisses and failing relationships make up Almond's debut. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm, free

Todd James Pierce
Poet and novelist Pierce shares from his new book The Australia Stories, the tale of Sam Browne, an Aussie whose famous grandmother goes missing during a hike across the Outback. Please... that grandmother-Outback-hiking story has been done so many times... Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Ave, 224-6203, 7:30 pm, free


FRIDAY 5/23

Ariel Gore
Continuing In Other Words' week o' fun is Gore, creator of Hip Mama, and author of the new memoir, Atlas of the Human Heart. Her events frequently include music and puppets. In Other Words, 3734 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 232-6003, 7 pm, free

Anthony Bourdain
Reckon there's a burgeoning movement in books called "culinary literature" and Bourdain is at the forefront. His book The Bobby Gold Stories is a restaurant thriller about food and sex, interspliced with tasty recipes. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


TUESDAY 5/27

Chris L. Demarest
Like Backdraft in the Great Outdoors, Demarest's book Hotshots explores the triumphs and travails of real-life wildfire fighters. Borders-Downtown, 708 SW 3rd Ave, 221-9814, 7 pm, free

Stiff
Hooray! An entire book about corpses! See My What A Busy Week, pg 15. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


WEDNESDAY 5/28

Portland Poetry Slam Finals
Eight of Portland's best slammers slam down slam-style to see who will get to represent our fair city at the National Poetry Slam in Chicago. Red and Black Cafe, 2138 SE Division St, 231-3899, 8 pm, $8

Dennis Lehane
In Lehane's latest thriller, a U.S. Marshall and his partner investigate an insane asylum fraught with an evil darker than any nightmare. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free