THURSDAY 8/5

* Aurora Levins Morales
Battling the dog days of summer, In Other Words has assembled a strong lineup of writers this week, starting tonight with Morales, a powerful latina/feminist voice and author of the short story collection Remedios. In Other Words, 3734 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 232-6003, 7 pm

* Short Films 101
Portland may very well be the homemade short film capital of the world, so expect this event to be well attended. Author/producer/general Hollywood guru Frederick Levy will be in attendance to read and sign. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm

Jeffrey Deaver
Clever thriller writer Deaver presents the best-named book of the year: Garden of Beasts, about a hitman who takes the moral high ground amidst the crazy world of 1930s Berlin. Powell's-Beaverton, 8725 SW Cascade Ave, 643-3131, 7 pm


FRIDAY 8/6

* Willamette Writers Conference
The Willamette Writers Conference is a three-day event loaded with workshops, panels, and networking opportunities for writers of all shapes and sizes. Every genre is covered, from fiction to screenwriting, to graphic novels to poetry. Speakers and workshop leaders include Tim Cahill, Phillip Margolin, and more. See willamettewriters.com for the full schedule. Embassy Suites-Portland Airport, 452-1592, Fri-Sun, $250-450 depending on how many days you wish to attend


SATURDAY 8/7

* Core Sample release party
See review this issue. Eagles Lodge, 4904 SE Hawthorne, 232-7505, 7 pm, $5

* Bullfight
A new literary journal has sprouted in the Bay Area and seems to have its shit together. A whole bunch of contributors to the first issue appear tonight, including Ryan Boudinot, Sarah Charukesnant, Lisa Ko, Calvin Liu, Roderick Maclean, Kevin Sampsell, and visual artist Matt Clark, who will be making on-the-spot sketches for lucky audience members. Urban Grind, 2214 NE Oregon, 546-0649, 8 pm, free


MONDAY 8/9

Write Place Writing Group
We hate to be snobby, but holding the Powell's writing group at the downtown location indicates to us that it's a SLOW month for readings. And sure enough, a look at the upcoming calendar shows that August is one of the most unexciting Powell's lineups in recent memory. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7 pm


TUESDAY 8/10

Lean Press
A new publishing house devoted to women's writing and illustrating presents an orientation event. All females with literary aspirations come on down. In Other Words, 3734 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 232-6003, 7 pm

Paulann Petersen & Doug Spangle
Two Portland poets read from newly published materials. Petersen's collection Blood Silk is an ambitious poetic-historical chronicle of the ancient Ottomon Empire. Spangle's chapbook August has taken 25 years to write, and challenges the notion that a 500-line poem of continuous form is impossible in the current English language. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm

David Ohle
Acclaimed fiction writer and editor Ohle presents The Age of Sinatra, the long-awaited sequel to his 1972 underground hit Motorman. Reading Frenzy, 921 SW Oak, 274-1449, 7 pm, free


WEDNESDAY 8/11

Black Olive & Christopher
Reading Frenzy continues its busy week with two comic book artists who will share from their comics Outlook: Grim and The Ghouly Boys. Someone should tell Christopher if he's going to go with the one-word moniker he needs to pick something cool like Madonna, or Sting. Reading Frenzy, 921 SW Oak, 274-1449, 7 pm