John Hildebrand
Wilderness writer Hildebrand presents A Northern Front, a collection of essays he's written over the last 20 years about the "day-by-day disappearance of wild places and the ever-changing face of the American landscape." Powell's Books on Hawthorne , 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm
Macho Male Writers of the Northwest
Bar XV continues a recent trend of sporadic reading events with an allegedly testosterone-fueled evening curated by noteworthy local author/editor Kevin Sampsell. Two manly writers join him, including local boy Roderick Maclean, whose super-DIY Tropic/of/Cubicle is bound on green hanging file folders and was covertly printed on some unassuming corporate office's Canon Imagerunner after hours. Also: Seattle's Matt Briggs, who will read from The Moss Gatherers, his forthcoming book put out by the very-cool-getting Clear Cut Press. XV , 15 SW 2nd, 7 pm, free
Peter Stark
Something like 500 adventurer-turned-writers have come through Portland this summer, and the fad is getting kind of old. Stark's At the Mercy of the River is a chronicle of his adrenaline-charged escapades while traveling down Mozambique's Lugenda River... ZZZZZZ... Powell's Books on Hawthorne , 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm
Martin Moran
Moran's new book, The Tricky Part, is a meditation on "suffering, despair, forgiveness," and the sexual abuse of a child. But wait, it gets better: Moran is also an acclaimed actor, and a performance of this material is promised 'neath the flickering fluorescents of Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble (Jantzen Beach) , 1720 N Jantzen Beach, 283-2800, 7 pm
Elizabeth Woody
Woody is perhaps one of the Northwest's most acclaimed poets that you've never heard of. Her collection Hand Into Stone received an American Book Award, and she's won a William Stafford Memorial Award and been a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Plus, she's Native American, and when was the last time you read something from that world that wasn't Sherman Alexie? Native American Student and Community Center , 710 SW Jackson, 8 pm, free
Caroline W. Casey
There's always room for a new astrology book, and to celebrate Casey's reading of her lively contribution to the genre, Making the Gods Work for You, In Other Words book store is providing music from the Mambo Queens and "Rune readings" from Moe Bowstern. Sounds fun--too bad astrology is complete and utter horseshit. Old Church , 1422 SW 11 Ave, 232-6003, 7 pm, $8 donation
Robert James Waller
It's a dreary week at Powell's when the most notable reading comes courtesy of Robert James Waller, author of the barf-ilicious Bridges of Madison County. Be sure to let your mother know, and anyone who subscribes to Readers Digest. Powell's City of Books , 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm
Natasha Radojcic
Radojcic presents You Don't Have to Live Here, her follow-up to the acclaimed debut, Homecoming. Powell's City of Books , 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm
