Tucson Weekly: Literature (April 12

LITERATURE
Events This Week
ABIGAIL PADGETT/JOAN DRURY. Antigone Books. 411 N. Fourth Ave. 792-3715. Mystery writer Padgett reads from her book The Last Blue Plate Special April 13 at 7 p.m. In addition, Joan Drury reads from her novel Those Jordan Girls, about four generations of women living together in small-town Minnesota. The readings are followed by a question and answer period. Refreshments are available. Rhoda Berenson discusses her book Lori: My Daughter, Wrongfully Imprisoned In Peru April 20 at 7 p.m.
ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES. Wilmot Library. 530 N. Wilmot Road. Explore the world without leaving the library every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. An experienced traveler presents a slide show that takes you on a journey back through time or around the world. Call 791-4627 for more information.
BARTON/FOWLER/LOVETT. Clues Unlimited. 123 S. Eastbourne Ave. 326-8533. Barton discusses and signs copies of his book Heckler, a mystery featuring stand-up comic Biff Kincaid, April 14 at 2 p.m. Earlene Fowler discusses and signs copies of her latest mystery, Arkansas Traveler, April 16 at 5 p.m. Sarah Lovett discusses and signs copies of her mystery Dante's Inferno, featuring psychologist Sylvia Strange, April 19 at 5 p.m. Admission is free.
FENG SHUI MASTER. Barnes & Noble. 5130 E. Broadway Blvd. 512-1166. Nancilee Wydra discusses and signs copies of Feng Shui for Children's Spaces: A Parent's Guide to Designing Environments in Which Children Will Thrive April 19 at 7 p.m. Learn how to design space to improve your child's quality of life, inspire creativity and promote learning.
HIGH TECH MEMORIES. Himmel Park Branch Library. 1035 N. Treat Ave. 791-4397. Learn about digital cameras, computers and other technological advances for storage and preservation of memorabilia April 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
JAIME CLARKE. UA Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering auditorium. 1130 N. Mountain Ave. UA alumnus Clarke reads from his novel We're So Famous, in which he pulls off a sympathetic act of sustained male imagination: entering the minds of innocent teenage girls dreaming of fame, April 19 at 8 p.m. An informal reception follows the reading. Admission is free and open to the public.
LAURA CHESTER. UA Bookstore. 1209 E. University Ave. Chester, the author of Holy Personal: Looking for Small Private Places of Worship, discusses and signs copies of her book April 17 from noon to 1 p.m.
MEDICAL BENEFIT. Clues Unlimited. 123 S. Eastbourne Ave. 326-8533. As a benefit for the Gay-Straight Medical Student Alliance of the UA College of Medicine, Abigail Padgett signs copies of Last Blue Plate Special and Joan Drury signs copies of Those Jordan Girls. The benefit takes place April 12 at 5 p.m. Admission is free.
MYSTERY WRITERS. HomeTown Buffet. 5101 N. Oracle Road. The Arizona Mystery Writers meet the second Saturday of each month. Newcomers are welcome. Call Marci at 544-4173 for information.
OPEN MIC POETRY NIGHT. Barnes & Noble at Foothills Mall. 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd. 742-6402. Bring your poetry to read April 19 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Poets of all levels are welcome. Admission is free.
PERSONA READING. UA Modern Languages auditorium. 621-1185. Persona, the award-winning undergraduate magazine of literature and art, presents a contributors reading April 18 at 8 p.m. Featured readers include fiction and poetry contributors. There is also a screening of short films by undergraduate students. Admission is free and open to the public. An informal reception follows the presentation.
PIMA POETRY SERIES. PCC West Campus Recital Hall. 2202 W. Anklam Road. 206-6851. A poetry reading to inaugurate Loft and Range, an anthology of poems sponsored by the Pima Poetry Series, takes place April 20 at 7 p.m. A reception and book signing follows the reading. Admission is free and open to the public.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S POETRY WEEK. Wilmot Branch Library. 530 N. Wilmot Road. 791-5647. Teens get a chance to be poets April 16-22 with a mini-fridge interactive display during regular library hours.
Announcements
BUYING FICTION AND POETRY. The Missing Fez seeks submissions for it's Red Felt Award for poetry. The winning poem will receive a $200 cash prize. The contest is open to all genres. Please submit three to five poems along with a SASE by April 30. The entry fee is $5 payable to Red Felt Publishing. Send poems to The Missing Fez, 1720 N. Dodge Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85716. For guidelines, e-mail missing1fez@hotmail.com.
POETRY CONTEST. Write a poem and win $1,000. Hollywood's Famous Poets Society is sponsoring a poetry contest. There is no entry fee. Send one poem of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, PMB126, 1626 N. Wilcox Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028, or enter online at www.famouspoets.com. A winners list is sent to all entrants. Deadline for submissions is April 28. For more information contact Mark Schramm at mark@famouspoets.com or call (800) 498-0399.
CALL TO POETS. The Laughing Dog: Strictly Poetry is accepting submissions for its spring issue. Submit up to three poems, no longer than 30 lines each, with a SASE to The Laughing Dog, 4740 E. Sunrise Drive, MBE# 326, Tucson, AZ 85718. No simultaneous submissions or previously published poems.
CALL TO POETS. Better than a Stick in the Eye is seeking submissions of poetry, prose, pen and ink drawings, and black-and-white photographs for its upcoming issue. Submit works with SASE to Stumblin' Tumbleweed Press at 4560 E. 19th St., Tucson, AZ 85711. For more information call 514-0719.
CHESS KNIGHTS. Borders Books. 5870 E. Broadway Blvd. 584-0111. Every Monday night from 6 to 9 p.m., stop in for a game or two of chess. Borders supplies the pieces and boards.
ECLECTIC WRITERS GROUP. Eclectic writers meet from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday to read original works, practice writing, critique work and discuss related issues. All forms, styles and skill levels are encouraged. There is no membership fee. Call 797-6614 for detailed information.
FAMILY HISTORY LAND. Family History Land. 6121 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 143. The Friends of Family History Land and Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson present classes in April on Fridays and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. Seminars include Using the Soundex, U.S Vital Records, U.S. Church Records, U.S. Military Records, British Isles Records in the Family History Library and more. Classes are free to members of Friends or Los Descendientes and $10 for non-members. Call 790-5444 to register.
FICTION KRITIK GROUP. Accelerate your writing! Published writers and those working to get published meet every Wednesday evening from 8 to 10. The group writes, critiques, shares how-tos, breaks blocks and has fun. Call 325-8576 or 622-6281 for location and more information.
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS. Pima Community College. 2202 W. Anklam Road. Literacy Volunteers of Pima County can train you to tutor in basic literacy or English as a Second Language through workshops. Call 882-8006 for information.
OPEN MIC AND POETRY READING. Hazy Dayz Lounge Cafe. 187 N. Park Ave. This gathering is held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Participants should arrive at 7 p.m., and guests should show up at 7:30 p.m. For information call 884-0272. Admission is free.
OPEN MIC NIGHT. Safehouse E-Bar. 4024 E. Speedway Blvd. 318-3090. Bring your mind, poems (rants, lies, random thoughts and more) and an appetite for caffeine and smokes April 16 from 10 p.m. until whenever. Admission is free.
POETRY AT THE RIVER. Dusenberry-River Center Library. 5605 E. River Road, No. 105. Join local poets for an evening of open readings the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All forms and abilities are welcome. Admission is free. For more information call Lee at 615-7720 or Frank at 299-3451.
POETRY CONTEST. The Talent Literary Guild is sponsoring an amateur poetry contest. To enter send one poem of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, 1257 Siskiyou Blvd., PMB 4, Ashland, OR 97520 or visit www.freecontest.com. Poems may cover any subject, using any style. The deadline is April 20.
REGIONAL POETRY SLAM. Plush. Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street. 743-8344. Sign up April 24 at 6:15 p.m. to represent Tucson in the Arizona Regional Poetry Slam, which takes place May 26 in Arcosanti. There is a $3 entry free, and a three-minute limit per poem. No props, costumes or music. Admission is free for non-participants.
STATE POETRY SOCIETY MEETING. Woods Library. 3455 N. First Ave. The Arizona State Poetry Society meets the fourth Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring one of your poems to share. Call Tom Abrams at 296-2449 for more information.
WORKING WRITERS WORKSHOP. The workshop, taught by veteran Hollywood writer/producers Larry and Paul Barber, takes place April 21-22. For fees, location, information and to reserve a space call (888) 433-7800.