Literary Calendar

Dr. Seuss’ 110th Birthday - Come 1 Come 2, Who? Why, YOU! What? A very special birthday party! When? Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (come for an hour or the afternoon) Where? Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. How? “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Oh, the Places You’ll Go You are invited to be our special guest along with invited local celebrity readers, including Spokane Valley firefighters, Spokane Indians mascot Otto and friend, Spokane Valley Mayor Grafos and the entire Lilac Royal Court. These celebrities will be sharing their favorite books throughout the day. You’ll also be able to meet and take a picture with the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2. We’ll be making picture frames, hats, playing games, and eating cupcakes, of course it is a birthday party! Stay for an hour or all afternoon. Free. (509) 893-8400.

Airway Heights Library Book Club - Discussion of “Half Broke Horses” by Jeannette Walls. All meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Airway Heights Library, 1213 S. Lundstrom St., Airway Heights. Free. (509) 893-8200.

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back! - Storytime and Craft - With so many wonderful stories, we can’t read them all in one day. So we are going to continue our celebration of Dr. Seuss because “the more you read the more things you will know!” Stay afterward for fantastic craft about our one and only Cat in the Hat! Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, children’s section, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.

Poetry Scribes of Spokane - Wholesome poetry for ages 18 and older. Bring a favorite poem to read. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month, September-June. Wednesday, 1 p.m., North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road. (509) 796-2180.

Mystery to Me Book Group - Discussion of “The Cold Dish” by Craig Johnson. Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206

Eight Fascinating Court Decisions Affecting Indians and Tribes - Stephen L. Pevar, author and National Staff Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, he presents an interactive presentation discussing the legal history of federally recognized Tribes. Pevar’s book, “The Rights of Indians and Tribes,” will be available for purchase at the event which will also include a book signing following the presentation. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Gonzaga University School of Law, Barbieri Courtroom, 721 N. Cincinnati St. Free.

Author Ariel Gore - Presenting “The End of Eve,” a darkly humorous and intimately human story that redefines the meaning of family and everything we’ve ever been taught to call “love.” In 1993, Gore founded Hip Mama, an award-winning parenting zine covering the culture and politics of motherhood. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206

Teen Writers of the Inland Empire - T.W.I.N.E. meets the first Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. to write with other teens and share your work in an encouraging, positive environment. They will have lots of paper, pens, and pretzels (or similarly tasty writers snack). For grades six and older. Participate online anytime at the T.W.I.N.E. blog: teenwritersoftheinlandempire. blogspot.com/. Thursday, Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., Spokane Valley. Free. (509) 893-8400.

Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers - Sarah Porter will speak about her book, “Hot Cross Buns,” that she co-authored with Judy Rogers. Everyone is welcome. Thursday, 3 p.m., Golden Corral Restaurant, 7117 N. Division St. Meal purchase is required. (509) 489-2136.

Author Makiia Lucier - Book signing of her novel, “A Death-Struck Year,” based on the most devastating pandemic in recorded world history. The Spanish influenza is ravaging the East Coast, but Cleo Berry knows it is a world away from the safety of her home in Portland. Then the flu moves into the Pacific Northwest. Schools, churches and theaters are shut down. The entire city is thrust into survival mode – and into a panic. Seventeen-year-old Cleo is told to stay put in her quarantined boarding school, but when the Red Cross pleads for volunteers, she cannot ignore the call for help. In the grueling days that follow her headstrong decision, she risks everything for near-strangers. The book leaves readers asking: What would I do for a neighbor? At what risk to myself? Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., BookPeople, 521 S. Main St., Moscow. (208) 882-2669.

Author Susan Elaine Fleming- Presenting “Alice Ada Wood Ellis,” the story of Alice who traveled to Seattle in 1900 on a locomotive steam train to join the Alaska-Yukon-Klondike Gold Rush Stampede. She built a home in Green Lake. Soon after she placed two beds in her front parlor in her home and helped women with birthing. She fulfilled her calling as a pioneer midwife-nurse. This epic saga includes life in 1895 nursing schools, train robbers, birthing in the home, Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, women’s suffrage, bubonic plague and unclaimed children. Period items will be on display as well. Thursday, 7 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206

“Growing a Garden City” - The next meeting of The Inland Empire Gardeners introduces Jeremy N. Smith, author of “Growing a Garden City,” as he speaks on unlocking people power for positive change through local food, farms and gardens. Smith will share surprising, inspiring stories from his book, in which 15 main characters he calls the “new faces of local food” – including a troubled teen, a grandmother of 20, a homeless shelter chef, a single mother, a food bank officer, an entire first grade class – transformed themselves and their neighborhoods through the intersection of agriculture and community, and discuss larger lessons for “growing together” in Spokane and beyond. Thursday, 6:30 p.m., CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. Free. (509) 535-8434.

3 Minute Mic: Open Mic Poetry - Isaac Grambo will be guest-hosting this evening. Featured reader is poet Laura Read. She teaches composition, literature, and creative writing courses at Spokane Falls Community College, and she’s the author of two poetry collections: “The Chewbacca on Hollywood Boulevard Reminds Me of You” and “Instructions for My Mother’s Funeral.” She’ll be reading from the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, among others. Friday, 7 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

“The Snatchabook” by Helen Docherty - Storytime and Craft - What better storytime is there than to read books about books? It’s bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown, a young rabbit, decides to stay awake and catch the book thief. Stay after for a fun craft! Saturday, 11 a.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, children’s section, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.

Spokane Novelists Group - Strong critiquing of fiction only, novels and short stories. Bring five to 10 pages to read to the group and six to eight copies. Group meets second and fourth Saturdays of the month Saturday, noon, Otis Orchards Library, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards. Free. (509) 891-1695.

Author Peter Stark - Unfolding from 1810 to 1813, “Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Pacific Empire,” is a tale of high adventure and incredible hardship, drawing extensively on firsthand accounts of those who made the journey. Though the colony itself would be short-lived, its founders opened provincial American eyes to the remarkable potential of the western coast, discovered the route that became the Oregon Trail, and permanently altered the nation’s landscape and global standing. Saturday, noon, Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Author Mary Cronk Farrell - Presenting her book “Pure Grit: How American WWII Nurses Survived Battle & Prison Camp in the Pacific.” In the early 1940s, young women enlisted for peacetime duty as U.S. Army nurses. But when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 blasted the United States into World War II, dozens of American Army and Navy nurses serving in the Philippines were suddenly treating wounded and dying soldiers while bombs exploded around them. Later, when most of them were captured by the Japanese as prisoners of war, they suffered disease and near-starvation for three years. “Pure Grit” is a story of sisterhood and suffering, of tragedy and betrayal, of death and life. The women cared for one another, maintained discipline, and honored their vocation to nurse anyone in need – all coming home alive. Saturday, 2 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, main floor, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

The Wordwright’s Workshop - Open to anyone looking for poetry prompts and constructive critique. All experience levels are welcome, and there is no need to have anything prepared beforehand. Workshops consist of brief writing exercises, a prompt, some writing time, and time for presentation and discussion. The focus is primarily on poetry, but writers and performers of all kinds are encouraged to contribute. Content and language are not censored. Adult themes can be explored, and discretion is advised. Monthly workshop organized by Spokane Poetry Slam. Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.