Poet plans signing party for first collection

Summer isn’t the traditional time for book-publication parties.

But poets are different sorts. That divergence from the norm is part of their charm.

You might remind Zan Agzigian of that on Friday when, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cafe Dolce, 217 N. Division St., she will hold a signing celebration for her first poetry collection, “Stamen and Whirlwind” (Gribble Press, 88 pages, $15).

Agzigian, who as Zan Deery works as an investigator for the Spokane office of the Better Business Bureau, will read from her book. She’ll be joined by musical guests Bill and Kathy Kostelec, along with Brad Keeler, who comprise the group Blue Ribbon Tea Company.

To give you a feel for Agzigian’s work, here’s a snippet from her poem “Saturday Night Poor Fools” that holds particular meaning for me:

“pity the fools attending movies/

alone watching writers go crazy on the screen/

because no one has the patience/

to meet their five personalities”

To order the book, go to www.greymaredit.com. Or e-mail the author at zan@spokane.bbb.org.

Or just show up at the party.

Dalmas returns

I received an e-mail the other day from John Dalmas. The prolific sci-fi novelist and former longtime Spokane resident, who now lives in Ohio, will return to appear as a “special guest” of Spocon 2008, which will be held Aug. 1 through 3 at Gonzaga University.

For more information about Spocon 2008, go online at spocon.us. For more information about Dalmas, go to www.sfwa.org/members/dalmas/index.html.

Not just for kids

Terry Trueman, one of Spokane’s award-winning young-adult novelists, will join Larry Telles and other members of the Idaho Writers League for a special “Writers Talking” presentation Saturday at the South Hill Branch of the Spokane Public Library.

The presentation is part of an ongoing program co-sponsored by the Spokane chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

For further information, go online at www.spokanelibrary.org or call (509) 444-5331.

Cowboys, etc.

Members of the Palouse Cowboy Poetry Association will give a benefit performance for Artisans at the Dahmen Barn at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the barn, in Uniontown, Wash.

Among the performers will be Dick Warwick, Smoke Wade and Howard Norskog. Admission is by a $5 donation.

The Dahmen Barn is on Highway 195, 16 miles south of Pullman, at 419 North Park Way in Uniontown. For more information, go online at www.artisanbarn.org or call (509) 229-3414.

Book talk

•Auntie’s Morning Book Group (“Madonnas of Leningrad,” by Debra Dean), 11 a.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.

•Auntie’s Evening Book Group (“The Thirteenth Tale,” by Diane Setterfield), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

•Tin Pencil Fiction Writers Group, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave. Call (509) 325-1500 to inquire about the group’s requirements.

The reader board

•T.J. English (“Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba … and Then Lost It to the Revolution”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

•Kaya McLaren (“Church of the Dog”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

•Jeff P. Jones (“Stratus Opacus”), Brandon Schrand (“The Enders Hotel”), readings, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

•Terry Trueman (“Hurricane”), Larry Telles, 11 a.m. Saturday, South Hill Branch, Spokane Public Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Call (509) 444-5385.